A horse race is a contest over an oval track with organized betting on the winner. The term is also used to describe a close and highly competitive contest, such as a political campaign. The first recorded horse race took place in 1651, and the sport became popular in France during the reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715). In a race, horses are driven by jockeys over the course of a set distance, usually a mile or more. The most prestigious flat races in the world are known as the Arc de Triomphe, Melbourne Cup, Japan Cup and Epsom Derby, and they feature a mixture of sprinting and stamina. Other important aspects of the sport are breeding, training, and nutrition.
A horse’s performance in a race depends on many factors, including how much weight it has to carry, its position at the start of the race, and its sex and gender. In some races, horses are given allowances based on their age or sex in order to level the playing field. For example, females typically have to carry less weight than males. The race’s prevailing conditions—such as the weather, the track’s surface and its length—also affect the outcome.
Despite its popularity, horse racing has been criticized for its cruelty and the health risks for horses. It is common for horses to suffer from fractures, lacerations, blown heels, and pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeding in the lungs). A recent study found that horse racing has a high rate of death and injury, and it is a significant source of gambling revenue.
When a horse is injured, trainers often use medications to speed up the recovery process and prevent further damage. Injuries may be caused by falls, collisions with other horses, or poor track conditions. Some of the more serious injuries include a fractured limb, an eye injury, or a joint inflammation that can result in paralysis. Keeping 1,000-pound horses confined for 23 hours a day in a 12-by-12-foot stall can also be detrimental to their health.
In addition to physical injuries, horse racing has been linked to psychological trauma and even mental health issues. The stress of being in the limelight and competing with other horses can lead to a variety of behavioral problems, including aggression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, and post-traumatic stress syndrome.
When journalists frame elections as a horse race, focusing on public opinion polls and giving disproportionate coverage to frontrunners or underdogs who are gaining momentum—what’s known as “horse race coverage”—voters, candidates, and the news industry itself suffer, a growing body of research suggests. This collection of research—including studies on probabilistic forecasting and TV news coverage—provides context for why horse race reporting is damaging.