A horse race is a spectacle that draws thousands of people to the track to eat mint juleps and admire elegant outfits. But the reality behind the romanticized facade is a brutal industry of injuries, drugs, and gruesome breakdowns. The horses are pushed to sprint—often under the threat of whips and illegal electric-shocking devices—at speeds so fast they often break down or suffer fatal hemorrhages in their lungs. The profits from the sport are reinvested in racing associations and breeders, and taxpayers benefit from the jobs, tax revenue, and economic activity generated by horse racing. But many in the industry say that critics are imposing blue-state, urban values on a red-state, rural enterprise.

The equine acrobatics are breathtaking to watch. The horses trot onto the track one by one, pulling single-seat chariots behind them, and build up speed as they head into the setting sun. The clip-clop of their hooves reaches a cacophony as the announcer shouts, “And they’re off!”

The horses are bred to be beautiful and powerful. The fastest ones are prized by their owners, who place bets to maximize the returns on their investments. The most successful jockeys are in high demand and can command up to $200,000 per year. A shrewd trainer can make millions with a single winner. The sex of the horses and their ability to be ridden and trained can also play a role in the outcome of a race.

An Across the Board bet is a wager on a horse to win, place, and show. A player collects the Win and Place prices if the runner wins, and the Show price if the runner finishes second or third. If a runner is placed, the player will receive the Show and Place prices but loses the Win price. An outsider is a horse that has a better chance of winning than the favorite.

Handicapping: A runner is assigned a weight to carry in order to be fair against other runners in the race, usually based on its age, sex, and previous racing history. The most prestigious races are called conditions races and offer the highest purses.

Disputed: A claim that a jockey, horse, or handler has violated rules of the game. Disputes are usually heard by the racing commissioner or a panel of judges.

Home stretch: The final stretch of the race from the clubhouse turn to the finish line. The homestretch is generally a paved spectator area.

Claiming race: A race that allows horses with similar abilities to compete against each other. Running a horse in a claiming race provides class relief, which can lead to rewards (wins, confidence-building), but it can also lead to being claimed by another owner. A claiming race provides a checks and balances system in that it prevents wagering on one horse from being too dominant over all other entrants.

The condition book is a schedule of races that will run during a specified period. This allows trainers to develop training regimens with a clear timeline. The condition book is sometimes used as a backup for races that cannot attract enough entries to fill the field. This is also known as an alternate race or substitute race.