Horse racing is an internationally popular sport based on the speed of horses. Horse racing is also a major form of gambling, with billions of dollars wagered annually, and a multibillion-dollar industry.
There are four major forms of horse racing. In thoroughbred racing, quarter horse racing, and steeplechase racing, jockeys ride the horse. In harness racing, the horse pulls a driver in a two-wheeled carriage called a sulky. Thoroughbred races are usually held on a flat oval track, though European tracks differ widely in layout. The typical quarter horse race is conducted on a straight flat track and is a short sprint, with a quarter mile (0.4 kilometer) the most common distance. Quarter horse racing is a regional sport, most popular in the southwestern and western United States. In a steeplechase, jockeys ride horses over obstacles.
