A horse race is a competition between two or more horses over a set distance on a designated track. The horse that crosses the finish line first wins the race. The sport has evolved over the centuries from a primitive contest of speed or stamina into an elaborate spectacle with enormous fields, sophisticated monitoring equipment, and vast sums of money. Despite these advances, the fundamental nature of a horse race remains unchanged. It is a dangerous sport for both horses and their human riders, known as jockeys. The combination of high speeds and hard surfaces puts the animals at risk for falls, injuries, and even fatal accidents. The sport also encourages horses to be raced before they are fully mature, putting them at a greater risk of developmental issues that can impact their life after the track.

A horse must meet a minimum number of requirements in order to qualify for a particular race. These conditions may include the amount of weight a horse must carry, the type and amount of medication permitted during the course of a race, and the age of the animal at the time of the race. In addition to these rules, each state has its own regulations and penalties for trainers or owners who fail to comply with them. This is different from other major sports leagues in the United States, such as the NBA, which has a single set of standards and rules for all its teams and athletes.

One of the most significant changes in horse racing in recent years has been an increase in awareness of the cruelty to which the sport is subjected. This has been fueled by investigations by animal rights groups, such as PETA, into abusive training practices for young horses, drug use in the industry, and the transportation of American-bred racehorses to slaughterhouses abroad. These investigations have also led to improvements in the safety and health of both horses and jockeys on the racetrack, with thermal imaging cameras used to monitor heat exposure after a race and 3D printing now being utilized to produce casts and splints for injured horses.

While these improvements in safety and medical care have made a positive impact on the industry, the overall outlook for horse racing is still uncertain. The sport continues to lose fans, revenue, races, and entries at an alarming rate. This is in part due to the fact that many Americans are increasingly turned off by the idea of betting on a horse to win a race. In addition, there is a growing distrust of the industry as a whole due to scandals surrounding gambling addiction and drug abuse by trainers and owners. The Atlantic recently published a powerful video that provides viewers with a glimpse of the alleged cruelty that occurs at the top levels of thoroughbred racing. This video has been widely viewed and is expected to have a major impact on the future of this sport.