A horse race is a competition in which horses are ridden by humans and guided along a set course of jumps, hurdles, and sloping dirt tracks. The horse that crosses the finish line first wins a prize. Often, the winner of the race receives a substantial amount of money or other awards. The sport of horse racing is popular throughout the world and has been a part of culture since ancient times. Archaeological evidence of horse races has been found in Ancient Greece, Rome, Babylon, Syria, and Arabia. The sport is also prominent in mythology, such as the contest between Odin’s steeds Hrungnir and Frigga in Norse mythology. Although the horse race is a wildly popular and lucrative form of entertainment, it can be dangerous for the horses involved. Many horses are injured, even killed, in the pursuit of victory. Injuries are caused by both the physical demands of racing and by the stress of being crowded together with thousands of other horses. In addition, the horses are frequently trucked, shipped, or flown from one racetrack to another in order to compete. This can take a toll on the health and welfare of the animals, which must be trained in a short period of time and subjected to the rigors of racing. While some governance observers have questioned the effectiveness of the classic succession “horse race,” pitting several executives in an overt competition for the CEO role, the approach has yielded exceptional leaders at companies such as General Electric, Procter & Gamble, and GlaxoSmithKline. Nevertheless, the race model requires careful planning and attention to detail to ensure the integrity of the process. Some researchers have argued that the horse race strategy can be damaging to employees, especially high performers who are pushed to perform under this kind of pressure. This type of competitive environment can lead to a toxic work atmosphere and can damage the morale and productivity of the organization. Moreover, the race can result in the selection of an executive who may not have the experience and skills to succeed in the company’s strategic direction. There are many reasons why people enjoy horse racing, but most of them revolve around the excitement and anticipation of betting on a winning horse. Despite the high stakes and risk, bettors still flock to horse races in their millions, cheering on their favorite horses in a sport that is both beautiful and thrilling. Many fans, particularly the hard-core daily ones, identify with their chosen horse by name. In the past, a popular horse named Seabiscuit captured the imagination and affections of spectators and bettors, who chanted his name with each triumphant gallop down the backstretch. The chants, which are mostly imprecations, are as much of an attraction as the spectacle of the majestic horses and their riders. These days, a new breed of tycoons and investors have begun to place their bets on virtual horse races, reducing the demand for live races at traditional racetracks.