Horse races are an increasingly popular form of betting on the outcome of horse competition, rewarding winners with cash. Many variables can influence a race’s result, from weight requirements for carrying horses to track conditions (heavy track or sand track), age, sex and training received – the latter factor especially impactful when dealing with “condition” races that offer larger purses than any other competitions. A horse’s position within its pack can also significantly change its odds.
Jockeys are those who ride horses during races. Historically, jockeys were exclusively men; today women can also ride. Although popular among gamblers, horse racing has long been part of culture around the world; early races consisted of match races between two or three horses with owners providing purses; any withdrawal forfeited half or all of it as bets fell under “play or pay” rules; detailed accounts were kept by third-party “keepers of match books”, most prominent among which being John Cheny who published An Historical List of All Matches Run (1729).
At horse races, horses are saddled with saddle and bridle before being ridden by jockeys, with each horse guided through its course by way of a whip held in its owner’s hand – this allows him or her to both encourage the horse as well as prevent any missteps on course from occurring. Furthermore, jockeys control reins attached to bridles which allow riders to direct it in the desired direction.
After each race has concluded, its winner is determined by stewards who determine that one horse has defeated its rival. Once calculated, these odds are published by race books for use when placing bets on its outcome.
Critics of horse racing hold it to be inhumane and accuse its industry of corruption through doping and overbreeding.
Horse races to select a new CEO can present boards with several challenges. If the selection process is handled poorly, it could harm the leadership team as well as deter top talent from applying. To mitigate risks effectively, boards should first evaluate if their organization is suitable for such competition and second, devise strategies to mitigate its potential disruptions.