Horse races are contests used to determine the winner of an event involving horses. Historically, these contests took place as part of the Olympic Games of ancient Greece from 700-40 BCE; more modern examples can be seen across Asia and Europe. The Olympic Games is where we first witnessed organized racing; its predecessor events (such as chariot and mounted (bareback) events) began as early as 700-40 BC. While exact dates for when organized horse racing started remains unknown; evidence exists of horse sports across many societies for at least several millennia!
Samuel Ogle, Proprietary Governor of Maryland in 1745, introduced organized thoroughbred racing into America through an “English style” race at Annapolis. Over time, racetracks sprung up all across North America and Europe as the sport grew in popularity. Each horse race consists of multiple heats or races where winners are determined based on speed, number of heats won, etc. Betting on horse races takes into account these elements when making decisions regarding outcome predictions.
Even though random drug testing is mandatory at most racetracks, horses still frequently test positive for drugs and experience physical abuse during training and careers. Animal behaviorists argue that their unnatural training and confinement inhibit normal instincts while creating mental and emotional difficulties for these horses; often this manifests itself through repetitive, compulsive behavior such as biting the gate repeatedly or pulling back their neck muscles while pulling backwards and grunting, or self-harm. In extreme cases, an injured or distressed horse could even be killed through euthanasia or sold at auction or slaughterhouse.
Human participants find horse racing an exhilarating and captivating sport, featuring high stakes betting with professional jockeys staking thousands of dollars at stake on each race. Breeding programs create speedy horses bred specifically for speed and endurance with stunning colors; as each race progresses it becomes increasingly about their rider’s skills in harnessing every horse to its fullest potential.
Horse race coverage — often known as newshogging by academics and others — has long been criticised as harmful for voters, candidates and the news industry as a whole. A recent study conducted by two researchers analyzed print news stories covering governor and U.S. Senate races from 2004-2006 that used horse race reporting; their conclusions supported previous criticism of such reporting by academics and others.