The term horse race is a common expression used to refer to a close contest. It is often used in reference to political contests, but it can also be applied to any type of competitive activity. It is important for board members to understand the implications of using this term, and to determine whether or not it is appropriate for their company’s culture.
When it comes to human contests, the term horse race typically refers to a competition for leadership between several executives. Proponents of the horse race approach believe that this type of competition benefits companies by encouraging employees to work hard and strive for a leadership role. In addition, they argue that the process is effective in selecting the best candidate for the job.
However, many scholars and activists disagree with the notion that horse races are legitimate forms of competition. Those who oppose the use of this term argue that horse racing is unethical, cruel and inhumane. It is difficult to see how any rational person could watch a race and not feel a pang of horror at the spectacle of an innocent creature dying in such a brutal manner.
The cruelty of the horse race extends far beyond the course. The racing industry claims that horses are “born to run and love to compete.” In reality, this is a lie. Horses, as prey animals, instinctively understand the need for self-preservation. Their natural instincts are systematically suppressed by the use of whips, and they are pushed to breakneck speeds in extremely close quarters. Injuries are a regular occurrence, and horses are frequently killed as the result of their efforts.
Horses are bred and raced for profit, and then sold into unknown futures. Those who cannot find a suitable career as a racehorse are shipped to slaughterhouses in Canada and Mexico. The industry has no plan for what happens to these horses once they are sold into the aftercare pipeline, and most will eventually die a horrific death. In the end, a great many of these creatures—PETA estimates that ten thousand American thoroughbreds are killed annually—end up in a form of hell on earth, where they spend most of their lives confined to a stall.
Critics of the horse race approach claim that it is not an effective way to select a leader, and they argue that it does not encourage employee engagement or innovation. They also argue that the media tends to focus on horse race coverage, which can distract from the issue of policy issues and may even deter voters. Media scholars who study elections and news coverage have weighed in on this debate, and the consensus seems to be that when journalists focus solely on horse race results, they do their audience a disservice.