What Happens Behind the Scenes in a Horse Race?
Feeling the earth shake as a mass of thundering hooves goes barreling down the stretch during a horse race is one of the quintessential Kentucky experiences. But what happens behind the scenes, in a classic succession “horse race” where multiple senior executives are pitted against each other to determine who should be the next chief executive officer? While many governance observers are uncomfortable with the idea of a horse race, the method can be an effective way to identify the best candidate and to speed up the decision-making process.
When companies rely on a horse race approach, the candidates are put through a series of critical roles in which they acquire the competencies and seasoning to lead the company. They are also exposed to a variety of risks and challenges that they may not have experienced in their previous roles. This experience allows the committee to better evaluate each candidate’s ability to succeed as the next CEO.
Historically, horse races were held to demonstrate the top speed of horses to potential owners. The sport developed into a spectacle involving large fields of runners, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment and immense sums of money. But the basic concept remains unchanged – that the winner is the horse that finishes first.
The equine racing industry is hugely profitable, but it is plagued by problems that are not being addressed. It relies on breeding a high number of horses and has a very high turn-over rate, with thousands of young animals leaving the industry each year. Many horses are pushed beyond their limits, and they are often subjected to cocktails of legal and illegal drugs intended to mask injuries and enhance performance.
Injuries are common and sometimes fatal. Most racehorses, especially those on oval tracks, give their lower legs a pounding that can strain ligaments and tendons. A broken leg is particularly dangerous and can lead to paralysis, infection and amputation.
Most horses are bred to achieve their peak performance at the age of three, but escalating breeding fees and sale prices have led to more races being run with younger and younger animals. This pushes the animals to their limit, which increases their chances of suffering from developmental disorders. The lower legs of most racehorses are weakened by the constant pounding, so they often crack and fracture.
A growing awareness of the dark side of horse racing has fueled improvements in training practices and drug use, but the sport still faces serious ethical problems. In addition, many of the most important and influential races are broadcast on TV, where journalists focus heavily on the winners and losers instead of addressing the major issues facing America’s political system – what’s known as horse race coverage. This has a negative impact on voters, the political process and the news industry itself. It is time to stop wasting resources on a sport that isn’t serving the public interest.
Feeling the earth shake as a mass of thundering hooves goes barreling down the stretch during a horse race is one of the quintessential Kentucky experiences. But what happens behind the scenes, in a classic succession “horse race” where multiple senior executives are pitted against each other to determine who should be the next chief executive officer? While many governance observers are uncomfortable with the idea of a horse race, the method can be an effective way to identify the best candidate and to speed up the decision-making process. When companies rely on a horse race approach, the candidates are put through a series of critical roles in which they acquire the competencies and seasoning to lead the company. They are also exposed to a variety of risks and challenges that they may not have experienced in their previous roles. This experience allows the committee to better evaluate each candidate’s ability to succeed as the next CEO. Historically, horse races were held to demonstrate the top speed of horses to potential owners. The sport developed into a spectacle involving large fields of runners, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment and immense sums of money. But the basic concept remains unchanged – that the winner is the horse that finishes first. The equine racing industry is hugely profitable, but it is plagued by problems that are not being addressed. It relies on breeding a high number of horses and has a very high turn-over rate, with thousands of young animals leaving the industry each year. Many horses are pushed beyond their limits, and they are often subjected to cocktails of legal and illegal drugs intended to mask injuries and enhance performance. Injuries are common and sometimes fatal. Most racehorses, especially those on oval tracks, give their lower legs a pounding that can strain ligaments and tendons. A broken leg is particularly dangerous and can lead to paralysis, infection and amputation. Most horses are bred to achieve their peak performance at the age of three, but escalating breeding fees and sale prices have led to more races being run with younger and younger animals. This pushes the animals to their limit, which increases their chances of suffering from developmental disorders. The lower legs of most racehorses are weakened by the constant pounding, so they often crack and fracture. A growing awareness of the dark side of horse racing has fueled improvements in training practices and drug use, but the sport still faces serious ethical problems. In addition, many of the most important and influential races are broadcast on TV, where journalists focus heavily on the winners and losers instead of addressing the major issues facing America’s political system – what’s known as horse race coverage. This has a negative impact on voters, the political process and the news industry itself. It is time to stop wasting resources on a sport that isn’t serving the public interest.