Horse racing has entranced spectators for centuries, from the Greek Olympia Games to modern-day betting. But behind the fancy outfits and mint juleps is a world of injuries, drug abuse, gruesome breakdowns and slaughter. The sport is based on forcing horses to run sprints over dirt or turf courses at speeds that are too fast for them to handle, often causing debilitating injuries and even hemorrhage in their lungs.
It is also a system that rewards owners who can win big races with the biggest purses. The richest race of the year is the Kentucky Derby, where the winner takes home a hefty $4 million prize. For those who don’t have a multibillion-dollar budget, horse races provide an opportunity to bet on the winner of a particular race, often with small stakes.
Many of the rules governing horse racing are standardized internationally by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). The IFHA rules are designed to ensure fair play and to prevent corruption in the sport. The IFHA also oversees a series of disciplinary proceedings aimed at maintaining the integrity of horse racing and protecting the health of racehorses.
Despite these rules, horseracing is still an industry rife with fraud, match fixing, corruption and other irregularities. A 2011 study by Johanna Dunaway and Regina G. Lawrence found that corporate-owned and chain newspapers were more likely to frame elections as a horse race, focusing on how close a contest was rather than the issues at stake.
In addition to the IFHA, various national organizations govern horseracing in their respective countries. While the rules governing the sport vary slightly, most are based on the IFHA’s original rulebook.
While many people enjoy the excitement of a day at the horse races, others find it disturbing that a sport built on animals’ suffering continues to thrive. For the sake of the animals, it’s time to end this exploitative sport.
Horses used for racing are pushed beyond their limits and subjected to cocktails of legal and illegal drugs intended to mask injuries, enhance performance, and mask the effects of the drugs themselves. Many horses will bleed from their lungs during a race, a condition known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Many will become lame and need to be put down.
For a more humane alternative, you can support other forms of gambling, such as placing bets on football matches or other sports that don’t involve animal cruelty. And if you really must bet, consider using a service like Betfair that places the wagers on behalf of the punter. This way, you don’t contribute to the exploitation of these beautiful creatures and can still bet on your favorite horse.