Horse racing is an Olympic-esque spectator sport in which horses compete against one another to showcase speed and stamina. Since its conception centuries ago, this activity has expanded from being an entertainment for leisure class audiences into an industry with multibillion-dollar industries with sophisticated monitoring equipment and staggering prize pools. But its basic concept remains unchanged – early races featured two horses competing over open fields or roads and were judged by professional jockeys known as jockeys; wealthy noblemen and aristocrats who owned these animals would pay them to ride these animals on horseback before their ownership; these jockeys would then perform tasks such as feeding or bathing them for them – while jockeys would then collect payment to ride these contests over open fields or roads, just like modern horse racing does today.

By the 1700s, standardised rules had evolved for horse races and regulations had been set regarding eligibility based on age, sex, birthplace and past performance. Horses carried weights based on size and class; jockeys were appointed by owners with allowances made for fillies; handicapping was applied based on distance of races as well as history of winning or finishing in various positions.

18th and 19th-century riders continued to shape the sport, using sulkys and new training methods on horses. Dash racing also gained in prominence at this time, increasing the importance of each yard raced; riders relied more on skill, judgment and coaxing their mount to give an advantage at each turn. Meanwhile, whips, tongue-ties and spurs became more widespread–many instances remaining legal despite their devastating long-term health impacts on animals.

Today’s most renowned flat races take place across Europe and Asia; such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Melbourne Cup, Japan Cup, Epsom Derby and Kentucky Derby. In America, Triple Crown race Belmont Stakes features three separate events held over one mile and a quarter – the classic distance for any race.

However, horse racing also has its dark side; many young horses die tragically during race day or training sessions. Growing awareness of this industry’s cruelty has caused many people to boycott it altogether and has spurred an examination into horse racing’s ethics and integrity in response to tragedies like Eight Belles and Medina Spirit’s deaths.

Blackjack is a casino card game in which players compete against the dealer to create hands totalling 21 or higher without going over. A player may hit, stand, or double down depending on a predetermined set of rules; any time one beats the dealer their bet will be returned 1:1 while natural 21 (Ace + Ten Value Card) pays out three-to-two.

There are numerous strategies for playing blackjack that can increase your odds of victory, from card counting to simpler approaches like following basic strategy. But always bear in mind that no strategy guarantees long-term success; gambling remains risky, so only invest what you can afford to lose.

One of the keys to successful blackjack play lies in knowing how to size your bets correctly. Betting too heavily could quickly drain your funds; therefore it is advisable to start off betting low stakes and gradually raise them as your confidence builds up.

To properly size your bets, it is necessary to consider the probabilities associated with each potential move. A basic blackjack strategy chart will assist in selecting the optimal move based on both your hand and dealer upcard; any serious blackjack player should use such charts alongside game rules when making betting decisions.

Consider also the probability of the dealer busting in each situation. For instance, when holding 16 and the dealer shows an 8, the odds of busting are 80% if you hit and 40% if you stand; hence always hit when facing off against a face card, 9 or 10 showing.

Learning the card count can also boost your odds of winning. This complex process involves tracking the cards that have been dealt and then estimating their values – an effective strategy, though casinos now recognize this tactic and have developed countermeasures against it.

DraftKings’ online casino provides an exceptional blackjack experience, featuring many themed and blackjack-based variations with side bets, such as “Four 20s.” In this game, four hands of blackjack can be played simultaneously while placing bets on any pair of twentys appearing anywhere on them; its house edge is small, meaning even just a few hands could bring big rewards! For your own benefit and safety you may try free games first before committing real money; this way you’ll know if blackjack is right for you before taking risks by trying games like poker or roulette instead.