A horse race is a sport that has entranced spectators for centuries. Its earliest accounts date back to the ancient Greek Olympic Games, when riders hitched their horses to chariots and raced them bareback.
While the industry is criticized for animal cruelty, recent technological advances have improved safety and security for both horses and jockeys. Thermal imaging cameras can detect overheating, MRI scanners can pinpoint injuries, and 3D printing can produce casts and splints for injured horses.
Origins
Horse racing has a long and rich history. It has been practiced by a number of cultures and civilizations since ancient times, including Ancient Greece, Egypt, Syria, Babylon, and China. It has also been a prominent part of myth and legend.
Although it is difficult to know exactly when horse racing began, organized races probably first appeared in the Olympic Games of Greece between 700 and 40 B.C. These four-hitch chariot races and mounted bareback races were likely the precursors to modern Thoroughbred horse racing.
The sport became more formalized as the 1700s approached and elongated oval race courses were built to provide spectators with a better view of the action. Rules were established based on age, sex, and previous performance, and horses were given weight allowances.
Rules
Horse race is a board game that combines luck and strategy. Players place bets on which horse they think will win the race. Bets can be placed using chips or cash. The amount bet can vary based on house rules or player agreement.
To win the race, a jockey must complete the course in a safe manner and jump any hurdles that may be present. Depending on the race, there may be a set amount of prize money to be awarded to first, second, and third place finishers.
Different national horse racing organisations have differing rules for how races should be run. However, most are based on the British Horseracing Authority’s Rulebook. Some notable differences include the following:
Prize money
In horse racing, prize money is a vital component for owners and trainers. The winnings may be as little as a few hundred dollars, or as much as several million. Often, the prize money is split between the winner, second, and third place finishers. The amount of prize money depends on the race’s reputation and the size of the purse.
Increasing the prize money attracts more horses and generates more pari-mutuel wagering. However, some race tracks struggle to fund large prize pots without the support of sponsorships. Sponsorships aren’t cheap. Luxury brands like Rolex and Emirates put their names on races for a fee that covers everything from prize money boosts to marketing glitz. Those extra funds can make or break a race’s purse.
Injuries
Horses sustain injuries on the racetrack through high-speed impacts, falls and repetitive stress from training and racing. Often, these injuries are severe enough to end the horse’s career or even life. They can also be caused by poor breeding and improper training techniques.
A common injury in horses is fractures of the cannon bone known as a condyle. This type of fracture can be difficult to diagnose, but can be serious if not treated properly. Veterinarians may have to perform surgery in order to repair a condyle fracture.
Another common injury in horses is a broken ankle. This is usually due to the jockey’s weight in the saddle during different paces, which can shift the weight-bearing ratio between front and rear limbs from 60:40 to 70:30.
Breeding
Modern race horse breeding is a production line industry that produces a high level of equine success, but also a significant quantity of financially non-viable ‘failures’. Some of these horses will retire to become breeding or recreational equestrian animals, while others are sent to knackeries and abattoirs to be slaughtered for meat.
Stud farms want to maximize profits by keeping broodmares continuously pregnant, while bookmakers demand more and more horses on whom to place bets. The failure of racing’s regulatory authorities to acknowledge these deep-rooted issues makes them complicit in a process of horse exploitation, injury and destruction.
Genetic profiling has revolutionized the way breeders identify potential racehorses by identifying specific variations linked to athleticism. These genetic variations are called phenotypes, and they determine the physical characteristics of a horse.