Horse racing is a sport of speed and skill. Its roots extend back to ancient civilizations, and it plays a role in mythology, for example the contest between Odin’s and Hrungnir’s steeds in Norse legend. The sport’s popularity increased in the modern era, and it was made more exciting by the use of various drugs to enhance performance. Some were illegal and dangerous, such as cocaine, heroin, strychnine, and caffeine. In the United States, horses were also injected with Lasix, a diuretic used to prevent pulmonary bleeding from hard running.

A horse race can be seen as a metaphor for a close contest, especially in politics. During election season, it’s easy to get caught up in the mudslinging and name-calling that characterize many campaigns; the issues at stake can be lost in the noise. When commentators describe the presidential election as a horse race, they are referring to a close contest that is likely to come down to the final stretch.

Those who favor the horse race method of selecting a new CEO argue that it allows companies to choose the best candidate by pitting executives against one another in an open competition. The approach has been successful for some of the world’s most admired corporations, and it helps ensure that a new CEO is highly skilled and ready to lead the company into the future. However, critics say that the process can be skewed by internal political pressures, and it may not result in the most qualified leader for a firm.

One thing that makes a horse race difficult to handicap is the fact that horses are prone to injury and sickness, so their performance may be erratic. To combat this, trainers often run their horses in a variety of different races to test their abilities. A good trainer may even place a promising horse in a claiming race, where the horses are offered at a lower cost than they would be in a stakes race.

Before a race begins, bettors and spectators look at a horse’s coat in the walking ring to determine whether it is fresh and healthy. If the horse’s coat is bright and gleaming with sweat, it is believed to be ready to go. In addition, bettors pay particular attention to the way a horse is ridden in the starting gate. If the horse balks at the gate, it is considered to be frightened or angry and may not be fit to compete.

Despite the glamour and the mint juleps, Thoroughbred horse racing is a brutal business. Activists such as Patrick Battuello, founder of Horseracing Wrongs, call it “the Big Lie.” Aside from the injuries and breakdowns of racehorses, they are drugged, whipped, and confined to stalls most of their lives, and they are sometimes slaughtered after their careers have ended. The sport has a long history of scandals and corruption. Despite this, it remains popular in parts of the world and attracts a wide audience.