The sensation of feeling the earth shake as a mass of thundering hooves barrels down the stretch during a horse race is one of the quintessential Kentucky experiences. The experience of watching a horse race isn’t so different from the way many people watch political campaigns. In fact, researchers have studied the impact of media coverage that frames elections as a horse race and gives prominence to frontrunners and underdogs, focusing more on predicting winners than on analyzing policies and identifying issues voters care about. Known as horse race journalism, this type of reporting can hurt third-party candidates and the integrity of the electoral process.
In a horse race, bettors place wagers on which horses will cross the finish line first, second or third. A wide variety of exotic bets are available, including part wheels (using a key horse or horses in different, but not all possible, exotic wagering combinations) and accumulator bets (multiple bets placed on the same event at the same time). In some countries, horses are also handicapped against each other by having to carry more or less weight depending on their ability. This is done to promote fairness and ensure that the best horse wins, but it also has the potential to affect other factors, such as sex, age, training, and track condition.
Although some critics have denounced horse racing as inhumane and corrupt, the sport continues to attract millions of fans around the world who are captivated by the thrill of watching horses run at high speeds on lightning-fast tracks. Many races are broadcast live on television and bets can be made at a variety of online betting websites.
Despite the appeal of horse races, most people who work in the industry are not happy with the conditions under which horses are kept and trained. Most horses are forced to exert themselves beyond their capacity, leading to a variety of health problems and injuries. For example, many horses will bleed from their lungs during a race, a condition known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Some of these horses may be given cocktails of legal and illegal drugs that are intended to mask the injury and improve performance.
Some people also object to the use of whips, tongue-ties and other equipment which are designed to tame a wild animal. These devices can cause significant pain and distress when used inappropriately. The most controversial piece of horse racing equipment is the jigger, which is a battery-powered device that delivers electric shocks to a horse’s skin to control behavior. This is illegal under animal welfare laws. Nevertheless, some trainers and jockeys continue to use these devices in an effort to win the next big race. The use of jiggers has been outlawed in most European countries. In addition, horse races are often held on unsafe track surfaces, which can lead to a variety of injuries, including fractures. Some horses are injured so badly that they must be put down.
