The horse race is a sport of horses that are either ridden by jockeys or pulled by sulkies and their drivers. It is one of the oldest sports, and its basic concept has changed little over the centuries. It is an endurance contest of speed and stamina, with the winner being the first to cross the finish line. Throughout history, horses have been trained to race, and modern races often involve large fields of runners and sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment. The word horse race may also be used to refer to a contest of political strategy, as in a horse race for the presidency.
In order to participate in a horse race, a horse must have a pedigree that meets the requirements of the sport. For example, in flat horse racing (not including steeplechases), the horse must have a sire and dam that are purebred individuals of whatever breed the race is for. The horse must also be of the right age for that type of race.
The horse must have a trainer who is licensed to train the horse and teach it how to run in a given style. The training must be done in a facility that is approved by the state or local government and must follow the rules set forth by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA). The horse must be veterinaryally examined before each race, and any health problems that could interfere with the horse’s performance must be addressed before the race begins.
Horses are social animals, and the racing industry claims that they love to compete. Patrick Battuello, a spokesman for the activist group Horseracing Wrongs, calls this idea “the Big Lie.” He and others say that racing is unequivocally unnatural. The horses are drugged, whipped and pushed to their limits, and many of those that don’t die in the course of a race will spend most of their lives in solitary confinement.
When the term horse race is used in a political context, it usually refers to a close contest between two candidates or parties. This contest is often characterized by the use of vicious personal attacks, and it may be difficult to distinguish the real issues behind the vote. Moreover, the horse race is often framed by quick polls conducted in key swing states that make it easy for the public to get caught up in the mudslinging and attack ads. This has contributed to the popularity of the horse race as a political metaphor.