What is a Horse Race?
A horse race is a sporting event, a contest in which two or more horses compete for victory by running over a course, generally over a mile. A horse that wins a race is awarded a trophy or other prize, and its jockey may win a cash bonus. There are several types of races, including stakes, handicap and sprint races. A race is typically run on a dirt, turf or synthetic surface.
As a form of entertainment, horse racing is popular in the United States and elsewhere. It is also a major source of income for the racing industry, and it helps fund equine research and development. However, the sport is controversial because of its treatment of animals and its role in gambling. Many animal rights activists are concerned about the welfare of racehorses.
Those concerns include the unnatural conditions in which racehorses live and the gruesome injuries that occur during races. Moreover, they often suffer from “breakdowns” and are subjected to cocktails of legal and illegal drugs that are designed to mask their injuries and enhance their performance.
In addition, horse racing is often associated with illegal betting and other forms of gambling. Some horse races are held on private property, and the owners may not know who is placing bets on their horses. As a result, there are often large sums of money wagered on a single race.
A horse race can be won by a jockey who is able to coax a horse to the front of the pack and lead for a significant distance of the race. This is known as a “good trip.” A horse that has a bad trip, on the other hand, may experience unusual difficulties such as racing wide or being boxed in by other horses.
The earliest organized horse races were held in the British colonies during the 1660s. These races were based on stamina rather than speed, until after the Civil War, when speeds became the primary goal.
When journalists focus primarily on who is winning and losing in an election, instead of policy issues — what is sometimes called horse race coverage — voters, candidates and the news industry itself suffer, a growing body of research suggests. Our updated roundup highlights multiple studies on the subject.