A horse race is a competition in which horses are pitted against each other over a specific distance. It is a sport that has evolved from a primitive contest of speed and stamina between two animals to a multibillion-dollar industry involving thousands of racehorses, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment and enormous sums of money. Although it has become a global sport, its basic concept remains unchanged: A horse that crosses the finish line first wins.
In addition to being a popular spectator sport, horse racing is also used as an effective marketing tool and a form of entertainment for the general public. A wide range of media and merchandising is involved in the promotion of horse races, from ad banners and t-shirts to televised coverage and betting pools. The sport is a major source of revenue for owners, who have the option to sell their racehorses after an event.
One of the most famous horse races is the Melbourne Cup, also known as the “race that stops a nation.” The Melbourne Cup is a flat race in which only the best horses from around the world compete. The horse that crosses the finish line first wins the prize money of about AU$300,000.
To be eligible to participate in a horse race, the horses must have a pedigree that qualifies them for the event. Generally, the horse must have a sire (father) and dam who are both purebred individuals of the same breed. This is important, as the quality of a horse’s performance depends on its genetics.
A horse is a large, fast-moving animal that is typically trained to run at speeds exceeding 40 miles per hour on tracks made of hard-packed dirt. A horse’s skeletal system is not yet fully developed when it begins training for racing, and many of the injuries sustained by racehorses are severe. Injuries can include fractures, lacerations, and hemorrhaging from the lungs.
While some people enjoy watching horse races and betting on their favorite horses, most do not consider the treatment of the racehorses. Despite the romanticized image of horse racing, behind the scenes, horses are subjected to drugs and other abuses, often leading to painful breakdowns or even death. A horse that does not win the race or is injured in the process is not likely to return to the track for another race.
A growing body of research shows that when news media cover elections by focusing on who is in the lead and who is behind – a practice known as horse race coverage – voters, candidates and the media are all hurt. Researchers found that when political journalists focus on who is winning and losing instead of discussing policy issues, it discourages voters from engaging with the democratic process. This type of reporting also exacerbates cynicism about politics and elevates the prominence of third-party political candidates, according to an analysis by Johanna Dunaway and Regina G. Lawrence. The study analyzed newspapers’ election news coverage between Sept. 1 and Election Day in 2004, 2006, and 2008. The authors also found that corporate-owned and large-chain newspapers were more likely to use the horse race framing strategy than independent and locally owned newspapers.