Horse racing is a sport where bettors place wagers on the outcome of a race. The horses are ridden by jockeys, who use a whip to control the animal’s speed and direction. The sport has a long history and is practiced in societies around the world. It is a popular sport for bettors and an important part of culture, including mythology.
The first horse races took place in Ancient Greece, Rome, Babylon, and other ancient civilizations. Archaeological records show that they continued into the medieval period, when it was common for people to bet on a horse’s performance in a race. During the Civil War, betting was prohibited in most states, but it resumed after the conflict. Today, horse races are held in nearly every state and are a significant source of revenue for track owners.
Before a race, bettors often look at the color and sheen of a horse’s coat in a walking ring. A bright, rippling coat indicates that the horse is in top condition and ready to run. A balk, or refusal to run, is a sign that the horse is injured or frightened. A jockey may try to correct a balk by urging the horse with a whip, though this can injure the animal and is illegal.
A thoroughbred’s training and racing can be highly demanding, and many of these animals suffer injuries while in the midst of a race. As a result, many horses are subjected to cocktails of legal and illegal drugs to mask injuries and enhance their performance. Many of these horses, fittingly referred to as “bleeders” in the racing industry, will experience exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). This causes the horse to bleed from its lungs, which is not only dangerous but can cause the death of the animal.
The deaths of Eight Belles and Medina Spirit prompted a review of the sport’s integrity. While the number of equine fatalities has decreased, horse racing is not yet without its problems.
In recent years, scholars have studied how horse race reporting can harm third-party political candidates and hurt voters. When journalists frame elections as a competitive game, focusing on public opinion polls and giving the most attention to frontrunners, it is often the case that only one party will benefit. But other research shows that the news media can improve the quality of its coverage if it shifts its focus to policy issues and to underdog candidates that have a good chance of winning. This collection of articles focuses on how the news media can do this by adopting practices that are modeled after horse racing coverage. It includes an introduction to the concept of horse race reporting, a discussion of how newsrooms can implement probabilistic forecasting, and examples of this new style of journalism in action. Also included is a list of resources for additional reading. This collection was originally published in September 2019 and is updated periodically.