A horse race is a sport involving human-controlled horses competing for prize money, usually won by the horse that finishes first. It has a long and varied history, with ancient Greeks racing on the backs of their trained animals. In modern times, it is one of the most popular sports, with millions of people worldwide betting on races and watching them live or on television. Its growth is attributed to technological advancements and changes in racing regulations.
A horse’s ability to run fast is one of its primary attributes that sets it apart from other animal species. Unlike dogs or cats, which can run very fast in short bursts and then slow down for a while, horses are capable of running faster over sustained distances than any other animal. The earliest recorded horse races were match races, in which each owner provided the winning purse, a form of gambling known as “play or pay.” The earliest record of a racing calendar dates from 1629, and one of the first publications was An Historical List of All the Horse-Matches Run (1729).
The modern world of horse racing has evolved significantly, with complex electronic monitoring equipment, large fields of runners, massive sums of money wagered and, perhaps most importantly, the presence of professional trainers and jockeys. As the sport has grown, so have concerns about its treatment of horses.
Some of the most prestigious flat races in the world are held at venues around the globe, including Australia, England, Ireland, France, Japan and the United States. These events are contested over a variety of track surfaces, with grass or dirt being the most common. The sport has also become increasingly globalized, with more and more foreign breeding farms vying for the privilege of housing and training champion racehorses.
Despite the rise of new technology and the presence of professional racehorse trainers, many critics point to the long-standing practice of forcing horses into races well beyond their limits. Pushed to run too hard, many horses bleed from their lungs in a condition called exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). To mask the pain and bleeding, most are given cocktails of legal and illegal drugs that also have performance-enhancing qualities.
In addition to EIPH, horses can suffer from numerous other problems, including osteoarthritis and bone cysts, which are holes in the bones. The latter are especially common in older horses, and are often caused by repeated concussions or injuries during racing.
The physical stress of being forced to run can also lead to mental and emotional distress, causing the horse to display compulsive behavior such as cribbing, which involves biting on the gate or contracting the neck muscles while pulling backward. For many animal rights advocates, this suffering is reason enough to end horse racing.
Although horse racing will never be entirely safe for the animals, reforms such as turf (grass) tracks only, a ban on whipping and competitive racing only after a horse’s third birthday would make a significant difference. However, until these measures are enacted and enforced, it is important to support organizations such as PETA, which works tirelessly to ensure that racing regulations are reformed and that the welfare of all animals involved in this industry is taken into consideration.
