A horse race is a contest of speed or stamina between two horses. While it has evolved from a primitive four-hitch chariot or mounted races into a sophisticated public entertainment sport involving large fields of runners, state-of-the-art electronic monitoring equipment, and huge sums of money, the basic concept remains unchanged: The horse that crosses the finish line first wins.
In the United States, organized racing dates back to colonial times. Before the Civil War, thoroughbreds were bred for stamina rather than speed. After the war, speed became the goal. Regardless of the emphasis on speed, however, injuries and breakdowns continue to be commonplace in the industry. These include cardiovascular collapse, pulmonary hemorrhage, severed spines, and broken legs. The injuries are often caused by other horses or the track itself, and a broken leg can be fatal if it is severe.
Despite these tragedies, the industry insists that it is making significant improvements. These improvements are largely due to increasing pressure from animal rights groups. PETA’s groundbreaking investigations into the training of young horses, drug use on the track, and the transport of American horses to slaughterhouses have fueled these improvements, but there is more work to be done. Moreover, the cruelty of the horse racing industry has contributed to a decline in its popularity.
With mudslinging, name calling, attack ads, and horse-race theatrics, substantive discussion of important issues easily gets lost in the shuffle. This is especially true in a presidential election, when the nastiness of the campaign can become so distracting that it is easy to forget what the issue at hand is all about.
Throughout the campaign, both candidates have resorted to the horse-race metaphor in order to appeal to the voters. However, while this tactic may be successful in the short term, it can also mask a candidate’s record.
The horse-race metaphor has been used in a variety of ways in the political realm, but its most common application is to refer to a nail-biting competition. The phrase has been used in campaigns, speeches, and articles, but it is most prevalent in the press coverage of political races.