A horse race is a contest in which horses are matched against each other to see who will win. The contest can be a sporting event or a competition in which bettors place wagers. Bettors may bet on a single horse to win (finish first), place (finish second or third) or show (win, place and show). A number of other wagering options exist including daily doubles, exactas, quinellas and pick sixes. The popularity of horse races has waxed and waned throughout history, reflecting economic prosperity and depression, war and peace. However, a resurgence of interest in the sport began in 1970s when great horses like Secretariat and Seattle Slew won the American Triple Crown.

The word race is used to describe a number of close forms of competition, not only in the context of horse racing but also in a variety of other events including political contests. For example, the election between Cruz and Rubio has been referred to as a horse race in some circles. However, it seems that the meaning of horse race in this context is shifting; mudslinging, attack ads and the spectacle surrounding some campaigns mean that substantive discussions on the issues at stake get lost.

While some critics of pre-election polling point to the fact that these polls have a tendency to skew toward a particular party or candidate, others argue that the freedoms of speech and press allow news outlets to report on whatever they choose, and that horse race journalism is not necessarily problematic in and of itself. Furthermore, the nature of horse race as a game, whereby horses are matched against each other to determine who will come out on top, means that it has an inherent level of drama that can be entertaining for spectators.

The impact of racing practices on the horses themselves is often downplayed or trivialised. Industry informants naturalise, normalise and downplay the impact of racing on the horses by claiming that these practices are just “the way things have always been done.” For example, one industry informant (TBI-1) stated that horses enjoy being led for rides, that it is a good bonding exercise and that there is nothing a horse dislikes more than having a bit in its mouth.

Other industry informants seem to ignore the impact of these practices on the horses by claiming that “everything we do to the horses is for their own good”. In a verbal-only interview, this informant said that the training process is an effective method of achieving good behaviour and that there is not much that a horse dislikes more than having its teeth pulled. This type of dismissive attitude to the behavioural and psychological impacts of horse racing on the horses themselves has the potential to lead to further denial of the need for change in the industry. This is particularly concerning given the increasing exploitation of the horse for financial gain and the growing evidence of its mental and physical suffering.