There is nothing quite like feeling the earth shake as a mass of thundering hooves barrel down the stretch of a horse race. However, behind the romanticized facade of this spectacle lies a world of injuries, drug abuse, gruesome breakdowns, and slaughter. Horses used for racing are forced to sprint—often under the threat of whips and illegal electric-shock devices—at speeds that cause them to suffer from chronic injuries such as hemorrhaging in their lungs, and even die from heart failure. In addition, horses are forced to compete without adequate food and water.
Despite the horrific conditions in which they are forced to run, many people continue to be drawn to horse races. However, this enthusiasm is being drained from the industry by mounting evidence of cruelty and public awareness that the sport has little to do with the interests of horse welfare or the welfare of bettors. According to a recent study commissioned by the Jockey Club, racing is losing fans, revenue, race days, and entries at a staggering rate. The growing awareness of the dark side of the racing industry has been fueled by investigative work by PETA, which exposes the abusive training practices for young horses, doping violations, and gruesome breakdowns. The organization also exposes the practice of transporting horses to foreign slaughterhouses and the egregious lack of animal welfare oversight on race day.
While the earliest races in England were match contests between two, or at most three, horses, pressure by the public eventually produced open events with larger fields of runners. Eligibility rules were developed based on the age, sex, and birthplace of horses as well as the qualifications of riders.
Races are held over a variety of distances, from 21/2 miles (3.2 kilometers) at the Royal Ascot Gold Cup to 3/4 miles (1.2 kilometers) in American races. In general, a longer course emphasizes stamina while a shorter course places more emphasis on speed.
Before a race begins, horses are led to their starting gates, which are electrically operated at most tracks. The stewards and patrol judges, aided by a motion-picture patrol, check for rule infractions during the race. Saliva and urine samples are taken to test for prohibited drugs. If a jockey violates a rule during the race, they are disqualified.
In the wild, horses love to move fast and joyfully, but winning a race is not their goal. Instead, horses—who are prey animals—prefer to run together in a group to keep each other safe. The human construct of the race, which rewards a small percentage of horses based on their speed, has made it necessary for Thoroughbreds to be trained with whips and other instruments that force them to sprint—often under the threat of electric shocks—at speeds that can damage their health, even kill them. A jigger is a battery-powered device that delivers an electric shock to the skin when associated with certain cues. Possession of one is a felony under law, but many trainers and jockeys still use them.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.