A horse race is a contest of speed between horses ridden by jockeys and pulled by sulkies. The fastest horses are called stallions, while the slower ones are fillies. Some races are for a particular breed of horse, such as the Arabians or the Thoroughbreds. Other races are for mixed breeds, which can include a mix of stallions and fillies as well as halfbreds (horses not purebred). In a horse race, large mature horses are preferred; stamina is as important as speed. The horses run over hills and jumps, so the sport is very dangerous for them. Some horses, especially those not trained to a high level, are injured or killed in crashes. Animal welfare advocates say trainers make things worse by drugging the horses with performance-enhancing substances and painkillers — such as furosemide, which is sold under the brand name Lasix. Those that are not killed or seriously injured live most of their lives in a stall.

In a horse race, bettors wager on which horse will win by predicting how fast the winner will cover a certain distance. They also make bets on the finishing order of the horses. The odds are posted on a tote board, usually found near the track. A number of different factors influence a horse’s chances of winning, including the weight it has to carry, position in the field, age and sex, and training.

Before the race begins, the jockeys, or riders, weigh in and inspect their horses in the paddock. They then lead their mounts to the starting gate, an electrically operated device. Some horses, especially those that have not won a race, balk at the starting gate. The stewards (who are aided by a patrol judge) then decide whether to allow the horse to proceed or not. The stewards may also investigate alleged rule violations after the race.

A jockey, or rider, tries to encourage his or her horse by riding it vigorously. The whip can be dangerous for both the horse and the rider, so some jockeys wear body armor to protect themselves. A jockey also wears a helmet and gloves to minimize injuries from falls.

In the backstretch, War of Will led the pack. But around the clubhouse turn, he began to tire. Mongolian Groom, a small-framed bay colt, and McKinzie, another bay, were close behind.

A race can be won by a single horse, but most of the time it is won by a large group of horses. Those in the front are called leaders; those in the rear, the trailing group. A horse that is out of the leading group, but wins the race, is called a show horse. The top five finishers win money, as do any horses that are backed by bettors who placed bets at the maximum allowed amount. This is known as the parimutuel system. The money is distributed among the horse’s owners, trainers and jockeys. The winning horse receives the biggest share of the prize pool, and the owner of the second-place horse is given a percentage of the remaining prize money.