The Horse Race and Leadership Development
A horse race is a contest of speed and stamina between two or more horses that are ridden by jockeys or pulled by sulkies. The first horse to cross the finish line is declared the winner of the race. The sport originated in ancient Greece, with races of varying distances and rules, but by the end of the 17th century, racing was standardized across Europe. Races were run for six-year-old horses with standardized weights, and the racer who won two heats was considered the winner. Later, five- and four-year-olds were allowed to compete in heats, and the weights increased.
In modern times, the sport has evolved from a diversion of the leisure class into a massive public-entertainment business. Today, a wide variety of betting and gambling opportunities are available. In addition, the sport is a major source of employment for many people and is regulated by governments in all countries in which it takes place.
There are those who believe that horse race leadership selection is the best approach for organizations that have the organizational structure and culture to support it. They argue that an overt competition for the top job encourages internal talent, and ensures that a company gets the most qualified executive for its leadership position. Such a system also signals that the board and current CEO have a strong commitment to leadership development, in which future stars are spotted early on and groomed through a series of functional assignments and stretch roles until they have the skills and seasoning for the executive suite.
However, critics of the horse race method point to multiple studies that suggest it can be counterproductive and even dangerous to a company. They say it can be difficult to distinguish between genuine contenders and opportunists who may be trying to bolster their own career prospects by appearing to have an inside track on the coveted role. It can also lead to the kind of squabbles that have marred some past presidential campaigns.
The horse race is a brutal event for the animals involved, which are often forced to sprint—often under the threat of whips and electric shockers that can cause gruesome breakdowns—at speeds that can easily injure them or hemorhage from their lungs. Their lives are filled with stress and misery, and when their racing careers come to an end, they are typically killed.
Behind the glamorous facade of Thoroughbred racing lies a dark world of drug abuse, injuries and slaughter. Horses who aren’t fast enough to make the grade are whipped or slaughtered, often in front of spectators. This is a cruelty that many find unacceptable. And that might help explain why a growing number of Americans are supportive of banning animal racing altogether.
A horse race is a contest of speed and stamina between two or more horses that are ridden by jockeys or pulled by sulkies. The first horse to cross the finish line is declared the winner of the race. The sport originated in ancient Greece, with races of varying distances and rules, but by the end of the 17th century, racing was standardized across Europe. Races were run for six-year-old horses with standardized weights, and the racer who won two heats was considered the winner. Later, five- and four-year-olds were allowed to compete in heats, and the weights increased. In modern times, the sport has evolved from a diversion of the leisure class into a massive public-entertainment business. Today, a wide variety of betting and gambling opportunities are available. In addition, the sport is a major source of employment for many people and is regulated by governments in all countries in which it takes place. There are those who believe that horse race leadership selection is the best approach for organizations that have the organizational structure and culture to support it. They argue that an overt competition for the top job encourages internal talent, and ensures that a company gets the most qualified executive for its leadership position. Such a system also signals that the board and current CEO have a strong commitment to leadership development, in which future stars are spotted early on and groomed through a series of functional assignments and stretch roles until they have the skills and seasoning for the executive suite. However, critics of the horse race method point to multiple studies that suggest it can be counterproductive and even dangerous to a company. They say it can be difficult to distinguish between genuine contenders and opportunists who may be trying to bolster their own career prospects by appearing to have an inside track on the coveted role. It can also lead to the kind of squabbles that have marred some past presidential campaigns. The horse race is a brutal event for the animals involved, which are often forced to sprint—often under the threat of whips and electric shockers that can cause gruesome breakdowns—at speeds that can easily injure them or hemorhage from their lungs. Their lives are filled with stress and misery, and when their racing careers come to an end, they are typically killed. Behind the glamorous facade of Thoroughbred racing lies a dark world of drug abuse, injuries and slaughter. Horses who aren’t fast enough to make the grade are whipped or slaughtered, often in front of spectators. This is a cruelty that many find unacceptable. And that might help explain why a growing number of Americans are supportive of banning animal racing altogether.