A horse race is a form of competitive racing in which horses are attached to two-wheeled carts or chariots. The horses are ridden by people, who are called jockeys. Horse racing is a popular spectator sport and is also a source of entertainment for many people. The term horse race is also commonly used in the context of political contests. For example, the term horse race is often used to describe a tight presidential election in which one candidate has an advantage over the other. The term is also often used to refer to a tight gubernatorial contest or a congressional race.
The sport of horse racing developed sometime before 1000 B.C.E. It was initially a game played by the Greeks who connected their horses to two-wheeled carts or “chariots” to create a form of formal competition. Later, the Greeks would develop the first standardized races for their horses. In these early races, the winners were determined by who won a specific distance of racing. Today’s horse races are typically a mix of sprint, middle distance, and long distance races.
Horse racing has become more regulated over the years, and many of the issues faced in the industry have been brought to light through animal rights activism and a growing awareness of animal cruelty within horse racing. However, the issues with horse racing are still deeply rooted in its business model and culture.
For example, the use of drugs such as corticosteroids and sedatives during training to keep the horses healthy and running fast, as revealed in the postmortem examination of Eight Belles and Havnameltdown, is alarming to many outsiders. Similarly, the discovery of severe joint degeneration and bone cysts in both horses—along with osteoarthritis that was undiagnosed and likely contributed to their deaths—is disturbing.
Another important issue that is frequently overlooked is what happens to the horses once they leave the track. When they are no longer profitable, the majority of these equines are sold into the grey market. Many of them are exported to places such as Japan and Canada where they are slaughtered for their meat. Others are sent to a slaughterhouse in New Mexico, where they are turned into dog food or glue.
The horse racing industry can continue to profit off of these animals for as long as it wants, but the day will come when the industry will have to evolve its business model with the best interests of the horses as its top priority. The current system is not sustainable in a world that is increasingly acknowledging the need to protect animals and to treat them with dignity. Let’s hope that the racing industry will choose to make this change before it is too late.