A horse race is a contest of speed between horses that either are ridden by jockeys or pulled by sulkies and drivers. It is a sport that is ancient and has become a spectacle that involves complex electronic monitoring equipment and enormous sums of money. However, its basic concept remains unchanged throughout the centuries.
A classic succession “horse race” pits several recognized candidates against each other in a battle over performance — with the winner becoming the company’s next chief executive officer. Although some executives and governance observers are uncomfortable with the overt competition for the top position, many of these companies have successfully used this leadership method to select exceptional leaders.
To win a horse race, the rider must guide his or her mount over obstacles and around other runners while maintaining control of the horse’s speed and direction. This is achieved by using various riding styles, including whipping (as a form of encouragement), holding on tight to the reins, and urging the horse through its strides by “scrubbing” the hand up and down the neck. It is also essential for a rider to read the course and the horses’ ability to accelerate over different surfaces.
As the sport of racing grew in popularity, specialized rules were developed for each type of race to establish eligibility criteria and ensure fair competition. For example, sprint races are usually considered a test of speed, while longer races are often seen as a test of stamina. As a result, the length of a race can vary greatly, from as short as five to twelve furlongs (1.0 to 2.4 km).
Horses are trained for racehorses from a very young age. Due to their unnatural training and confinement, they are subjected to physical and mental stress that can manifest in destructive behavior, such as cribbing — biting on the gate of its stall for 23 hours a day — and self-mutilating behaviors like self-harm or kicking. In a testimony before the New York State Senate, equine veterinarian Kraig Kulikowski likened keeping a 1,000-pound horse confined alone in a 12-by-12-foot stall to locking a 100-pound child into a four-by-four-foot closet for 23 hours a day.
In addition to physical and psychological stress, the sport of horse racing is also plagued with an array of health and safety issues. The high rate of breakdowns and fatalities before, during and after a race is especially troubling for animal welfare advocates.
As a result, some states have passed legislation to regulate the sport and ban the use of certain drugs such as phenylbutazone and diloxin to reduce injuries. Other measures include increasing the size of sulkies and changing the track to allow for safer turns. Despite these efforts, the number of horse deaths continues to rise. In April, journalist Laura Drape and filmmaker Kent Hoppert released a documentary titled “Broken Horses” about the issue. The film is the result of a year of research, analyzing confidential documents and covert recordings to understand what is happening in the horse racing industry.