Horse racing is a brutal sport that often leads to catastrophic injuries and gruesome breakdowns. While spectators show off their fancy outfits and sip mint juleps, the horses are running for their lives. Behind the romanticized facade of horse races lies a world of injuries, drug abuse, and slaughter.
A horse race is a game of betting where two or more horses are joined for pari-mutuel purposes because of common ties as owners. This is known as a mutuel entry.
Origins
Horse racing is one of the world’s oldest sports. Its origins are closely linked to hunting and herding practices, where speed is important. It was also an essential element in ancient wars. The sport evolved into organized races during the Middle Ages, when horses were ridden by riders to demonstrate their speed.
Racing became more public in the 1700s, when private stud books were created and the rules for eligibility were established, such as race distance, age, sex, birthplace, and trainer qualifications. Today, horse racing is a global sport and has been impacted by technological advances. For example, thermal imaging cameras can detect overheating post-race and MRI scanners can help identify minor injuries.
Rules
Horse racing rules can be confusing for people outside the industry and even for those who are within it. The lines of enforcement, authority and responsibility can often feel blurred. Despite this, horse racing is one of the most regulated sports in the world.
If a jockey or other horse dangerously cuts another competitor, bumps or obstructs another in a race, it can be declared a foul and disqualified. The stewards can also penalize the offending horse with a time penalty or placing it behind the horses it interfered with in the final finishing order. They can also fine the licensee or its agents for a violation of these rules.
Regulations
Horse racing is governed by state racing commissions. These organizations set rules and regulations, enforce them, and adjudicate violations. They also oversee the business of horse races, including verifying scratches and other changes before a race begins. They also ensure that information about horse races is displayed properly on the toteboard.
Prize money is awarded to horses finishing in the top three positions of a race. Generally, the first place finisher receives 60% of the total purse, the second 20%, and the third 11%. The fourth and fifth place finishers are usually awarded 6% and 3% respectively.
Each licensed owner is responsible for disclosure of the true and entire ownership of all horses entered in a race and must notify the stewards of any change in trainers.
Prize money
Prize money has become a key factor in horse racing, especially in Ireland. Prize money provides an invaluable stimulus to owners and breeders, creating jobs in the industry and attracting foreign investment.
The majority of prize money goes to the owner, with a percentage going to the jockey and trainer. Winning is everything in horse races, so prizes are heavily weighted towards winning horses and trainers.
However, it is unlikely that British racing can copy the Australian model of micro-ownership where those involved treat prize money as share dividends; that requires financial firepower and egos that many would rather not have to put up with.
Drug abuse
The recent spate of horse deaths in America has focused attention on how drugs are abused in the sport. Medications, especially stimulants, are used to make horses run faster and overcome fatigue, but misuse can put them at risk of crippling injuries or death. The regulatory system governing the use of medications is complicated by advances in technology that allow for testing of very trace amounts.
A national, uniform drug policy is needed to replace the current patchwork of state regulations. This includes centralized laboratory accreditation, high standards for investigations, and strategies for tip lines that encourage industry insiders to speak up. Enhanced out-of-competition testing and penalties are also essential.
Slaughter
The slaughter of horses in horse races is a dark side of the sport. Every year, tens of thousands of race horses are slaughtered for food. Often, these animals are injured or past their prime. They are sent to livestock auctions, where middlemen for foreign-owned slaughter plants bid against horse rescues and legitimate prospective owners.
While the racing industry has made efforts to change this, there is still a long way to go. The government must introduce tougher rules governing medications with harsh financial and jail penalties for those who break them. Additionally, a national set of rules must be introduced to protect the welfare of all horses.