A horse race is a sport in which humans mount horses and compete to win money, often by betting on the winning horse. Horse races are often contested over a mile-long course, but the length of a particular race varies according to the customs of the country in which it is held. Some races are open to all, while others have rules governing the eligibility of horses based on age, gender, birthplace, or previous performance. The most prestigious races are known as the Triple Crown, which consists of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.
Before a race, horses are paraded around the walking ring and then saddled in the paddock, where an official inspects them. A trainer then guides the rider to the starting gate, where he or she releases the horse to start the race. Once the horses leave the gates, jockeys must keep them at a pace they can sustain over the course of the race.
The early history of horse racing is obscure, but it was probably an important form of public entertainment in ancient civilizations. It was a feature of the Olympic Games in Greece in 700-40 bce, and there is a full description of chariot and mounted (bareback) races in Homer’s Iliad. In the later Roman Empire, horse racing became a popular spectator sport.
The sport has grown to be a major global industry, and betting on horse races is widespread in the United States and most other nations. It is regulated by state racing commissions and the federal Horseracing Integrity Act, which was passed in 2004. Despite these measures, the horse racing industry continues to be mired in scandals and infighting.
A key issue in the sport is doping, which involves the use of illegal drugs to mask injuries or enhance a horse’s performance. In addition, many of the races are conducted over grueling distances, which can cause the horses to bleed from their lungs. This is known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, or EIPH. To reduce the incidence of bleeding, horses are frequently given a cocktail of legal drugs such as Lasix and Salix.
The future of horse racing depends on addressing its abuses, and the welfare of horses after they finish their careers. Currently, many ex-racehorses are sent to slaughterhouses in Mexico and Canada, where they face a miserable death. Fortunately, some horse rescue groups and individuals network, fundraise, and work tirelessly to provide safe havens for these gentle giants. But a fully funded, wraparound aftercare solution has yet to be developed. Without one, these magnificent animals will continue to hemorrhage into the slaughter pipeline, where they are forced to run until their bodies give out. Then they will be dragged off to be butchered. This is the definition of hell for a horse. It’s time for the racing industry to wake up and stop this madness.