What is a Horse Race?
A horse race is a contest of speed and stamina between two or more horses. It is one of the oldest sports and has undergone virtually no change in its basic concept over the centuries. But beneath its romanticized facade of fancy outfits and mint juleps lies a world of drugs, injuries, gruesome breakdowns, and slaughter. The sport also requires that horses be bred and raised specifically for racing. The pedigree of a horse, or its family tree, is one of the most important factors in determining whether or not it will be able to compete successfully in a race.
The top four finishers in a horse race are considered “placed” (or “shown”). Place bets are made by placing a wager on the first, second, third or fourth horse to cross the finish line. The number of places paid out depends on the size of the field in the race. For example, a race with eight or more runners pays out three places. Betting to show is a common wager in Europe but not as prevalent in the United States.
A runner must be of a certain breed to be eligible to race and has to have a pedigree that proves it. The horse’s sire and dam must be purebred members of the same breed as the runner. The horse must be a member of the same breed to race in steeplechases, where jumping over obstacles is a major component of the game.
In flat races, or those that take place on a paved surface, a horse is expected to run at a brisk pace. This is called the “pace.” The horse may be a galloper, which is bred for speed, or a trotter, which is bred for stamina.
When a horse is not running at a brisk pace, it is said to have broken its stride. To avoid breaking their stride, most trotters wear hobbles, which are straps that connect the horse’s front and back legs on each side to help prevent them from pulling each other off balance. Pacers, on the other hand, do not wear hobbles.
An elite group of racing officials & handicappers from five continents compile the annual ratings which denote the best horses in each distance category, sprint or mile, turf or dirt and fillies & mares. The ratings are based on the performances of the horses in elite races over a designated period and also takes into account the quality of opposition they have faced.
Although there are critics of horse race polls, their use is not only longstanding but also protected by the freedoms of speech and press. Those who argue that news outlets need to do less horse race journalism and more serious reporting might be able to find some support from media scholars who study elections and the effect of news coverage on people’s decisions. But the majority of American voters would probably disagree. They might like to see a few more quick horse race polls and fewer debates.