Horse races have been entertaining spectators worldwide since ancient times. From primitive competition between two animals to an elaborate spectacle with massive fields and sophisticated monitoring equipment, their essence remains unchanged; first across the finish line is declared victorious while bettors may place wagers for either winning (finish first), placing (first or second place finisher), or showing (finish third). They may also make multiple bets at once using an accumulator bet system.
Horse races come in all forms and shapes. Each can be classified according to its breed of horses, the type of track used, number of competitors involved and amount at stake. For instance, the Kentucky Derby is one of North America’s premier thoroughbred races, held each May in Louisville with an amazing prize pool worth more than $2 Million! Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore hosts another top thoroughbred event: Preakness Stakes with its 2-mile (3 km) course offering prize pools of over $2 Million!
Horse racing is not only popular with the general public; sports bettors also enjoy betting on it as an entertaining pastime. Odds of a particular horse winning a race are calculated using betting pools and individual bets placed by individual bettors, and then published on horse racing websites’ homepages.
Though recent improvements to horse racing have taken place, animal rights activists continue to fight for reform. Their advocacy includes stopping the use of drugs and medications on racetracks; increasing training transparency; and limiting racing days for safety purposes. PETA has conducted groundbreaking investigations into abusive training practices for young horses; drug use on racehorses; and transport of hundreds of American racehorses to slaughterhouses overseas.
As a result of these efforts, many horse racing venues have implemented additional safety measures for horses and trainers. Some innovations have included thermal imaging cameras, MRI scanners, X-rays and 3D printing technology for creating casts or splints for injured or sick horses. Furthermore, certain race tracks are even adopting no-jump policies to decrease risks of injury and death during races.
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