The sound of thundering hooves barrelling down the stretch is one of the most iconic moments at any horse race. It’s a moment that is meant to thrill, but also to instill fear. When the horses hit that stretch, their muscles are tensed up to the limit and the pace is picking up. The race is getting close, and the crowd begins to cheer.
The horse is a creature that has evolved into a formidable athlete with the ability to run fast, leap high, and pull a heavy load. Horses are bred for these traits and raced as a sport in order to earn money from bettors. While it has been argued that horse races are nothing more than an elaborate form of gambling, the popularity of the game and its massive public spectacle have made horse racing one of the world’s oldest sports.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, horse racing was transformed from a private diversion of the leisure class into a giant public-entertainment business. The sport became more widely available to the general public as a result of technological and social changes, including the development of a computerized pari-mutuel betting system in 1984 and the introduction of televised races.
To make it easier for fans to place bets on their favorite horse, the horse race industry began creating different types of races with specific eligibilities. For example, races were established that allowed only the top horses based on their previous performance or race history. In addition, the most important races were assigned grades indicating the level of competition and prestige.
Horses are pushed far beyond their natural limits in the race course, and many of them will bleed from their lungs, a condition known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. To mitigate this risk, horses are routinely given cocktails of legal and illegal drugs that mask injuries and enhance their performance.
Many of the races are handicapped, which means that the racing secretary assigns weight allowances designed to equalize the chances of each entrant. The weight allowances are based on the age, gender, and birthplace of the horse as well as their previous performance. The races are also categorized based on the distance of the race and the quality of the field.
In the last quarter mile of a race, the leaders are in the homestretch, and the jockeys are urging their mounts with huge strides and hypnotic smoothness. At the top of the stretch, War of Will and McKinzie are battling it out for first place.
When journalists cover elections by framing them as a horse race—that is, as a competition between two candidates—it does voters, candidates, and the news industry itself a disservice, according to a growing body of research. The horse-race narrative reduces political debates to a series of tactical maneuvers, and discourages people from seeking out more complex information about their choices for governor or U.S. senator or presidential candidate. It is most prevalent in close races, and during the weeks leading up to Election Day.