Horse races are competitive events in which horses ridden by jockeys compete for prize money. Sprint races typically last from several hundred yards up to a mile in distance and focus on speed, endurance, and stamina rather than competition between riders.
Horse racing has long been revered for its thrill and beauty. Horses are graceful and powerful animals that compete fiercely to reach a close finish, creating an exciting race to watch as competitors push towards it. Unfortunately, however, this industry also involves drugs, injuries, and sometimes death.
Many are unaware of the reality of horse races as more than entertainment, as many see them only as entertainment. Horse races can be extremely dangerous and cruel affairs which require both money and the lives of many horses to thrive in competitions. Furthermore, fans who love this form of entertainment also love betting on races, making horse racing an industry worth billions just in the US alone.
Though horse racing has been around for centuries, recent decades have witnessed profound transformations within its ranks. Some of the most significant modifications involve improved race safety; horses now undergo stringent security on and off track. Technologies like thermal imaging cameras for post-race heat-detection, MRI scanners to scan for minor or major health conditions and 3D printing of casts and splints all contribute towards increased athlete protection.
Additionally, many horses are exposed to cocktails of legal and illegal drugs designed to mask injuries and artificially enhance performance. Since horses must sprint under threat of whips or illegal electric-shocking devices at speeds that often surpass their physical limitations, severe injuries such as traumatic brain injuries or exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhages may occur. To reduce these risks, many are treated with various medications including painkillers, sedatives, and diuretics.
The 2020 presidential campaign is still young, and much remains to be seen about how Democratic candidates will unite on issues and how voters will select between them. One thing is certain though: if news media coverage of campaigns primarily focuses on who’s winning and losing (known as horse race coverage ) voters, politicians, and journalists all will suffer greatly from its coverage.
As such, journalists must do everything in their power to inform voters which candidates possess what it takes to win in 2020. That means not simply reporting who is leading or trailing; reporters must also look deeper into why and how a particular candidate is trouncing their competitor and analyzing policy positions associated with horse-race data so as to direct voters toward those most likely to implement those policies and guide voters toward making their vote count by steering them toward politicians who can most likely implement these policies into legislation.