Horse races are one of the oldest sports in the world, and while it evolved from a primitive contest of speed or stamina between two horses to a multibillion-dollar spectacle that utilizes sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment and huge sums of money, its basic feature remains unchanged: The horse that finishes first is declared the winner. Bettors can place bets on a variety of outcomes, from which horse will win to the total amount won on accumulator bets. For a growing number of attendees, betting is the primary reason to attend a race.
In the past, most horse races were match races between a pair of horses or more. A hefty purse or stakes fund would be provided by the owners of the winning horse to compensate the participants for their time and effort. Withdrawal penalties were commonplace, with owners forfeiting half the purse or even the entire sum if they withdrew from a race.
With the advent of modern technology, horse racing has seen significant improvements in safety, with horses and jockeys requiring the utmost care and attention on and off the track. Veterinary advances such as thermal imaging cameras, MRI scanners and endoscopes help detect injuries and ailments that could otherwise go unnoticed. 3D printing now allows for the creation of casts, splints and prosthetics for injured animals.
The use of drugs in the sport is also under scrutiny, with the animal rights group Animal Wellness Action requesting that Lasix be banned entirely from all races. The drug is a diuretic that reduces water retention in horses, allowing them to retain more weight and compete longer in races. In its report, the group states that “it is inhumane to force horses to race without the benefit of this medically important medication.”
Feeling the earth shake beneath a mass of thundering hooves barreling down the stretch during a horse race is one of the quintessential Kentucky experiences. However, the experience is less than ideal for many horses, who are forced to wear a tongue tie and spurs, devices that the RSPCA opposes due to their inhumane impact on the animals. A tongue tie is a band of leather/rubber or lycra/neoprene wrapped around the tongue to prevent it from moving during a race. Spurs, which are attached to the back of riding boots and exert sharp pressure on the horses’ flank area, can cause serious long-term injuries and pain.
Unlike the political arena, where the media tend to focus on two candidates battling for voters’ votes, horse racing is often framed as a game of chance where underdogs can and do win. This tendency may be contributing to a decline in the sport’s popularity.
