Horse race refers to a competitive contest characterized by ups and downs. The term has also come to be used to describe political events, where mudslinging and attack ads can obscure the real issues at stake. When journalists cover elections primarily in terms of who’s winning or losing—what’s called horse race coverage—voters, candidates and the news industry itself suffer.
The equestrian sport of horse racing has a long and distinguished history, with evidence of its existence found in ancient cultures. It has been practised in Europe, Asia and Africa for thousands of years. It is also an integral part of popular culture, reflected for example in the contest between Odin and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology. Despite its long heritage, horse races are a dynamic and evolving sport. New technology, advances in breeding and increased awareness of animal welfare have all influenced the future of horse racing.
Individual flat races can be run over a variety of distances, ranging from 400 yards to more than four miles (6.4 km). Shorter races are typically known as sprints and longer races as routes. Fast acceleration is required to win a sprint and stamina is more important in route races. A jockey is able to urge the horse on by rubbing his or her hand up and down its neck during a race, a practice called hand riding. This is a more natural form of urging than whipping, which involves using the jockey’s hands, arms and legs to control the horse.
A horse’s chance of winning a race is determined by the odds it is offering, which are displayed on the tote board at the track. A horse that offers better odds than its actual chances of winning is an overlay, while one with worse odds is a dog or underlay. In a parimutuel system of wagering, winning bettors receive all money wagered by the losers after a deduction of a percentage by the track.
The horse race lexicon is a rich and varied one, reflecting the wide range of cultural meanings associated with the sport. The synthesis of informants’ responses to three conventional verbal-only questions of the larger interview schedule is discussed below in relation to key themes emerging from all interviews: the notions of naturalising, normalising and downplaying horse race practices; the idea of the thoroughbred as an eager and willing participant in racing versus the characterization of it as being agitated and disturbed; and the perception of equipment and its applications. A photo-elicitation phase was also conducted and the resulting photographs are included in this article.