Horse racing is an equestrian sport where horses race against each other. It’s a thrilling sport that people of all ages love. Nevertheless, it has many dangers and injuries associated with it.
Corporate-owned and large chain newspapers were more likely to frame the election as a horse race. This approach is particularly effective in swing states where it can boost Democrats.
Origins
Horse racing has been around for centuries, attracting millions of fans worldwide. It has undergone significant changes over the years due to technological advancements and regulations. Today, it is a multibillion-dollar industry with global competitions and massive crowds.
In 1674 sprint racing became popular in the streets of New York, and it was not until later that the modern Thoroughbred race horse came into being. It developed from a hybrid of Arab, Turk, and Barb horses with native English stock. Private stud books were also established at this time.
Rules
Horse races have rules that must be followed by all participants. Riders must travel the course, leap any hurdles if necessary, and cross the finish line before any other horses and riders. They must also follow the timer, who records fractional times during the race using an electrical or mechanical device. If two or more horses cross the finish line simultaneously, a photo finish is declared and stewards examine a snapshot of the finish to determine who crossed the line first. If no winner can be determined, the race is settled by dead heat regulations.
Distances
There are a number of prizes that can be offered at horse races. These include the winning horse and other prizes given to horses finishing in higher positions. Traditionally, the first-placed horse will receive 60% to 70% of the total purse. The second-placed horse will receive a percentage of the purse that is between 15% and 20%.
In the past, horse races were referred to as “lengths.” A length was defined as one-eighth of a mile. This measurement was imprecise, but it was a good approximation for the distance between horses.
Prizes
People bet on the outcome of a horse race by placing wagers, either in advance or at a credit shop. The bettors then receive their winnings if the horses place first, second or third. Winners share the total prize pool, known as the purse.
Injuries sustained by horses during a horse race can be fatal. Many of them are caused by the use of abusive equipment such as whips, tongue-ties and jiggers, which cause pain and long-term distress.
Historically, drug limits and rules have varied from state to state, and punishments (like fines) have amounted to little more than slaps on the wrist. HISA aims to create a uniform national standard in order to improve horse safety.
Injuries
Injuries sustained during horse racing are common. They can be minor, such as strained tendons and hairline fractures, or major, such as a proximal phalanx fracture. These injuries can be career-ending if the horse is not removed from the racetrack.
Injuries may also be aggravated by training conditions and management practices. Trainers often use horses for high-speed galloping exercises, despite the risk of injury. This is particularly true for claiming races, where trainers compete in large groups of horses that are trained to race at high speeds and for short distances.
Drugs
Horse racing is notorious for its use of drugs that attempt to boost peak performance levels. These include anabolic steroids and cobalt chloride, but many trainers also overuse other medications like NSAIDs, painkillers, muscle relaxants, pharmaceuticals, liquid nitrogen, and even snake venom.
In Louisiana, the majority of medication violations involve ARCI Class 3 substances—permitted therapeutic medications with established thresholds and withdrawal guidelines. These include bronchodilators, anti-histamines with sedative properties, and injectable local anesthetics. These drugs can enhance a horse’s performance and mask the use of other performance enhancing drugs.
Slaughter
Amid scandals over drug abuse and racing’s inherently dangerous sport, horse slaughter is a dark reality that the industry is unwilling to confront. Instead, it simply shunts unprofitable racehorses to slaughterhouses, where they are killed for meat.
A recent investigation for the BBC’s Panorama programme reveals that thousands of racehorses are slaughtered in British abattoirs each year. Some of the horses were reportedly suffering from career-ending injuries.
HSUS is fighting to ban the slaughter of racehorses, and racing luminaries such as Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron are joining our fight. This is an issue that the industry cannot ignore or wiggle around, because it means cutting into their hefty gambling profits.