A horse race is a type of close form of competition between horses. It can be a sporting event, a political contest or even a battle for power. The term is often used in reference to a particular contest that has high stakes and low chances of success, as is the case with a presidential election or other competitive election. However, the term can also be used as a metaphor for any type of close competition or contest that is difficult to predict. The most popular form of horse racing in the world is American Thoroughbred racing.

A number of factors can affect a horse’s performance in a race, including the amount of weight they have to carry, stall position, age and gender. Often, the top two or three finishers receive a large portion of the purse (money awarded to winning horses), while the rest of the field gets a smaller share. Other factors that influence a horse’s performance include training, veterinary care and the use of legal or illegal drugs.

While there have been some commendable efforts to make the sport safer for horses, racing still kills many of them. Many Thoroughbreds break down during a race and require surgery to heal, while others are drugged, or even subjected to illegal electric shock devices, in an attempt to mask injuries and improve their performances. Horses are also forced to sprint—often on dangerously hard and uneven surfaces—at speeds so fast that they frequently suffer injuries and, in some cases, hemorrhage from the lungs.

Despite its many flaws, organized horse racing is a popular sport and betting is one of its most lucrative components. Spectators can place bets on the winner of the race, or on different placings such as ‘place’ (first, second or third) or ‘show’ (first and/or second). Those who bet on all the horses in the field are called accumulator bettors.

The term horse race is also commonly used to refer to a competitive situation in which a person has little chance of winning, such as an election or a business deal. Journalists are sometimes criticized for using this term when describing an election, because it can detract from the issues at stake and lead to superficial coverage.

Fortunately, the media is beginning to realize that horse race coverage is not in the public interest and has begun to shift its focus to more substantial topics, such as policy debates. Studies have shown that when journalists frame elections as a horse race, instead of focusing on the actual policy debates and potential outcomes, voters, candidates and the news industry itself can all lose out. Researchers Johanna Dunaway and Regina G. Lawrence analyzed newspaper articles on races for governor and the U.S. Senate and found that the horse-race framing was most prevalent in corporate-owned newspapers and during close races. They conclude that a better strategy is to report on both the horse race and the policy debate, which can inform each other.