Horse race is a colloquial term that refers to a close form of competition. The term can be used to describe any number of close forms of competitive activity, including sports events and political contests. Some critics of journalism claim that the news media too often uses horse race as a way to describe election coverage, but this criticism is not supported by research findings.

Horse races are a longstanding tradition in many cultures around the world and continue to draw spectators and bettors to the track and betting windows. These events often celebrate national pride and heritage. For example, the Melbourne Cup is known as the “race that stops a nation” and attracts thousands of people to Australia each year to watch it and place bets on the winner.

In the United States, horse racing began in colonial America and was popular with settlers because it provided a means to earn money and get food for their families. Throughout history, horse racing has changed in size and structure as the needs of society change. For example, when short racing fell out of fashion in the 1800s, breeders developed longer-distance horses that could compete with the fastest cattle.

The sport of horse racing is a huge business, and the race for the Triple Crown offers a substantial payday. In addition to the purse for the winning horse, a substantial amount of money goes toward racing operations, infrastructure and improvements. A large percentage of the profits from wagering are turned over to the New York Racing Authority (NYRA), which funds the sport’s operating expenses.

As with any business, horse racing is not without its problems. There are concerns about animal welfare, drug use and the treatment of injured or sick horses. The recent death of Havnameltdown and the post-mortem examinations that followed have raised questions for some outsiders to the sport about how the sport treats its horses. The NYRA’s veterinary chief, Dr. Patrick McKenna, says the use of corticosteroids to help a horse return to competition and the use of sedatives during training are common.

There is also the fact that many would-be horse racers are torn from their mothers and herds as mere babies, then broken, an industry term meaning made pliant and submissive. These horses suffer a variety of injuries and illnesses, including colic, laminitis, respiratory infections, neurological disorders and parasitic infestations. According to FOIA requests and industry admissions, multiple thousands of spent or unwanted racehorses are slaughtered annually, going from athlete to meat in a matter of days.

Despite these issues, the popularity of horse racing continues to grow worldwide, in part because it is accessible to a broad range of spectators. In addition, the sport is financially profitable, and a healthy horse-racing industry helps support other businesses in the community.