A horse race is a form of competitive contest in which the winner is decided by a narrow margin, dating back thousands of years and still popular today. While often associated with political competitions, horse races can also be used to select executives for businesses such as holding an executive selection contest using this approach. But before undertaking such an endeavor, businesses should carefully consider its implications before using such techniques for selecting executive candidates.

Horse races have long been an entertaining form of entertainment and thrill for millions around the globe. Their thrilling races draw people in with the roar of crowds cheering loudly for powerful, beautiful horses racing toward the finish line – drawing in large audiences who watch with sheer delight! Historically, horseracing was used by impoverished state governments to supplement their budgets through taxing racing revenues. More recently, scholars have begun exploring how horse-race journalism affects elections and political landscape. They find that newspapers owned by corporate entities with multiple stores are more likely to publish stories that portray elections as horse races, with coverage emphasizing which candidates have an edge and when it appears in the days leading up to Election Day.

Bettors go to the track not just for excitement but to make money as well. Horses can carry massive sums of cash, and some bettors make fortunes from just one bet. In particular during the Depression years many turned to horse races as a source of financial relief – bettors flocked to both television broadcasts and physical races to root for their favorite steeds; many became fans of Seabiscuit who won numerous races by a nose!

Stress from horse races can be stressful on both animal and handler alike, with handlers responsible for grooming, exercising and preparing their animal before the race as well as directing it over jumps and other obstacles. According to animal advocates who conducted verbal-only interviews with industry informants, they reported witnessing handlers using excessive force on horses to get them performing, which may increase stress levels in horses further increasing the chance of them faltering late in races or becoming injured themselves.

Risk of injury for horses participating in horse races is an ongoing issue. They have often been bred for speed at the expense of bone mass and overall health, and races frequently test them beyond their natural abilities, often leading them to experience debilitating injuries such as bleeding lungs and broken legs; more serious ones include broken necks. Sometimes these injuries can even prove fatal; this is particularly likely when horses attempt to leap fences that are too high or steep, trip over obstacles, fall, and break their necks or backs while leaping.