Horse races have fascinated and entertained people since antiquity. They were a common sport in ancient Greece, Rome and Babylon. They were a central part of Norse mythology. They are still a part of our culture today, with horse racing occurring on many tiers, from local neighborhood tracks to major sporting events.
Despite the glitz and glamour of horse racing, the dark side of the sport is well known. Behind the romanticized facade is a world of injuries, drug abuse, gruesome breakdowns and slaughter. Whether fans show up in their finery to watch the races or sip mint juleps in the grandstands, they are supporting a business model that is corrupt and out of control.
The horses used for horse races are typically bred, born and raised in poor conditions, often without proper skeletal development. During their training, horses are forced to run at speeds that exceed their natural limits, creating stress on their skeletal structures. They are also pushed beyond their physical limitations with whips and illegal electric shocking devices. In addition, horses are given cocktails of legal and illegal drugs that mask injuries, provide artificial enhancements and create a false sense of health in the animals. Many of these horses bleed from their lungs during races, a condition called exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. One study found that, on average, three thoroughbreds die each day from racing-related injuries in North America.
Some experts say that horse racing is an inhumane form of entertainment, comparing it to a caged circus or a boxing match. Several animal rights groups have lobbied for the banning of horse racing. However, some states have continued to permit it. The debate over horse racing has focused on whether the industry is sustainable, with critics arguing that the sport is exploitative and inhumane.
A classic succession “horse race” pits two or more senior executives against each other in a competition to be named the next chief executive officer of an organization. While some governance observers are uncomfortable with this approach to selecting a CEO, it is undeniably effective in choosing the best candidate for the position from among skilled and capable candidates.
An overt competition for the top job is a signal that the company values its employees and expects them to compete hard for every role in the company. Moreover, it signals that the board has faith in the company’s management and its leadership development processes. It also motivates employees across the enterprise, who can see that they have a clear path to more senior roles. In this way, the horse race is an important element of many admired companies’ leadership systems.
