Horse racing has been practiced in civilizations around the world since ancient times. Archaeological records show that it was an integral part of many ancient cultures, including in Egypt, Greece, Rome, Babylon and Syria. It also has a significant place in mythology, including the contest between Odin and his steed Hrungnir in Norse mythology. Modern companies employ the horse race as a way to identify and develop leadership talent by offering internal candidates a chance to compete for an executive role. Proponents of this leadership development strategy say it can be more effective than traditional methods such as a single nomination process and it also creates an environment in which high performers are encouraged to take on challenging projects and challenge themselves.
In a horse race, horses are matched against one another according to their speed figure, which measures a horse’s relative ability to run the length of a given distance in a specified time period. The horse with the highest speed figure wins. Speed figures are calculated based on several factors, including a horse’s age and previous performance. As a horse gets older, it slows down and its speed figure decreases, but the effect of age is less pronounced than for a younger horse.
Before a horse races, it must be conditioned. Trainers will typically send the horse out for a series of routine jogs and gallops early in the morning, and then have the animal work up to a full sprint during workouts. In the United States, most races are divided into different categories based on a horse’s age, gender, and previous performance.
Once a horse has reached its peak and is ready to race, the trainer will prepare it for the event by putting the horse in a starting gate. When a starter signals the start of a race, the trainer will lead the horse into a series of gates that open and close in a prearranged order. When all of the gates are open, the trainer will hit a button that opens the front gate and then signal to the stewards that his horse is on the starting line.
When a horse is running in a race, it must be carefully paced and guided through the crowded track. It must not be allowed to run too fast or it will overexert itself and suffer severe injuries, which can be fatal for the animal. Despite these dangers, racing remains a multibillion-dollar industry in which millions of dollars are paid out in purses to owners and jockeys. Insiders tell me that this form of gambling is on the verge of collapse, and if the public loses its willingness to subsidize horse racing, it could disappear entirely.