A horse race is a contest of speed between horses that are either ridden by jockeys or pull sulkies and are driven by drivers. The term can also be used in a metaphorical sense to describe an extremely close contest of any kind, particularly in the political realm. With all the mudslinging, attack ads and other horse race theatrics of a presidential election campaign, it is easy for the actual issues at stake to get lost amid all the noise. When used in this context, the phrase is often a pejorative, implying a sloppy and unscientific process that will result in a winner with little substance behind his win.
The horse race is an ancient and controversial sport that continues to be practiced at a variety of locations around the world. It involves humans perched on the backs of the animals, urging them with whips to breakneck speeds that are way beyond their natural limits in terms of endurance and health. In the course of a race, horses often sustain catastrophic injuries as they fly through obstacles in close quarters. They may also break bones, sprain their ankles, develop heart attacks or even die. In some cases, injured horses are simply left to linger at the track until they are too badly damaged to run any further or, if it is clear that they are not going to recover, they are euthanized by veterinarians.
In racing, horses of a variety of breeds compete over different distances. Thoroughbreds are the most common and are bred specifically for speed and endurance. Other races include steeplechases, which involve a series of jumps that can be anywhere from low to towering. Steeplechases are especially arduous and dangerous for the horses, who must use their slender front legs to leap the obstacles in a very short period of time. The Grand National, the world’s most prestigious steeplechase, is an exhilarating event for spectators but an agonizing one for the horses, many of whom suffer fatal injuries each year.
A race is supervised by a group of stewards and patrol judges. During the race they are looking for any violations of racing rules, which are enforced by hand signals and by a tote board that flashes messages such as “inquiry” and “checked” when possible infractions are discovered. In addition, the stewards look at photos of the finish, and sometimes the results are determined by comparing those pictures to the original film of the race.
A race begins with horses entering the starting gate, which is usually electronically opened. They then race over a set distance of a mile or so, passing each of numbered markers that denote their position in the race and, at the end of the race, crossing the winning line to earn prize money. To be eligible for a race, horses must meet certain conditions, such as age, weight, sex and other criteria. Some horses are considered ‘homebreds’, meaning they were bred by their owners. Others are ‘colts’, or horses under the age of five.