Betting on Horse Races
A horse race is a sporting event in which horses, usually carrying jockeys and driven by sulkies, compete to cross an imaginary line first. This is a popular sport among many people around the world and betting is an important part of it. There are a number of different ways to bet on a horse race, including wagering to win, place, and show. Increasingly, bettors are choosing to place accumulator bets in which multiple bets are placed on the outcome of a race.
A sulkie is a small, two-wheeled cart that is pulled by a horse. A sulky is typically used to carry riders or to haul equipment, such as feed and water. The sulkie is a crucial tool in the operation of a horse race, and it is important that it be well maintained. A sulky that is not well maintained can cause the rider to fall off and get injured.
In 1897, the Jockey Club sought to put an end to a practice known as “juicing”–the use of cocktails of legal and illegal drugs intended to mask injuries, artificially enhance performance, and make winning more likely. The goal was not to hurt the horses but to make betting fair for owners and bettors. California banned wagering on horse races in 1909, not because of concerns about equine welfare but because of a growing awareness that the sport was becoming corrupt.
The era of juicing, however, did not die out with the ban. New medications–including powerful painkillers, antipsychotics, and even blood doping–began flooding into racing, and a culture of cheating developed. Officials had difficulty keeping up with the drug scene, and penalties were minimal. In addition, trainers could easily move between jurisdictions, where rules were not as strict.
Media scholars have long studied how news coverage frames elections as a horse race, using polls to emphasize frontrunners and underdogs who are gaining momentum. The strategy has proved successful for Republicans in the past, but this election cycle feels less like a horse race than others.
Organized horse racing in the United States began with British occupation of New York City in the 1600s, when a number of race courses opened on the plains of Long Island. From then on, until the Civil War, stamina rather than speed was the hallmark of excellence in American Thoroughbreds. The Belmont Stakes, Preakness Stakes, and Kentucky Derby are all run over a distance of about three miles, making up the American Triple Crown of elite flat races. Other famous races that take place over this length include the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe in France, Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup in Australia, Japan Cup in Tokyo, and Epsom Derby in England. All of these races, along with many other races around the world, are regarded as tests of both speed and stamina. The Triple Crown is the highest honor a horse can receive in racing. It is an achievement that is coveted by many, and it is not always easy to achieve.