What is Horse Racing?

Horse racing is a sport in which a human (rider) aims to complete a circuit of obstacles (the race course), with the fastest time winning. It is a worldwide sport, with races held in many countries and territories, often in conjunction with other events such as fashion shows or parades. Many of the races are internationally renowned, such as the Kentucky Derby or the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Some races have been declared by a governing body to be among the greatest ever run, such as Secretariat’s record-breaking performance in the 1973 Belmont Stakes or Arkle’s six-length routing of an international field in the 1965 Gold Cup.

A race can be a simple affair or a very complex one, with multiple hurdles and fences to jump and a long distance to cover. Usually, a horse starts a flat race as a juvenile, then progresses to hurdling after a year or so, and finally, if thought capable, moves on to steeplechasing. There are also endurance races, where a horse is forced to keep running for extended periods of time over long distances.

Injuries are not uncommon in horse racing. A racehorse is a massive animal with spindly legs and a fragile spine and neck. Breeding these creatures for their speed and agility means they are thrust into intensive training at an age of about 18 months, and a typical racehorse is racing at the tender age of 2 — the rough equivalent of a first-grader.

As a result, the horse racing industry has developed a number of rules that are designed to minimise injuries and promote safety. These include a maximum weight limit for jockeys, which is typically around 150 pounds; the use of head protectors to prevent head trauma; the requirement that riders wear appropriate footwear for the course; and the mandatory wearing of protective clothing in case of an accident.

It is also required that all races be conducted under the supervision of a steward. Depending on the type of race, a steward may have the power to disqualify a horse from a race and to impose fines or penalties for any infraction.

As for politics, US newsrooms have been admonished for years over their tendency to treat elections as a horse race, with reporters endlessly parsing polls and data to predict who will lead at any given moment. This horse-race coverage can harm voters, candidates and even news outlets themselves. Two scholars offer some suggestions for improving it.