Horse racing, an ancient sport steeped in tradition and history, continues to fascinate millions around the world with a unique fusion of speed, strategy and stamina. It is one of the most popular spectator sports and is a multi-billion dollar industry contributing to global economies. The sport’s elite races are among the most prestigious and highly prized on the globe, offering fans the chance to witness the best in equine sportsmanship. However, determining the world’s greatest race is not as simple as just looking at ratings and taking the most prestigious race to be number 1.
The question of what makes a great horse race can only be answered by evaluating all the defining features of the sport. Whether it’s the size of the horse, its physical characteristics or the unique atmosphere that surrounds it, every race has its own distinct personality. Some stand out for their prestige and legacy, while others are famous for the equine athletes that have starred in them, such as Zenyatta, a legendary racehorse that won the Triple Crown (Epsom, Kentucky and Belmont) in 2005.
Other races are deemed to be great due to the amount of money that they attract and the stakes at which they are run. Currently, the biggest betting race in the world is the Arima Kinen in Japan which attracted a record 41 billion yen in bets last month and ranks 11th on the Longines World’s Best Race rating list. Others are renowned for their drama, such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, where jockeys and trainers fought back against the odds to win in 1902. The race has been called ‘the most awe-inspiring showdown in hurdling history’.
Another factor is the level of intrigue surrounding a particular race. When a race draws huge crowds and has significant social impact, it is seen as a great event. This is particularly true of races with legendary names, such as the Melbourne Cup or Dubai World Cup. This year’s Everest will be the third running of the newest edition of the world’s richest race and is expected to draw a record crowd of around 63,000.
The term ‘horse race’ is not a term that is reserved exclusively for horse events and it has been used to describe political contests in the 19th century, although its meaning seems to be shifting again. When journalists focus primarily on who’s winning and losing in an election, a style of news reporting known as horse race coverage, it can lead to voters, candidates and the press becoming cynical about politics.
It also leads to the public focusing more on who they think will be the winner of an election rather than on policy issues or the qualifications of the candidates, as highlighted by research published in The New York Times and FiveThirtyEight. This may contribute to a greater sense of disillusionment and distrust of the democratic process for young people, who will continue to feel this way as they become older.