Horse races are a sport that pits horses against each other in a contest of speed and stamina. It’s an ancient sport and its fundamentals have not changed over centuries. A race is won by the horse that crosses the finish line first. The winner is determined by a panel of stewards who study a photograph of the finish to determine who finished ahead. The race is a public event and the stakes are huge. The winning horse and its jockey receive substantial payoffs.
Behind this glamorous facade, however, lies a world of horrific injuries, drug abuse and slaughter. Injuries range from pulmonary hemorrhage to fractured bones, severed spines and ruptured ligaments. Horses who fall during a race are often severely injured or killed.
During their careers, racehorses are forced to run constantly and are not allowed to graze as they would in the wild. This is a high-stress situation for the animals, which are subjected to constant whipping and can experience a variety of behavioral issues including crib-biting (repetitive behavior where a horse bites at its lips) and weaving (a repetitive behavior where a horse sways back and forth on its forelegs). Horses are also frequently given performance-enhancing drugs such as furosemide, commonly known as Lasix. These drugs increase a horse’s endurance and power while masking pain. They can be ingested orally or intravenously.
Death at the racetrack is common and occurs from cardiovascular collapse, heart failure, traumatic brain injury and broken limbs. Injuries are the most common cause of death, and they include shattered bones, broken necks and severed spines. Some have skin left only on the bottom of their feet due to shattered legs and splints, while others have lungs filled with blood.
When they are no longer able to compete, many racehorses are “bailed out” by their owners and put on the auction block where they are sold for meat or glue. Only a handful of independent nonprofit rescues and individuals network, fundraise and work tirelessly to save these horses from the slaughter pipeline. For the rest, it is a slow, horrific, painful and unimaginable death.
It is time for racing to reevaluate its business model with the best interests of the horses in mind. Instead of blowing off the concerns of animal rights activists, racing aficionados should address this issue head on and make the necessary changes to protect its horses.
The plight of horses in the sport has long been a hotly debated topic. While many people are aware of the plight of the horses, few understand just how pervasive it is and that it affects every aspect of the sport. The horse racing industry has long been a for-profit business with little to no regard for the welfare of its horses.
The most important thing that can be done to improve the lives of horses in racing is a change in the way in which wagers are placed. Currently, bets are placed on either a win, place or show. Bets on a win are when you bet your horse to come in first place. Bets on a place are when you bet your horse to finish in either first, second or third. Finally, bets on a show are when you bet your horse to finish first, second or third.