A horse race is a competition between horses in which the winner is determined by who crosses the finish line first. The race can be a flat or an equestrian jumping event. The horses are ridden by jockeys and the contestants use the whip to guide them as they race around a track. The horses may be made of different materials such as metal, wood or leather. The race is a test of skill, agility and endurance for the animals as well as the rider and their trainers. There are many different types of horse races around the world. Some of them have differing rules, but most follow similar guidelines. A race can also be called a dead heat if it’s impossible to determine who won the finish line.
A common use of this term is to refer to a close political contest, which can include a gubernatorial or U.S. Senate election. For example, the 2016 presidential race between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump has been described as a horse race. This is because both candidates have similar poll numbers and a slight lead over the other.
The term is also used to refer to a close sporting competition, such as tennis or golf. It is an old-fashioned expression that continues to have currency today. It is more likely to be used by older generations of Americans, although some younger people have started using it as well.
It is a dangerous sport for the horses, and many of them are injured during a race. The most common injuries are to the hooves, especially the front hoof, which is prone to laminitis, a painful and often fatal inflammation of the tissue inside a horse’s foot. Jockeys are also frequently hurt in falls, and a study of five years of California racing data found that about half of all jockey injuries were the result of a fall.
Another issue is the use of a drug to improve a horse’s performance in a race. Horses that have been given Lasix, a steroid used to increase a horse’s speed and stamina, are more likely to be injured than other horses. The medication can cause horses to suffer from serious side effects such as joint damage, a lack of balance and a sensitivity to the sun. It’s also banned in some countries and can be illegal to possess in others.
In recent years, scholars have begun studying the way in which news outlets cover elections. They have found that when journalists focus on the chances of a candidate winning — what they call horse race journalism — voters, candidates and the news industry itself suffer. In particular, the studies suggest that large chain and corporate-owned newspapers tend to engage in more horse race coverage than smaller and independently owned ones. They also seem to be more likely to engage in horse race journalism when an election is close and during the weeks leading up to it.