The Horse Race and Elections
The term horse race is sometimes used sarcastically to refer to the political contest being waged by the two major parties. But it’s also used in reference to a close form of competition that requires intense training and intense scrutiny by observers. And when it comes to elections, the underdogs often win.
Amid the mudslinging, name calling and attack ads in the final days of this election, the real issues are easy to lose track of. But if voters are able to separate the noise from the horse-race coverage, they might be able to find some clarity on what’s at stake and how those issues will play out.
Across the country, there is no shortage of pundits and journalists who criticize what’s been called “horse race journalism”—the tendency to focus reporting on the top two candidates chasing each other in polling, at the expense of other primary contenders, or even third-party candidates. It’s a criticism that stretches back decades, but one that’s picking up steam again amid the hyperactivity of this cycle.
Amid this year’s election of a president, and the state-by-state battle for control of Congress, there’s a renewed interest in understanding how all the numbers fit together. It’s important to note, however, that the number-crunching process can only go so far without a thorough analysis of the material costs and human costs associated with a race for office.
The first documented horse race was in France in 1651, and by the time of Louis XIV (1643-1715), betting on horses was commonplace. By the 19th century, racing had become a widespread industry that was heavily dependent on gambling and based on an elite set of rules regulating the age, sex, birthplace and previous performance of horses to ensure a level playing field for bettors.
It was in that era that horse racing became notorious for the use of substances designed to enhance a horses performance. The Romans used a mixture known as hydromel, and other methods of enhancing a horse’s endurance were employed by stable lads in the 18th century. By the end of the 19th century, the industry had come to rely on cocaine, heroin, strychnine and caffeine.
The earliest of these drugs were administered orally and in the hay, but by the early 20th century, some jockeys began to experiment with injecting horses directly with the chemicals. The result was a wide range of side effects that were sometimes fatal, and it was for these reasons that California banned wagering on horse races in 1909. The ban was lifted only after a voter referendum in 1933. Today, despite the prevalence of legalized gambling, there are still many ways to manipulate horse races in order to boost earnings for bettors and the popularity of the sport among spectators. These manipulations can include everything from restraining the horses in the walking ring to putting them on the racetrack when it’s not yet ready to begin. They also include the use of doping agents to artificially boost a horse’s performance.