A horse race refers to any competition between two or more horses ridden by jockeys or pulled by sulkies with drivers, or pulled by sulkies pulled by drivers, that involves jockeys riding them or pulled by their drivers, as well as any formidable contest between humans, such as wrestling matches or sporting competitions. It may also refer to any formidable contest between humans; this term is often used to refer to nail-biters with close outcomes and politicians often use it when discussing key state elections with close races that involve close contests and close results as well.

In the nineteenth century, growing public demand for horse racing led to open races where horses from a larger field competed for prize money. Rules were set based on age, sex, birthplace and previous performance – eventually this sport evolved into handicapping which takes into account both horse quality and trainer quality when setting handicapping odds.

Horse racing, like any sport, has its critics. Many animal rights activists have advocated for its ban and injuries and deaths are common during races; injuries can even sometimes be severe. Yet horse racing has made significant advances over time including improved safety measures.

Breakdowns or lameness of horses during races isn’t uncommon, which can throw the entire event off track. These injuries often result from the rigorous physical demands placed upon these animals by racing: forced to sprint at speeds beyond their natural limitations while exposed to whips, electric shocks and drug abuse – these factors combined can often cause catastrophic breakdowns that endanger their lives.

When a horse is injured, his trainer must assess its severity and determine an effective plan of action. Minor injuries might include bruises and cuts while more serious conditions include sesamoid bone fractures – small bones located behind both fetlock joints on either side of its foot – can fracture. These fractures come in four varieties: apical (along the top), abaxial (away from ankle joint side), mid-body (through center), and basilar (bottom).

A good trainer must have the ability to read their horse well and adjust plans as necessary, particularly during large races with numerous entries where even slight advantages could mean the difference between first place and last place. Luckily, many races are planned weeks or months in advance so horses can be placed at appropriate levels, while most horses also receive Lasix on race day as a diuretic to help prevent any potential pulmonary bleeding associated with hard running.