The horse race is one of the most ancient and enduring sports in human history. While it has evolved over the centuries from a primitive contest of speed or stamina to a global public entertainment business that involves thousands of runners and state-of-the-art electronic monitoring equipment, its fundamental feature remains the same: The horse that crosses the finish line first is the winner.
A horse race is a close contest between two or more competitors. The term is often used to describe political races, though it may also refer to a tight competition in any sport or other business activity. The term can take on negative connotations when used pejoratively, as in “another horse race” or “a real nail-biter.”
This collection of research looks at the consequences of one of the most common ways journalists cover elections — with a focus on frontrunners chasing each other in polls, to the detriment of primary contenders and third-party candidates. It’s a practice known as horse race reporting, and it can have devastating effects on voters, candidates and the news media itself.
When the election season starts, many Americans are smitten with excitement and anticipation for what will happen at the ballot box. Yet with the mud-slinging, name calling and attack ads that are typical of campaigns, the true issues at stake can easily be lost in the noise. Moreover, with the campaign season being such a “horse race,” it is easy to get caught up in the media’s slanted coverage and the constant speculation about who’s going to win.
In medieval England, professional riders demonstrated the horse’s speed to potential buyers by racing them over short distances on open fields and roads. They rode the bareback and wore simple clothes, but they used sophisticated skills and judgment to coax maximum performance from their mounts. This early form of athleticism is credited with bringing the world to modern track and field events.
After the death of Eight Belles in a horrible accident during the 2008 Kentucky Derby, many people supported banning horse racing. The industry’s opponents argue that the sport is dangerous, but the evidence against this claim is slim. The use of corticosteroids to treat injuries, as well as the injection of sedatives during training that led to the collapse of Havnameltdown, raise serious concerns about the health and safety of these horses. In addition, the postmortem examination of Eight Belles’s body found severe osteoarthritis and bone cysts, which are holes in the bones, in all four limbs, not just the fractured leg.
Those who advocate the horse race method of selecting CEOs say it is more than just an efficient way to choose the best executive from among several skilled candidates. Companies that are most successful with this approach cultivate a culture in which leaders embrace the competition for the top job, and they understand that future star CEOs can be nurtured in critical roles throughout the company. However, if the process is mishandled, it can have a lasting effect on the organization’s ability to fill key leadership positions.