Horse races have long been an integral component of human civilization since recorded history began. Not only have horse races served as an entertainment activity among monarchs and peasants alike, they have been used as a source of friendly competition among friends. Furthermore, this activity even plays an important role in mythology – such as Odin’s contest between Hrungnir’s steeds and Odin himself!
After the American Civil War, horse racing entered its modern era in the US with increased wagering due to new gambling laws and computerized pari-mutuel betting systems. These innovations helped expand beyond local circuits into international racing circuits and drive growth of this industry.
As horseracing developed, its popularity rose for similar reasons as other sports: betting, social interaction and entertainment. Furthermore, horseracing offered its own spectacle with elaborate stables and show rings adorned with glitter. By the late 19th century, horseracing had become an international sport with fans traveling from dozens of nations visiting racetracks to place bets and cheer on their favorite runners.
Bettors can use the coat of a horse in a walking ring to judge its readiness to compete: when shiny and bright, its coat tells bettors it is ready for racing. At race starting gates, horses which balk or refuse to step onto the track may become fearful or angry and don’t perform as expected – making a rider’s skills and judgment essential in soothing them down for optimal racing results.
An indicator of a horse’s fitness to compete lies within their coat and physical state, yet some horses may exhibit symptoms during the race of easily bleeding during it. Horses who bleed heavily at the end of a long race could have sustained serious injuries like fractured hock fractures or cuts; blood loss could also indicate illness; therefore its condition must be closely monitored during its race participation.
Political reporters often receive criticism for what has come to be known as “horse-race journalism.” This term refers to their endless obsession with polling data, statistics and speculation regarding who might win or lose in an election. Researchers have discovered that large-chain newspapers tend to report on elections this way more often. Poynter reporter Annie Aguiar conducted interviews with those working as actual horse-race journalists on how they cover politics.