Horse race, also known as a steeplechase, is a demanding, dangerous, and ancient sport. It involves jumping over a series of obstacles on a natural course, often in the countryside, and requires stamina as well as speed. Its name derives from the use of church steeples as landmarks in early contests.

In modern times, the horse race has evolved into a specialized form of endurance racing over a dirt or turf track. It is a popular spectator event and a major source of revenue for many racetracks.

The sport has also changed dramatically with the onset of technological advancements. Among the most significant is improved safety for horses and jockeys. Thermal imaging cameras detect overheating, MRI scans and X-rays can spot minor ailments that might otherwise go undetected, and 3D printing has made it possible to create casts and splints for injured horses.

Another development is the emergence of the “expert” who offers analysis and opinions about horse races. The expert, often called a handicapper or a ratings service, is tasked with predicting the outcome of a race in terms of the number of winners and the winning percentage. This information is then used by the horse race bettor to place his or her bets.

A horse with a high win percentage is rated a good horse, while one with a low win percentage is considered a poor horse. In addition, the horse with the highest average finish is deemed to have the best chance of winning.

There are a variety of factors that influence how well a horse will do in a race, including its health and the type of track it will be running on. A muddy track, for instance, will cause horses to slip and become unbalanced, while a fast track is more likely to produce quick, consistent speeds.

In the early years of horse racing, races were match contests between two or at most three horses. As the popularity of racing grew, pressure from the public produced events with larger fields. Early King’s Plates, for example, were standardized six-year-old races with 168-pound weight limits in four-mile heats, in which a horse had to win two of the heats to be declared the winner. By 1751, however, the weight limit was reduced to 140 pounds, and one-heat racing became the norm. This increased the importance of a rider’s skill and judgment in gaining victory.