Horse racing is a very carefully supervised sport. The parent body of British racing is the British Horseracing Authority’s of Great Britain. In the United States, the Jockey Club (which, through its office in Lexington, Kentucky, handles the registration of all North American Thoroughbreds), the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, and the Racing Commissioners International are important racing bodies.

In addition to Jockey Club registration procedures, racetrack officials identify each horse before every race and conduct tests to detect the presence of medication or drugs that might affect the race’s outcome. Videotape records the race’s progress, while a high-speed camera at the finish line determines close outcomes. Stewards representing the Jockey Club and the state racing commissions can disqualify horses and penalize jockeys for such infractions as interference and dangerous riding.