A horse race can refer to a variety of events in which two or more competitors vie for a prize. It can also describe the political contests in which many voters are caught up, with their identities and interests obscured by mudslinging and theatrics. A more serious and important use of the term is in reference to a thoroughbred horse’s racing career, where a horse is subjected to gruesome injuries, drug abuse, and ruthless exploitation. In such an environment, a horse’s life can end abruptly in a spectacular breakdown.

Despite the industry’s claim that horses are “born to run, love to compete,” horse races are unnatural and stressful for the animals. Besides being forced to run at speeds too fast for their bodies, they are whipped, doped, and often injured by jockeys or other race participants. The horses’ lives are short and full of misery. Their bodies are damaged and their minds are confused by the constant stress of racing. They are also subjected to the relentless pounding of racetrack dirt and crowded stalls.

The physical injuries sustained by racehorses are a constant reminder of the brutal nature of the sport, which is also often plagued with allegations of illegal doping and a lack of transparency. For example, in 2008, the trainer of Big Brown, a Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, boasted about giving his star horse powerful legal steroids designed for humans before the Belmont Stakes. These medications, which are not banned in the United States, bled over into race preparation and compromised a horse’s performance. The trainer’s actions were a violation of the rules of professional racing, but officials did not punish him or other trainers who broke those rules.

The ruthless exploitation of Thoroughbreds has created a shadowy world behind the romanticized facade of the sport. In reality, it is a business where horses are treated as commodities, bought and sold, doped, whipped, and pushed to the brink of collapse in front of cheering spectators. The resulting breakdowns are often dramatic, with the horses throwing their heads back and kicking in pain. Those who do not die on the track are slaughtered, with PETA estimating that ten thousand American thoroughbreds will be killed this year alone.

The media’s focus on the horse race can distract from the real issues of the election and lead to a lack of informed debate among voters. While this criticism of pre-election polls has been around for decades, there is increasing discussion among journalism scholars about the need to provide more context when reporting on elections. This updated collection of research reflects that need and highlights the consequences of horse race coverage.