A horse race is a contest between horses, usually at a track or on an open field. It is a popular sport in many countries. It is also the basis for a variety of betting games. The horse races have been a part of the culture in civilizations around the world for thousands of years. They are often described in myth and legend.
The industry claims that the horses are born to run and love to compete. However, the truth is that it is unnatural for horses to be whipped on their backs to sprint, especially at the breakneck speed required for a horse race. Moreover, racing is an extremely dangerous sport. Injuries are common and frequently fatal.
In the wild, horses understand self-preservation and will stop if they are injured. On a racetrack, humans perched on their backs compel them to sprint, often under the threat of whips and even illegal electric shocking devices, at speeds so high that they can suffer severe injuries and hemorrhage from their lungs. The cruelty of the sport has been well documented by several investigations.
Throughout history, horse races were a major form of entertainment and betting on the outcome has been a lucrative industry. In the United States, horse races are regulated by state laws. Some horse races are considered stakes races, which have higher purses and bet limits. Others are open or claiming races, which have lower purses and bet limits. Bets are placed on a winning horse, the winner of a race, or an exotic bet such as a pick 3.
A jockey (also called a rider) is a person who mounts a horse for a race and guides it during a race by using a whip. A jockey is required to wear a helmet and clothes for safety reasons. A jockey is also responsible for the care and feeding of the horse that he rides.
Before a race, the jockeys (or riders) must weigh in and report to the paddock, where they receive instructions from their trainers. The horses are then paraded past stewards, who inspect them for proper weight, any rule infractions, and saliva or urine samples that may be needed to detect the use of prohibited drugs.
While some critics of horse race coverage argue that it distracts from more substantive policy issues, the First Amendment freedoms of speech and press allow news outlets broad leeway to cover whatever they want. A growing body of research shows that when journalists focus on who is winning or losing instead of policy issues – what is known as horse race reporting – voters, candidates and the news industry itself suffer. This updated roundup of research on horse race reporting includes new research on third-party political candidates, probabilistic forecasting and TV news coverage of elections.