What is a Horse Race?
A horse race is a contest between horses or other animals, often for the enjoyment of spectators. Horse racing is a popular sport that has grown to be one of the most lucrative for owners, trainers and breeders. As a result, many horses are bred and trained specifically for the purpose of running in races. The most successful horses are able to win multiple races and bring in significant winnings for their owners. The horse race is a contest that pits one horse against another, with the goal being to get from one end of the track to the other first. This type of contest is also known as a steeplechase, which is a more difficult form of horse racing that requires the horse to jump several large obstacles.
In horse racing, the winner is determined by a number of factors, including the speed at which the horse crosses the finish line, the distance of the race and the ability of the jockey to ride a well-balanced horse and guide it over the course of the race. The horse’s health and stamina are also important, as is its ability to take a beating during the race.
Many horses are injected with drugs to enhance their performance during the race. For example, most thoroughbreds are given Lasix (also Salix) before a race, a diuretic that is marked on the racing forms with a boldface “L.” This drug prevents the pulmonary bleeding caused by hard running, but its side effect of causing the horse to unload epic amounts of urine can be dangerous for both horse and jockey.
Despite the growing popularity of horse racing, there are concerns about the animal welfare issues in the industry. Among them are the use of drugs that can be toxic to horses, the breeding and training practices that can lead to injuries, breakdowns and death and the fate of countless racehorses after their careers end in foreign slaughterhouses. The growing awareness of these issues is fueling a movement toward reform, or even outright banning, of the sport.
If you can witness a young horse die catastrophically in a race or during training and move on from it with no more than a pang of remorse, you are a detriment to the thousands of racehorses who suffer in the name of your entertainment. You are ignoring the reality that racehorses are pushed beyond their limits, subjected to cocktails of legal and illegal drugs intended to mask their injuries and to artificially enhance their speed. If you want to watch a race, go to the track and cheer for your favorite horse. But if you truly love the sport, you will demand that it stop torturing its animals.