Horse races are a type of equestrian sport in which competitors ride horses to compete against each other for prize money. There are many different types of horse races, varying in distance and style. Most races are run on flat surfaces but jump races (also known as steeplechases or hurdle races) and endurance races, in which the winner is the first horse to reach a certain distance in a set amount of time, also exist. There are also handicap races, where horses are assigned weights based on their abilities. This varies from race to race and influences a horse’s performance in the race.

During the 2016 presidential election, it was common to hear people use the phrase “horse race” to describe the close contest between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The term has long been a catchphrase for political contests, but it seems to be shifting in meaning.

In recent years, scholars have begun to investigate the effects of a new form of horse race journalism, which they call probabilistic forecasting. This new type of reporting aggregates polling data and translates it into the probability that a particular candidate will win a specific contest. Unlike traditional horse race coverage, which gives the impression that all candidates have equal chances of winning, this method provides far more conclusive information about the state of the race.

While horse racing is often seen as a glamorous and high-class sport, it has its dark side. Behind the romanticized facade, the reality is one of injuries, drug abuse, gruesome breakdowns and slaughter. The fact is, horses used for racing are forced to sprint–often with the threat of whips and even illegal electric shockers–at speeds that frequently cause them to break down or suffer gruesome injuries, such as hemorrhaging from their lungs.

Historically, horse races have been a part of European culture for centuries. The sport has been linked with gambling and aristocracy, but it became more popular during the 19th century, when a number of reforms were introduced by King Louis XIV. These included requiring the issuance of certificates of origin for all horses and imposing weight restrictions on foreign horses.

In the United States, horse racing is generally conducted by state-licensed racetracks and associations. Some state-licensed racetracks offer both live and simulcast races, whereas others only feature simulcasting. A live race requires the presence of a human referee to monitor the safety and fairness of the contest. The stewards may disqualify horses and/or disqualify riders who do not follow race rules.

All horse races must be started from a starting stall or a starting gate, although in exceptional or emergency circumstances, a race can start with a flag. A false start will result in a race being declared void. The stewards then study the photograph of the finish to determine which horse crossed the line first. If the stewards cannot determine a clear winner, the race will be decided according to dead heat rules.