Horse Race – The Sport of Kings
Horse race is a sport of horseback riding in which two or more horses compete over a set distance. The horse that crosses the finish line first is declared the winner. The horse race is one of the oldest sports in the world, and it has evolved from a primitive contest of speed or stamina between two horses to an international spectacle with fields of hundreds of runners, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, and immense sums of money awarded to the winners.
While the precise origins of horse racing are unknown, archaeological evidence indicates that both four-hitch chariot and mounted (bareback) races were popular forms of public entertainment in ancient Greece and Rome. In addition, the contest between Odin’s steeds and the giant Hrungnir played an important role in Norse mythology.
The rules of a horse race vary among national organizations, but most follow the same basic structure: the winner is the horse that crosses the finish line first. The rules also specify the size of the field, the weight of the winning horse, and how the race is conducted. For example, the race may be run over a certain distance or on a particular type of track. Betting on horse races is a popular pastime around the world. Bettors can place bets on individual horses, accumulator bets, and other exotic bets. Depending on the rules of the racetrack, bettors can win cash prizes or track rewards such as merchandise or food.
Some people criticize the practice of horse racing, arguing that it is inhumane or corrupted by doping and overbreeding. However, many people believe that the “Sport of Kings,” as it is sometimes called, is a symbol of courage and endurance, and that while the industry may need reform, it remains fundamentally sound.
When journalists focus on who’s winning and losing—a phenomenon known as horse race coverage—voters, candidates, and the news industry itself suffer, a growing body of research suggests. Researchers Johanna Dunaway and Regina G. Lawrence reviewed newspaper stories that covered elections for governor and U.S. Senate in 2004 and 2006. They found that corporate-owned newspapers were more likely than small-town and independent papers to use horse race coverage, especially when a close race was underway. In addition, they discovered that horse race coverage was more common in the weeks leading up to Election Day. The results of the study were published in the journal “Communications Research” in 2023. The full article is available on the journal’s website. The research was commissioned by the Center for Media and Public Affairs at the University of Pennsylvania. A summary of the report was published in “The Philadelphia Inquirer” on Oct. 23. The original version of this article was published on Sept. 19, 2019. The original version can be found on the Inquirer’s website. This article is reprinted with permission from the Inquirer. For more articles like this, visit The Inquirer’s website.
Horse race is a sport of horseback riding in which two or more horses compete over a set distance. The horse that crosses the finish line first is declared the winner. The horse race is one of the oldest sports in the world, and it has evolved from a primitive contest of speed or stamina between two horses to an international spectacle with fields of hundreds of runners, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, and immense sums of money awarded to the winners. While the precise origins of horse racing are unknown, archaeological evidence indicates that both four-hitch chariot and mounted (bareback) races were popular forms of public entertainment in ancient Greece and Rome. In addition, the contest between Odin’s steeds and the giant Hrungnir played an important role in Norse mythology. The rules of a horse race vary among national organizations, but most follow the same basic structure: the winner is the horse that crosses the finish line first. The rules also specify the size of the field, the weight of the winning horse, and how the race is conducted. For example, the race may be run over a certain distance or on a particular type of track. Betting on horse races is a popular pastime around the world. Bettors can place bets on individual horses, accumulator bets, and other exotic bets. Depending on the rules of the racetrack, bettors can win cash prizes or track rewards such as merchandise or food. Some people criticize the practice of horse racing, arguing that it is inhumane or corrupted by doping and overbreeding. However, many people believe that the “Sport of Kings,” as it is sometimes called, is a symbol of courage and endurance, and that while the industry may need reform, it remains fundamentally sound. When journalists focus on who’s winning and losing—a phenomenon known as horse race coverage—voters, candidates, and the news industry itself suffer, a growing body of research suggests. Researchers Johanna Dunaway and Regina G. Lawrence reviewed newspaper stories that covered elections for governor and U.S. Senate in 2004 and 2006. They found that corporate-owned newspapers were more likely than small-town and independent papers to use horse race coverage, especially when a close race was underway. In addition, they discovered that horse race coverage was more common in the weeks leading up to Election Day. The results of the study were published in the journal “Communications Research” in 2023. The full article is available on the journal’s website. The research was commissioned by the Center for Media and Public Affairs at the University of Pennsylvania. A summary of the report was published in “The Philadelphia Inquirer” on Oct. 23. The original version of this article was published on Sept. 19, 2019. The original version can be found on the Inquirer’s website. This article is reprinted with permission from the Inquirer. For more articles like this, visit The Inquirer’s website.