Horse race is an ancient and highly-coveted form of competition where horses run in packs. As one of the oldest and most prestigious sports around, it draws top horses and jockeys as well as thousands of dedicated fans to watch. Aside from providing an exciting form of entertainment, this tradition-rich activity also serves to remind many people about our history.

Training and conditioning a horse before entering a race is the initial step to successful horseback riding. Calm, relaxed horses are best as this will allow them to focus their energy into winning; overexcited or skittish ones may expel too much energy which reduces chances of success.

Once a horse is prepared to race, they are taken to an electrically operated starting gate on most tracks and examined for rule violations by stewards and patrol judges. Saliva and urine samples from winning horses may also be collected to test for illegal substances.

Horse racing takes place on dirt, turf and synthetic all-weather surfaces such as Polytrack. Distances for races range from six furlongs up to 1 1/4 miles; 30 percent of races are typically run at 6 furlongs while less than one percent reach this distance.

A successful race horse must possess the ability to accelerate quickly and maintain its pace for extended periods, making them reliable bets in races. But they also must manage their stamina effectively; sometimes their pace might dip temporarily but eventually they’ll rebound to their original pace.

Beyer Speed Figures provide a measure of a horse’s racing speed in races. These numbers are determined by taking into account that horses improve by 22.2 points from two years old until reaching peak age and then begin declining at an average rate of 12.1 points over time thereafter, giving handicappers an idea which horses will run fast in any given race.

Weather also plays a crucial role in horse race performance. Rain can make the track heavier and prompt a rapid increase in heart rate; furthermore, it may obscure vision and make it hard for them to see their surroundings, rendering races unpredictable with unexpected outcomes.

Horse bettors must regularly monitor weather and track conditions to avoid making costly mistakes that could prove disastrous for their bet. Track conditions should also be examined regularly to make sure that everything is in working condition; bettors should consider how much weight their chosen horse is carrying as this factor can have a dramatic effect on long distance races.