A horse race is a competition in which horses are ridden and guided by jockeys to the finish line. While the sport has a long history and is widely popular in many countries, there are also some concerns about it, particularly from animal welfare activists.
The term horse race is frequently used in reference to political contests, but it can also refer to other forms of close competition in equestrian sports or other industries. It can be a useful shorthand for discussing various aspects of these contests, but it is important to keep in mind that it downplays the complexity and importance of the issues involved.
In this update to a roundup of research, we look at the consequences of one of the most common ways journalists cover elections: focusing primarily on who is ahead or behind instead of policy issues. This approach, which media scholars call horse race coverage, hurts voters and candidates, research suggests.
A recent study by Johanna Dunaway and Regina G. Lawrence analyzed print news stories from a sample of 259 newspapers between September 1 and Election Day in 2004, 2006, and 2008 to understand the impact of horse race journalism. The researchers found that the more a newspaper was owned by a corporation, the more likely it was to publish horse race coverage. Similarly, horse race coverage was more common in tight races and during the weeks leading up to Election Day.
Another concern about horse racing is the treatment of horses themselves. While spectators enjoy fancy outfits and sip mint juleps, Thoroughbred racehorses are often pushed to sprint at speeds that can cause severe injuries and even death. In addition, the use of electric shock devices and drugs is not uncommon in some races. Animal advocacy informants in a new study identified three main groups of welfare issues: injuries and deaths on the racetrack, use and overuse of drugs and medication, and everyday training and husbandry practices.
Finally, there is the issue of how much weight a horse must carry during a race. This can be a critical factor in determining a horse’s chances of winning. According to the rules of a given race, each horse must be no more than a certain weight (e.g., 115 pounds for American Pharoah in the Preakness Stakes). In some instances, trainers may add weight to a horse in order to increase its chances of winning, but this practice can lead to serious injury and discomfort.
All of this is not to suggest that horses aren’t important in their own right; they are, and they are a part of our cultural heritage. However, if we continue to frame elections as a horse race rather than as a complex and multifaceted discussion of the public’s policy priorities, we will all be worse off. In the meantime, let’s be sure to celebrate this week’s upcoming holiday by remembering that, while we appreciate all our loved ones, we should not take any of them for granted.