Horse racing is an equestrian sport involving the racing of horses over various distances for entertainment or wagers, as a spectator event or industry for over 300 years. As one of the largest contributors to our economy and contributing $15 billion annually in total revenues, it has contributed immensely to historic tracks like Belmont Park, major events such as Kentucky Derby, and institutions such as American Stud Book – not forgetting its global popularity and place within world culture.

Horse racing today is a sophisticated industry with numerous rules designed to increase safety and fairness, yet remains dangerous and risky for its participants – injuries and fatalities are a constant reminder of just how difficult and hazardous the sport can be for horses involved.

No matter your position on horse racing, it is essential that you gain an understanding of its science. There are various key concerns which need to be addressed if horse racing is going to flourish and remain viable in its formative years.

Note that while racing fans may give money to animal welfare charities, that does not cancel out the continued exploitation of young racehorses by the industry for profit-seeking purposes. Exploitation is inherent to horse racing’s for-profit business model.

Research demonstrates that when journalists cover races primarily by reporting who is leading and who is trailing – known as horse race reporting – voters, candidates, and the news industry all suffer. That is why it’s imperative for all to gain an understanding of this unfair and unethical form of journalism.

Medieval England saw professional riders called jockeys demonstrate the top speed of their horses by racing them, often hired by wealthy landowners to race them. At first, these races only involved limited participants; landowners decided which horses to race based on age, sex, birthplace and prior performance criteria.

As public racing became more popular, larger fields of horses were allowed to compete and new rules were put into place to ensure its quality. Alongside limiting competitors’ numbers and only permitting horses trained for six months or longer into competitions, exclusive races were established where only top jockeys could ride.

As sports evolved, winning races became more prestigious. This led to the birth of steeplechases, in which horses must jump various obstacles while racing against one another – this form of competition is considered the most difficult and dangerous for horses. Steeplechasing first made its appearance during Xenophon’s account of chariot races from 5th century bc; later adopted for use over natural terrain in Europe where it came to be known by its name: steeplechase!