A horse race is a contest between two or more horses, typically in which the winner takes a substantial sum of money. It is a form of gambling that has a long history and is practiced in many parts of the world. While the racing industry has made improvements, it is still subject to criticism from animal rights activists who argue that the sport is cruel and exploits animals. Behind the romanticized facade of Thoroughbred horse racing is a world of drugs, injuries, gruesome breakdowns, and slaughter. While spectators wear fancy outfits and sip mint juleps, horses are forced to sprint-often under the threat of whips or illegal electric shock devices-at speeds so fast that they sustain serious injuries and often hemorrhage from their lungs. The vast majority of racehorses who don’t win races are sent to foreign slaughterhouses where they are used for glue and dog food.
A race is run under a set of rules regulating the condition of the track, the size of the purse, and the types of horses that may be entered. Each horse is assigned a weight allowance based on its previous winnings or on its eligibilities, which are determined by the racing secretary. The horse that wins a race is paid a sum of money equal to the amount wagered on it plus its own weight in pounds. The horses that finish in second and third receive their respective share of the prize money, which is calculated as a percentage of the total wagering pool.
During the course of a race, stewards and patrol judges, often assisted by a motion-picture camera squad, examine the horses for rule violations. In addition, the jockeys are required to weigh in after the race, and saliva samples are taken from winning horses for drug testing. The results of a race are declared only after all these procedures have been completed.
The term “horse race” has several meanings in different contexts, but most commonly refers to the process by which bettors place wagers on the outcome of a horse race. Some bettors use a computer program to determine the most likely winners, while others rely on intuition or the advice of friends and experts. Regardless of the method employed, the majority of bettors lose money.
Media scholars have long criticized the way that some news outlets frame elections as a horse race, emphasizing opinion polling results and giving disproportionate attention to frontrunner candidates. As a result, voters and the news industry suffer, writes Denise-Marie Ordway for the Journalist’s Resource at Harvard University. She also notes that this approach can harm third-party and independent candidates, who can be portrayed as spoilers or outright losers. This type of coverage can also hurt minority voters and exacerbate the effects of partisanship.