What is a Horse Race?
A horse race is a contest of speed between horses that are either ridden by jockeys or pulled by sulkies and their drivers. It is an activity that has been practiced in a variety of civilizations throughout history and is featured prominently in myth and legend, including the contest between Odin’s steeds Hrungnir and Gungnir in Norse mythology.
In modern racing, Thoroughbreds are bred for speed and for durability in long distance races over three miles or more. The sport has evolved over the centuries to become as specialized and high-stakes as any other major event, including a championship basketball game or a golf tournament. The for-profit business of horse racing is dominated by a small number of wealthy owners and breeders. The sport has been criticized for its unequal distribution of wealth and the exploitation of horses.
The equestrian sport of horse racing has a profound impact on the lives of thousands of animals each year. The animal rights group Horseracing Wrongs reports that horses are routinely injured and die during a race, in training, while being drugged and whipped, and for other reasons related to the for-profit nature of the sport. The group claims that if the public knew the truth about the reality of the horse racing industry, it would not support it.
While horses are used in a wide variety of sports, horse races remain popular around the world. Historically, horse racing took place over short distances on open fields or roads and was a way to demonstrate a horse’s ability to run fast and endurance in a competitive environment. It was also a way to show off a stable’s best horses and attract potential buyers. In medieval England, professional riders known as jockeys rode bareback and competed with their horses in these races.
A jockey’s job is to steer and guide the horse while it runs. Jockeys use whips to help the horse stay on course and control its behavior. A horse’s performance can be affected by the amount of weight it must carry in a race, its position relative to the inside barrier, age, sex, and training.
The winner of a race is declared after all the horses have completed the race and the jockeys have weighed in. The horses are then paraded past the stewards for inspection, where urine and saliva samples are taken to check for prohibited substances. Often, a horse will be disqualified for using banned drugs or not being properly prepared or trained.
While horse races are exciting to watch, the idea of humans competing with a four-legged animal is inherently unfair. When journalists report on elections by focusing solely on how close a candidate is to the lead, it is considered horse race journalism and can be harmful to voters, candidates, and the news media itself. There is a growing body of research that shows when newsrooms focus on two candidates chasing one another in the polls, it reduces the public’s interest in the issues that they cover and hurts third-party candidates.
