A horse race is a competitive sport where horses are ridden by jockeys and guided by stable hands, usually to win money or other prizes. It has been practiced in the ancient world and continues to be popular in many countries today. Horse racing is often portrayed in the media as a violent and chaotic affair, but many of the events are carefully planned and controlled by trained professionals. A recent scandal involving the trainer of a champion racehorse has raised serious questions about the treatment of horses in racing.
Photojournalistic images of racehorses in the moments they extend their full strides across the finish line often show animals that are screaming with fear and pain. Their tendons are corded tightly, their eyes are wide in panic, and their mouths are dry from anxiety as they are grabbed violently by the bit. This is not the way horses want to live.
To make these animals run fast, they are pushed beyond their limits and given cocktails of legal and illegal drugs that mask injuries, suppress the pain they feel while running, and artificially enhance their performance. These drugs include steroid and blood-boosting injections, and a group of pills known as anabolic steroids. Some horses bleed from their lungs during races, a condition called exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. To help with this, they are given a diuretic like Lasix to reduce fluid in their lungs.
While the horse races may be exciting to watch, they are not always profitable for the owners and trainers. To stay in business, they must spend large sums to buy and maintain the best racehorses, and to attract bettors, they must offer high stakes, including multiple pools for each race. These conditions can lead to widespread corruption and fraud, with racetrack owners frequently stealing from their own customers.
In the United States, horse races are primarily flat races, with distances from two to four miles (3.2 to 6.4 km). Shorter races are commonly referred to as sprints and longer ones as routes or staying races. In each type of race, the ability to accelerate quickly and sustain a strong finish are important qualities.
Media scholars have long studied the impact of news coverage that frames elections as a horse race. The more the story emphasizes public opinion polls and highlights frontrunners and underdogs who gain ground, the less likely a voter will be to participate in the election. This horse race coverage is especially damaging to democracy in countries that have liberal political systems and are struggling with a democratic deficit.
