Horse racing is a worldwide sport with storied traditions and millions of fans. But it’s also a business built on cruelty to animals. From breeding to training to the final destination of race horses – slaughterhouses – the racing industry is full of abuse and neglect. And while a growing awareness of animal welfare has driven some improvements, many more remain elusive.

A horse’s chances of winning are largely determined by how well he or she trains. Trainers spend time preparing their runners for an event by leading them through routine jogs and gallops in the early mornings at a track or stables, and gradually increasing their speed. Those who have been conditioned to the highest level will then work, or breeze, which means that they run at a faster pace for a set distance. This exercise can give a clue to how well a runner will perform in a race.

Once a horse is in the starting gate, he or she must be guided into position in front of the other runners, and the starter hits a button that opens the front gates to start the race. Once all the horses are in the starting gate, the field will be released and the race begins.

The most prestigious races offer the biggest purses. For fairness, each runner is assigned a weight to carry for the race. This is based on several factors including age, sex, and training. As a result, the most talented horses have the best chance of winning.

But despite the best efforts of trainers and owners, the rigors of the sport can be devastating for horses. Horses are vulnerable to many injuries, including degenerative conditions such as laminitis and equine osteoarthritis. They can also suffer from the effects of medication and other substances used to improve performance, as well as poor diets that lead to nutritional deficiencies. And, as a result of these injuries and the inherent stress of racing, dozens of horses die in each year and many more are crippled, disfigured or destroyed.

In addition to the health and safety risks for horses, jockeys are at risk as well. On average, two jockeys are killed and 60 are paralyzed each year. They are also at increased risk of depression and mental illness. And while the sport has a history of abusive treatment of jockeys, recent undercover investigations have revealed that some trainers treat their jockeys with contempt.

Whether they are watching from the stands or betting on their favorite, horse-racing fans are often subject to an endless stream of polls, data and statistics that inform what’s up and who’s down. But how much does all that analyzing affect the actual outcome of the race? This is a question that has intrigued scholars and journalists. To find out, researchers Johanna Dunaway and Regina G. Lawrence analyzed a large number of newspaper articles published between Sept. 1 and Election Day in 2004, 2006 and 2008. They found that newspapers with more corporate ownership were more likely to frame elections as competitive games.