A horse race is a contest of speed among horses either ridden by jockeys or pulling sulkies driven by drivers. The horses are usually of the same breed and race in an area called a track or oval. The first person to cross the finish line wins the race. The word is also used in politics, to refer to an election contested by two or more opponents who have similar odds of winning. The term also has an analogous meaning in the world of thoroughbred horse racing, where winners are determined by comparing horses’ performances and pedigrees.
During the early stages of an American presidential election, many journalists liken the campaign to a horse race, with polls showing candidates in a dead heat. But the metaphor risks making voters and candidates focus too much on a horse’s color or pedigree instead of the policies that would govern the country if elected.
In a horse race, a jockey or driver controls a horse with a bridle or saddle, using reins to guide and steer it as it runs. A rider or driver can also use a whip to discipline the animal and urge it onward. The sport is incredibly popular in the United States, and betting on horse races has become one of the biggest sources of legal gambling revenue in the country.
At Santa Anita, the eleven horses lined up to begin their run. Several jockeys glanced down at the horses’ shadow rolls, a piece of sheepskin placed over the bridge of a horse’s nose to keep it from seeing its own shadow on the track and shying away or jumping from it. Those who bet on horses often look at the animals’ coats in the walking ring before the race, to see if they are bright and rippling with sweat, musclesd excitement.
The horses broke cleanly from the gate, and War of Will took an early lead. McKinzie, a small-framed bay, was close behind, followed by Mongolian Groom, who seemed to be fighting to stay in the middle of the pack. The horses were running into the last of the sun, and the throngs of spectators cheered loudly.
A horse’s pedigree – its father and mother – determines whether it is eligible to race. To compete in a horse race, a thoroughbred must have a pedigree that includes a breeding history that meets specific requirements. These requirements include that the horse’s sire and dam are purebreds of a particular breed of horse. A thoroughbred is also required to have a certain number of years under the age of three before it can compete in a horse race.