The Unspoken Secret of the Horse Race
The horse race is the sport of racing horses against each other in a competitive setting. The horse race has a long history dating back to prehistory, with early forms of the game involving the use of horses connected to two-wheeled carts or chariots. The modern sport of horse racing, known as Thoroughbred racing, was developed in Europe in the 1600s.
The sport has evolved over the centuries to include a number of different races and rules. The horse races include handicap races in which the weights competitors carry are adjusted based on the age, sex, and past performance of the horses. These adjustments are designed to provide the field with fair competition. In addition, allowances are given for fillies competing against males in races.
During the course of the race, a jockey will ride his or her mount in an attempt to win the race. Generally, the horse that places first will be awarded a winning prize. A second place finish earns the horse a consolation prize, while a third-place finish results in a smaller payout. In addition to horse races, other forms of competitive horse riding include steeple chases and hurdle races.
While many horse lovers have enjoyed the thrill of watching and betting on a horse race, it’s important to understand the cruelty inherent in the industry. The for-profit horse race industry is not held accountable for the welfare of horses after they leave the track and enter a world in which many people don’t believe that horses are intelligent, feel pain, and deserve to have their lives protected.
An unspoken secret is that horses leaving the track are essentially heparinized and hemorrhaged into slaughter pipelines in Mexico and Canada, where they face horrendous conditions. The only reason ex-racehorses don’t die in slaughterhouses is because a handful of independent nonprofit rescue groups and individuals network, fundraise, and work tirelessly to save them. If not for the efforts of these organizations, Eight Belles, Medina Spirit, Creative Plan, Laoban, and thousands of other former racehorses would have ended their tragic lives.
The horse race industry needs to evolve its business model to put the best interests of horses first. The current system of creating and profiting from the sale of horses, then releasing them into an uncertain future, is not sustainable in a world in which many people believe that animals are intelligent, feel pain, and deserve to be protected. The time to change is now.