<p><strong>Noun:</strong></p><ul><li>A race or other contest for which the prize consists of the stakes contributed by the various competitors.</li><li>The prize itself.</li><li>A lottery in which winning tickets are selected at random, with each winning-ticket number matched to one of the horses nominated for or entered in a specific race, and the amounts paid to the winners determined by the finishing order of the horses that run.</li><li>Any gambling transaction in which each of a number of persons contributes a stake, and the stakes are awarded to one or several winners.</li><li>A risky venture that promises large rewards, such as the high-tech sweepstakes.</li></ul>