Horse racing is a sport in which horses are guided by jockeys over a fixed distance of a track, jumping obstacles (if present) to complete the course. Winners are awarded prize money, based on the number of places they finish in the race. In the United States, a race is typically called a “stakes” and is graded on a set of criteria, including speed, stamina, and agility. The term horse race can also refer to a close contest in any area, and has been used in political contexts since the early 19th century.
It is no exaggeration to say that no other sporting event captivates the human imagination as fully as a great horse race. From the ceremonial pageantry of major events to the enduring love for the animals themselves, horse races elicit a universal fascination that transcends culture, class and language.
As the world continues to evolve and change, however, horse racing has had to adapt to a range of new conditions and challenges. Among these are improved track safety, new technology for assessing and evaluating a horse’s condition, and the development of medical and therapeutic treatments.
For example, a thermal imaging camera can help detect when a horse may be overheating after the race, MRI scanners and X-rays can spot an injury or illness before it becomes more serious, and 3D printing is helping to create casts, splints and prosthetics for injured or disabled horses. Despite the rapid changes in the world around them, the vast majority of horse race participants continue to hold true to the traditional values and traditions that have characterized the sport for generations.
While a great race is defined in many different ways, the most important attribute is its quality of competition. In the world of horse racing, this means that it must be a truly competitive race, with the best horses and the most prestigious settings.
The race that is considered the greatest in the world, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, is one of these. As the most famous and prestigious race in Europe, it pits two top-class horses, Grundy and Bustino, in an epic battle of supremacy. In a race that a British journalist described as being “the most magnificent Flat race I have ever seen,” the two horses went head to head all the way up the final straight, with Bustino refusing to let up until he had to give in.
A growing body of research shows that when journalists focus primarily on who is winning or losing — what has been dubbed horse race coverage — voters, candidates and the news industry suffers. Our updated roundup of research explores the many ways that horse race reporting can damage the credibility and legitimacy of news coverage.