Horse racing is a brutal, dangerous sport in which Thoroughbred horses are forced to run around racetracks at speeds so fast that they suffer debilitating injuries and often die – if they survive the race at all. Behind the romanticized facade of this sport is a world of injury, drug abuse, gruesome breakdowns and slaughter. Despite this, the term horse race continues to be used by journalists to describe political contests, a practice that has long been criticized by scholars of media and politics for framing elections as a competitive game that relies heavily on public opinion polls while paying little attention to the underdog candidates who might make a difference.
Horse races are usually run over a distance of several miles on a dirt or turf track with two or more turns. The number of turns in the race determines how far a horse will have to travel, the distance of the race and the speed at which the race is run. In addition to speed and distance, a horse race is classified by its grade, the amount of money awarded to the winner and its historical significance.
In order to qualify for a horse race, a runner must meet certain criteria set by the racing secretary. These include the horse’s age, gender, stud book, and racing history. The racing secretary also assigns weights to each runner in order to ensure that all competitors have an equal chance of winning the race. The higher the grade of a horse race, the more money the runner will receive.
During the race, the jockey will ride on top of the horse, using his whip to encourage it and steer it in the direction he wants it to go. There are different ways a jockey can influence the speed at which a horse runs, including how high or low he will sit on the back of the animal. A hand ride is when a jockey does not use the whip, but instead urges the horse on by “scrubbing” his hand up and down its neck.
When a horse is ready to race, it will be led into the starting gate. Once a field of horses is assembled, the starter hits a button that opens the front doors of each stall so they can all enter the track together. Once everyone is in the gate, the starter will hit another button that sets off the race.
The most important thing for a runner to do is to stay in the lead, which means keeping close contact with the other runners. This will require the runner to be nimble, and the jockey will need to be able to move quickly in case the lead changes or an obstacle appears. In some cases, the runner may be asked to sprint to get back in the lead. If this happens, the runner is said to have blown the lead. A runner that blew the lead and fell out of contention for the win is disqualified.