A horse race is a contest in which horses are ridden by jockeys over an oval track with organized betting on the outcome. It’s a metaphor for a close, highly competitive contest or competition, such as a political campaign. The phrase has also been applied to nail-biters in other fields, such as sports and business.

When it comes to elections, some critics argue that we are in the midst of a horse race. The prevailing narrative is that there are four major candidates, each with their own set of supporters and detractors. These contests are so close that a few percentage points in key swing states can make all the difference. It’s not a very compelling argument, but it is pervasive.

Horse races have been around for thousands of years and are a popular form of entertainment for spectators and bettors alike. The sport has been practiced in a wide variety of civilizations and is depicted in art, music and literature. It has also been the subject of many myths and legends.

The popularity of the sport fueled interest in breeding speedier horses. After British soldiers returned home from desert battles with stories of their opponents’ astonishing horses sprinting across sand, Middle Eastern sires were imported to England, creating the Thoroughbred breed and dramatically increasing the popularity of horse racing. The addition of oval tracks and a greater ability to see the action from all directions further boosted interest in the sport.

It’s not unusual to hear that horses don’t like to run and that they often need encouragement—in the form of a whip from humans perched on their backs—to push themselves past their limits. Running at breakneck speeds gives a horse’s lower legs a pounding that strains their ligaments and tendons. To combat this, trainers often over-train and over-medicate their animals, breaking them down until they are euthanized or sent to the slaughterhouse.

Despite the popularity of horse races, some people have concerns about the industry’s treatment of the animals who participate in them. In the US, the majority of horse deaths are the result of injuries sustained during a race. The US Department of Agriculture has cited several issues that contribute to the risk of injury, including a lack of a consistent and unified regulatory system.

Other concerns include the use of illegal drugs by jockeys, who are often paid to inject their mounts with performance-enhancing substances. Random drug testing is in place, but a number of trainers still abuse their horses, and a significant proportion of horses are not tested. This is a serious problem that must be addressed in order to protect the health and welfare of racehorses. For too long, horse racing has been a multimillion-dollar industry with little scrutiny or regulation. It’s time for that to change.