noun
traditional horse-racing; shrine horse race
Refers to a traditional Japanese horse-racing event, especially the one held on May 5 at Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto. Originally involved two horses racing head-to-head or up to ten at a time. Not used for modern horse racing (競馬/けいば).
賀茂競馬は毎年五月五日に行われる。
The Kamo horse race is held every year on May 5.
競べ馬は古来より神事として続いてきた。
Traditional horse racing has been performed as a Shinto ritual since ancient times.
Modern horse racing in general. 競べ馬 (くらべうま) refers specifically to the traditional shrine event.
Compound of 競べ (くらべ, 'comparing, contest') and 馬 (うま, 'horse'). The spelling 競馬 with irregular okurigana is historically used for this traditional event, but in modern Japanese it is almost always read けいば for horse racing.