Horse racing is a spectator sport, with fans crowding grandstands and watching horses galloping around the track. The sport has a rich history and was practiced in ancient civilizations in places such as Egypt, Babylon, and Syria. Modern organized horse races are run over distances ranging from one-half mile to six miles and require both speed and stamina. The sport is also part of myth and legend, such as the contest between Odin’s steed and the giant Hrungnir in Norse mythology.
Despite the high stakes and risks, horse racing is a popular pastime that has helped to shape the world we live in. However, many people are uncomfortable with the sport, arguing that it is inhumane and that doping and overbreeding have corrupted it. Others, on the other hand, believe that horse racing is an essential part of American culture and should be preserved.
On a cool but sunny day in late 2019, Santa Anita management and Breeders’ Cup officials were focusing on the safety of their “equine athletes.” They had flooded the race zone with veterinarians, expensive imaging equipment, and extensive testing for preexisting conditions. They examined the horses’ gaits while they were running and used binoculars to study their movements. The horses had been injected that morning with Lasix, a diuretic, and marked with a bold face “L” on the racing form. The drug prevents pulmonary bleeding, which is a complication of hard running.
Horses are prey animals, and the act of running at such speeds can be dangerous for them. Injuries and fatalities are common in the sport. Horses may break bones, suffer from cracked ankles, and even lose their lives while competing. In addition, horses are often trained before they are fully mature, increasing the risk of developmental problems such as laminitis.
In recent years, there has been a movement to restrict the use of drugs on horses. The drugs are used to make the horses faster and more able to compete. Some people argue that these drugs are harmful to the horses, and that they should not be allowed to race. Others, on the other hand, believe in allowing the horses to compete as they see fit and that the use of drugs is not necessarily bad for the horses.
When a board chooses its next chief executive officer, it may decide to hold a horse race, which pits several candidates against each other in an open competition for the job. The classic horse race involves a short time frame, clear criteria for selection, and the expectation that the winner will be the best choice for the company. However, some executives and governance observers are uncomfortable with this type of contest and argue that it can have negative effects on the organization. Others argue that a board should carefully consider whether the company’s culture and organizational structure are suitable for a horse race and adopt strategies to minimize the potential disruptions of such a contest.