Horse race is an event where people bet on a horse to win a prize. It began in medieval England when professional riders, called jockeys, would demonstrate the horses’ speed to potential buyers by racing them. They rode bareback and were often young boys, who also knew how to care for the horses. They were paid a small salary by the wealthy nobles and aristocrats who owned the horses.
During the race, the riders must use their skill and judgment to maneuver their mounts into positions where they can best take advantage of the horse’s strengths. They must also keep the horses under control, despite the animal’s desire to run and win. If they can master these skills, they might be able to win the race.
Many horse races are contested over distances of one-and-a-half miles. They’re run on dirt tracks that are typically oval-shaped with a clubhouse turn and a stretch run. The horse who finishes first is crowned the winner of the race and receives a prize, such as a silver cup. In the past, the most prized American thoroughbreds were bred for stamina rather than speed.
The starting gate is a place where horses and jockeys wait for the race to start. Bettors often look at a horse’s coat in the walking ring before a race to determine whether it looks bright and rippling with just enough sweat and muscled excitement. When a horse’s coat is bright, it’s believed that the beast is ready to race. The gate staff is not as patient, however, especially if the horse balks, which means it’s frightened or angry. The owner of the horse, Ganbaatar Dagvadorj, a Mongolian tycoon who made his fortune in post-Communist supermarkets, was there that day to see his favorite colt win.
At the start of the race, the horses broke cleanly from the gates. War of Will took an early lead and held it around the clubhouse turn. Behind him, Mongolian Groom and McKinzie were closing fast.
As the race came into the home stretch, the riders sped up their pace. They were trying to position their horses for the final surge down the stretch. To do this, they had to jump from one horse to another, which is known as a “crossover.”
Ken Real Bird makes that leap sound easy, but it’s a dangerous and chaotic dance with riders and horses from six teams trying to do the same thing at the same time in a limited space. The rider must gear down his speed, angle in on the horse he’s crossing over, and then leap onto the horse’s back at just the right moment. He must do this all while avoiding a crash with the other riders and horses. If he makes a mistake, he might lose his mount and his bets. If he wins, he’ll become a hero to thousands of fans. He’ll also earn a handsome paycheck. Depending on the size of his bets, he might even win a small fortune.