What is a Horse Race?

Horse race is a term used in news coverage to describe the way a political campaign is covered, with an emphasis on who is ahead or behind in polls and predictions. This type of reporting can encourage a sense of competition and a focus on who is winning or losing rather than on policy issues or candidate qualifications, potentially influencing public opinion. This style of reporting is more common in outlets that have a left-leaning audience.

The equestrian sport of horse racing has a long history, with archaeological records showing that the practice was widespread in ancient civilizations. It has also been a prominent part of myth and legend, including the contest between the steeds of Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology. Despite its historic importance, modern Thoroughbred horse racing is plagued by many issues, including injuries, drug abuse, gruesome breakdowns and even slaughter. This is largely due to the fact that horses are forced to sprint – often under the threat of whips and illegal electric shock devices – at speeds so fast that they can suffer fatal injuries, such as heart failure or pulmonary hemorrhage.

In the wild, horses love to run and are often found galloping away freely. However, thoroughbreds are domesticated animals and must be trained to run at high speed to be successful in races. The process of transforming them from a prey animal to a competition animal is often extremely traumatic. During training, they may experience fractured ankles and legs, herniated discs in their backs, shattered spines, crushed ribs and shattered teeth. They may even have to be drugged to help them endure the brutal workouts. They are also subject to bribery and violence from spectators, and their trainers are often contemptuous of them.

One of the most famous horse races in the world is the Omak Stampede Suicide Race, held annually in August as part of a rodeo on Washington state’s Omak Reservation. It is a grueling test of endurance in which the field hurtles down Suicide Hill, a steep 62 percent slope. The riders, who wear cowboy hats and sacred eagle feathers, must hold on to their mounts for the entire 500-yard trek. It is not a favorite of animal-welfare activists, and the use of whips and fists is encouraged.

A growing number of people have withdrawn their support for horse racing in light of the numerous reports of injuries, drug use and gruesome deaths. The growing awareness of these issues has prompted many owners and breeders to invest in more humane practices, but this progress is slow to materialize. Meanwhile, the industry continues to suffer from declining revenue, races and entries.