Was it Funny, Sad, or Funny and Sad That a Corpse Won a Race?
Horse racing has often been referred to as “the sport of kings”, even though history records precious few kings who dominated that sport. Perhaps it got the nickname because royalty liked to watch? The basic idea, to decide which of various horses is the swiftest over a set distance or specific course, has not changed in thousands of years. The sport, whose popularity has suffered a steep decline in recent decades, can be as thrilling as thrilling gets. Naturally, the horse gets the top billing in a horse race. However, the rider is a key factor in whether a horse realizes its full potential.
Jockeys need to minimize their horses’ inertial loss. They have to ride in a manner that reduces the energy expended by their steed as it bounces its rider up and down and forward and backwards with each stride. That makes it easier for a horse to carry a jockey than an equal deadweight attached to its saddle. It is hard work. So hard, that jockeys have suffered heart attacks, and even died, from the exertion. One such, as seen below, expired mid-race, but still won despite the fact that he was dead by the time he crossed the finish line.
