As the presidential horse race continues, it’s easy for political observers to dig out their favorite catchwords and hackneyed expressions. One that often emerges is “horse race.” But the term seems to be shifting in meaning.
On the track, the term ‘horse race’ refers to a head-to-head showdown between two horses. And that’s precisely the kind of race that produces the greatest races. The great ones often come down to a single moment, the precise point when a race becomes truly monumental: when a seemingly invincible horse crosses the line a length ahead of a rival and, for an instant at least, achieves immortality.
A few things are necessary for a horse to become a true great racer. For starters, the horse needs to be a champion of its generation and, more importantly, possess a certain intangible something that allows it to rise above its peers. Whether that comes from sheer ferocity or the ability to perform well in the face of adversity, the best horses can seem unstoppable, even in a shortened race that doesn’t require a full four miles.
The greatest races also require an extraordinary setting. For a race to be truly great, it must take place in the world’s most prestigious races and on its biggest stages. Finally, the greatness of a race is also often measured by its history and context. For example, Secretariat’s 31-length demolition job in the 1973 Belmont Stakes and Arkle’s 1964 Gold Cup are both considered to be the greatest horse races of all time.
One of the most significant changes in horse racing came around 1740, when Samuel Ogle, proprietor governor of Maryland, introduced organized thoroughbred racing to the colonies. The original King’s Plates were standardized, with six-year-olds carrying 168 pounds in two 4-mile (4 km) heats and a racer needing to win both to be adjudged a winner.
In addition to introducing a new level of organization to the sport, Ogle was responsible for changing its focus from speed to stamina. This shift was the result of Ogle’s importing of a preternatural mare called Selima, who shared DNA with 95% of today’s Thoroughbreds.
Until the Civil War, the King’s Plates were widely viewed as the most important horse race in America, and it was during that period that the American breed of horse was forged. In fact, every American Thoroughbred that you see on the track today can be traced back to three stallions from the era of Charles II and the Stuarts. It’s a legacy that continues to this day. Our updated roundup looks at some of the recent research on horse race journalism, including studies about third-party political candidates and probabilistic forecasting. The findings show that when journalists cover elections by focusing on the front-runners in a two-person race — what’s known as horse race coverage — voters, candidates and the news industry suffers. This collection is part of our ongoing project to examine the effects of the decline in journalistic quality in the digital age.