A horse race is a form of competition between horses in which bets are placed on the winner. While betting has long been a staple of the sport, modern technology has influenced racing in numerous ways. For instance, thermal imaging cameras can detect heat stress in horses post-race while MRI scanners and X-rays can diagnose injuries quickly and accurately. Additionally, 3D printing is able to produce casts and splints for injured horses. The sport also boasts many traditions, such as the Palio di Siena in Tuscany where winners are honoured for their city’s pride and identity.
When a horse is entered into a race, the handlers of the animal will typically prepare it with brushes and hoses to ensure it is clean and free of parasites and dirt before it leaves the paddock. The animal may then be clipped, cooled and massaged to reduce anxiety and stress. Some horses will undergo a vetting and/or vaccinations before the race. Lastly, the horse will be weighed to calculate its performance and odds of winning the race.
Horse races are held all over the world, and some are more renowned than others. For example, the Kentucky Derby and Royal Ascot attract millions of spectators and are known for their longstanding tradition and glamour. Moreover, horse racing is a global industry and generates billions in revenue each year.
However, while the sport is incredibly popular and lucrative, it comes at a high cost to the welfare of racehorses. For example, one study found that 1 in 22 racehorses sustains a catastrophic injury that prevents it from finishing the race and 3 thoroughbreds die every day on North American racetracks. Injuries and deaths are common in horse racing, and are a result of the nature of the sport which involves horses being forced to run extremely fast on hard surfaces and with a jockey on top of them.
In addition, the use of drugs and medications to aid performance also puts a huge strain on the animals’ health. The racehorses are often trained and prepared to be fast when they are young, which means that they have not fully developed their skeletal systems or been adapted for the physical demands of running at such speeds on hard surfaces. This can lead to early onset of fatigue, which in turn causes muscle pain, soreness and deteriorating conditions.
Unfortunately, when a horse loses a race or becomes injured, the owners will typically abandon it and sell it for slaughter. Most of these horses end up in Canada, Mexico or Japan where they are turned into dog food and glue. They are not even given a chance to be retired to pastures where they could enjoy their twilight years in peace. The fact that most of these horses are sold for slaughter indicates that the horse-racing industry is not taking its responsibility to centre the protection of the horse above its own business interests. This is a major issue that needs to be addressed.