Horse racing has entranced spectators for centuries, evolving from a primitive contest of speed and stamina to a spectacle that features huge fields, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, and immense sums of money. Its basic concept has not changed, however: The horse that crosses the finish line first is declared the winner.
The term “horse race” is also used to refer to an overt contest between several candidates for a top position in an organization. Some boards and senior executives feel comfortable with an overt CEO horse race, while others believe that the approach can be disruptive to a company’s culture, undermine teamwork and create a climate of fear and intimidation.
One common criticism of horse race journalism is that it tends to focus on the two main candidates in an election, to the detriment of primary contenders and third-party candidates. The practice could be more effective if journalists followed the example of horse racing and kept an eye on the underdogs, as they often have their day.
Another form of horse race reporting is known as probabilistic forecasting, in which newsrooms present polling data on candidates’ chances of winning to readers as odds. This type of horse race journalism has been criticized for contributing to the growing cynicism about politics and the democratic process. It may also discourage people from voting by giving them the impression that their votes will not matter.
It’s not unusual for horses to suffer from injuries and ailments in the course of a race, which are often related to their unnatural training environment. For instance, a study in 2014 by the New York Times found that trainers often over-drugged their horses and used shockers to buzz them for training (a practice now banned). Injured or distressed, it is not uncommon for racehorses to exhibit compulsive behavior such as cribbing, biting on their gates, kicking, and self-harm.
While the majority of horse races are held on dirt or grass tracks, some are run on ice or snow, and some are conducted in deserts. A few are held on synthetic surfaces such as a sand track.
Harness racing, which involves standardbred horses pulling a driver’s cart across the finish line, is another type of horse race. It can be extremely fast and is a popular attraction at harness racing tracks in Pennsylvania, which are among the nation’s most famous.
Unlike thoroughbred races, most harness races are won by the horse who crosses the finish line first. This horse is referred to as the “winner.” The other horses are called placers and showers. Placers are the runners who finish in the first and second positions, while showers are those who finish in the third, fourth or fifth positions. The top four or five finishers receive the race’s purse, or monetary award. The remainder of the race’s earnings are distributed to the rest of the field’s owners. The winner’s share is often the largest portion of the total purse.