Horse racing is one of the world’s oldest sports, a form of public entertainment that began as a primitive contest of speed or stamina and grew into a global industry. Behind the romanticized facade of a day at the races, however, lies a darker reality: horses are subjected to an unnatural existence of drugs, gruesome injuries, breakdowns, and slaughter. As more people become aware of these issues, the horse racing industry is slowly losing fans and revenue.
A horse race is a competitive contest in which horses run against each other at a set distance over a course covered with obstacles. The first horse to cross the finish line wins. A horse can be ridden by a jockey or pulled by a sulky and driver. Horses are usually bred to be fast and have long, supple muscles. The sport has a rich history dating back centuries, and it is considered an art form in many cultures.
While the exact origins of organized racing are unknown, historians agree that it began in Asia and in some of the ancient civilizations where horses were domesticated. Horse racing developed into a spectator sport in the Middle Ages, and by the 17th century, it was an established part of popular culture in Europe.
Modern horse races are typically governed by a national governing body, with a number of rules regulating the conditions under which the horses can be trained and raced. For example, a horse must be a certain age to participate in a flat race, and it must have a sire and dam that are both purebreds of the same breed in order to qualify for a race. In addition, horses may not race against each other for a higher price than their trainer can afford to pay (known as a “claiming price”) and must be registered with the national governing body for racing in the colors chosen by the owner.
Despite these strict rules, there are still irregularities in the way horses are treated during training and racing. In a 2011 report, the veterinary organization the Jockey Club acknowledged that “while there has been improvement over the years, the sport continues to face challenges that threaten its survival.” The report noted that the industry was declining in popularity, revenue, and race days, while it was increasing in expenses, including breeding and care.
Often, the most significant issue for animal rights groups is the fact that racehorses are subjected to such intense and repetitive physical stress that they can suffer from mental and emotional problems. A renowned animal behaviorist and professor emeritus at Tufts University told the Baltimore Sun that the specialized training and confinement of a racehorse inhibits its natural instincts, leading to mental and emotional suffering. In some cases, this suffering can manifest as compulsive behaviors such as biting, cribbing, pacing, and self-harm. As the horse race industry continues to decline, it is important for the governing bodies and the public to address these concerns.