A horse race is a type of betting game in which the bettors wager on the chance that their chosen horse will win the race. The horses are grouped together and their odds of winning are calculated according to the number of people betting on them and the number of bets placed. The higher the odds of a certain horse winning, the more money the bettors will make. In addition to placing bets on the winner of a race, bettors can also place bets to “place,” meaning that their chosen horse will finish in one of the top three spots.
In the US, horse racing is a multibillion-dollar industry. It’s a popular spectator sport and attracts large crowds of fans to the track. In fact, betting on horse races generates more revenue than most NFL games. Moreover, it’s the fourth most-watched sporting event in the country, after football, basketball, and baseball. However, despite its popularity, there are serious concerns about the welfare of horse races and the treatment of their animals.
Knowledge of organized horse racing dates back to ancient times, with both four-hitch chariot and mounted (bareback) races in the Olympic Games of Greece over the period 700-40 B.C.E. Later, the sport spread to other parts of the world including China, Persia, and Arabia where horsemanship was developed to an early art form.
Horse racing is a dangerous sport for the animals involved. It is not uncommon for horses to die from the exorbitant stress of running a race. Eight Belles and Medina Spirit are just two examples of champions who died from this fate. Many more horses are euthanized after breaking down due to the strain of training and racing. This is often done under questionable circumstances and with little transparency or public awareness.
The sport of horse racing is a cruel and inhumane enterprise that treats horses as commodities rather than living, feeling creatures. Sadly, the racing industry has never evolved its business model with the best interests of the horses as the primary priority. In the meantime, animal rights groups such as PETA continue to uncover abuse and cruelty, including drugging and whipping young horses in training, and transporting them to slaughterhouses abroad.
While growing awareness has prompted some improvements in the safety and welfare of horses, this is far from enough. The time has come for horse racing to face its deep-rooted problems with respect and dignity for these majestic animals. Instead of ignoring the voices of the people who oppose it, it is time for the horse racing industry to embrace the future by reshaping its business model to include the wellbeing of the horses at the heart of it all. This is a revolution that should be led by horse owners and trainers who refuse to turn a blind eye to the slaughter of their prized athletes. Then, perhaps we can stop the killing of thousands of horses each year.
