Horse Racing Injuries
Horse racing is an old sport that has survived for centuries. It has been shaped by many changes, from technology to the way it is regulated. However, even though horse races have adapted to these changes, it has retained a lot of its traditions and the core audience remains intact. But, behind the romanticized facade of Thoroughbred horse racing lies a world of injuries, drug abuse, and gruesome breakdowns.
In horse racing, a jockey uses a whip to guide a horse while it runs, often in close proximity to other horses. A horse can be injured or killed by other runners, the track, or its own rider. A horse may be forced to run too fast, leading to a painful and fatal breakdown called exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. Horses are also subjected to cocktails of legal and illegal drugs to mask injuries and enhance their performance.
The most common injuries are fetlock fractures, spavin fractures, and sesamoid fractures. Fetlock fractures occur when a bone in the top of the fetlock joint breaks or dislocates. These fractures are often caused by a sharp impact, such as a fall or a tack strike. Spavin fractures are fractures of the small bones in the ankle area, called the sesamoids. These fractures can be very serious and require surgery. Sesamoid fractures are often caused by a direct blow to the feet or the legs, such as being tripped over or kicked.
A horse can also be bucked or thrown during a race. Injuries resulting from these events are usually musculoskeletal and include fractures, lacerations, tendon injuries, ligament damage, and head trauma. Injuries to the brain are rare but can be deadly.
Despite the risks, most people involved in horse racing want to see their horses succeed and are willing to make sacrifices to achieve this goal. The sport has also benefited from technological advances, especially in health care. Thermal imaging cameras, MRI scanners, and 3D printing have been used to monitor and treat horses pre- and post-race.
In addition to the standard categories of races, there are other races for specific types of horses, such as maiden special weight and claiming races. Generally, horses are required to have won at least one maiden or claiming race before running in these races. The claiming races are designed to allow horses who have not reached the top levels of races to compete against each other. This creates a risk-reward situation, which is necessary for wagering on horse racing to be viable.
In addition, there are sex allowance races, in which female horses (filies and mares) are allowed to carry three to five pounds less than male horses. This is to encourage females to participate in the sport and ensure that it is not dominated by male horses. This type of restriction is only in place for certain races and not all races. This is because female horses can still be placed in open claiming races and other higher levels of competition, if the trainer feels that they are suitable.