Horse races are events that pit horses against each other in a game of speed and skill. The sport has a rich history and has been practiced since ancient times. Archeological records of chariot and mounted races have been found in ancient Greece, Rome, Babylon, Syria, and Arabia. Horse racing is also the basis for myth and legend, such as Odin’s contest with Hrungnir in Norse mythology. Modern horse race is typically run on a flat surface with Thoroughbreds riding astride or Standardbreds pulling a conveyance with a driver. Other horse races involve jumping.
In addition to the thrill of watching a race, horse races are popular with bettors who place wagers on the outcome. A bet on a winning horse can result in large payouts and loud cheering by spectators. The terms used in a horse race can be confusing, but knowing some of the basics can help a novice better understand what is happening.
Blinkers: Equipment worn on a horse’s bridle that restricts its vision to the sides and helps it stay focused. Blinkers are a necessary accessory for racetrack horses.
Track conditions: Weather and the condition of a racetrack can greatly affect how a race is run. If it has rained, a muddy track may slow down the horses. Conversely, a dry track can speed them up.
Field: The number of horses competing in a race. Generally, the larger the field, the more difficult it is for one horse to win.
Quarter horse: A breed of racehorse that excels at sprinting short distances. Often, these horses are bred to compete in handicap races where the horses carry weights to even out the competition.
Maiden race: A race for horses that have yet to win. Horses may receive allowances in these races based on their experience, age, and how recently they ran.
Stakes race: A high-quality race that requires a hefty entry fee from the owner(s). The best horses compete in these races.
Allowance: A race for horses that aren’t ready to face stakes-class competition yet. These races allow horses to gain experience while carrying less weight than their competitors.
Horse’s head over finish line: A horse wins a race when its nose crosses the finish line first. The horse with the shortest nose over the finish line wins the bet placed on it to win.
Horse race coverage: When journalists report on elections by framing them as a horse race, the candidates, voters, and news outlets all suffer. According to multiple studies, strategic news coverage elevates people’s cynicism toward politics and can discourage them from voting. Researchers at the Harvard Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy have analyzed newspaper coverage of state and U.S. Senate races in 2004 and 2006. They found that corporate-owned and large-chain newspapers were more likely to publish stories that framed elections as a horse race. These types of stories are referred to as “horse race coverage.” The research also showed that younger people are most susceptible to this type of horse race reporting because they have limited experience with the democratic process.