Horse racing is a violent sport in which horses are pushed beyond their limits on a hard track while being exposed to the elements. One study found that one in 22 races results in a catastrophic injury to a racehorse. Another estimated that three thoroughbreds die every day from injuries sustained in races.
It is no surprise that the sport has experienced several existential crises in recent years, and even though there have been some commendable efforts to make racing safer for horses, it is a for-profit business that cannot be trusted to do the right thing by its animals. The best that can be said is that horse racing may be slightly better for horses now than it was 20 or 30 years ago, but it will never be safe for them.
Race: The contest between a steed and another steed or human in which the winner is declared by a panel of judges. Horse races have been recorded since ancient times and are a significant part of the history of many cultures around the world, from the contest between Odin’s steeds Helga and Hrungnir in Norse mythology to modern era racing events.
The earliest standardized races were organized in Europe in the 17th century, when royal decrees established rules for horse racing. Louis XIV (reigned 1643-1715) introduced fixed weights for a race and required that horses be entered with certificates of origin.
Modern racing is a global industry, and the sport continues to expand in size and scope. Throughout the world, races are held on dirt, turf, and synthetic surfaces. In North America, there are more than 1,600 races a year and the total monetary amount of purse money is nearly $7 billion.
There are three common ways to bet money on a race: bet to win, bet to place, and bet to show. When a bet is placed to win, it means that the bettor has staked their money on a specific horse to finish first. A bet to place is a wager on a specific horse to finish either first or second. A bet to show is a wager on a specific horse or horses to finish in the top three places.
Racehorses must be conditioned and trained to meet the demands of this intense sport, and many horses suffer from serious injuries, including lameness, stifle sores, and chronic gastrointestinal problems. Horses are also prone to spraining their tendons and ligaments.
These injuries are often caused by the jarring action of horses galloping on fast, uneven tracks, especially when they have to contend with a crowd of other equines. Many horses are pushed beyond their physical limits, and are subjected to cocktails of legal and illegal drugs that mask injuries and artificially enhance performance. When a horse is injured, it is not uncommon for it to bleed from its lungs, a condition known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. This is a potentially fatal condition, and it is commonly treated by administering the drug Lasix or Salix.