It's not just healthcare Britain does better than the US

It's the epitome of a two-horse race. Well, apart from the fact there are more than two contenders, but let's not worry about that, no-one else is. On Tuesday, America will vote for its 45th president, bringing to an end months of mud-slinging, razor-sharp barbs and criminal accusations in what has been the most unpleasant of contests. The founding fathers would have a fit were they alive to witness such behaviour today – or, like a Racing Post colleague, perhaps they may have tried to make hay and profit from potential catastrophe with a well-placed wager. Brexit-Trump double anyone? Early presidents certainly weren't against a bit of punting or action on the track, with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson regular racegoers.

Andrew Jackson seemingly found enough spare time to train his own string, building a stable at the White House in 1834. Such details can be found at whitehousehistory.org, which also states: "It was an open secret that Jackson entered and gambled on runners at courses in Washington, Alexandria, and Baltimore in the name of his nephew and private secretary Andrew J. Donelson." Hmm, open secrets. Not such a winner these days, right Hillary?

It's unlikely we're in for a repeat of that era whoever wins the White House next week – the Clinton family doesn't seem too enamoured with racing, while Donald Trump is on record stating Secretariat "wasn't one of the best". Tough crowd. Incidentally, those wanting to google Trump's horseracing history will need some strong willpower to keep typing past the search engine's suggestion of 'Donald Trump horse hair' and 'Donald Trump horse Putin'. Actually, the latter might not seem so entertaining if he wins, so enjoy it now while you can.