The Dangers of Horse Racing
A contest of speed among horses, either ridden by jockeys or pulled by sulkies and their drivers. Horse racing has been practiced since ancient times and is still an important part of many cultures around the world.
The most popular form of the sport is flat racing, in which horses race over a distance that may be anywhere from five to miles. Jump racing, on the other hand, involves a course with obstacles such as hurdles and fences. The most difficult of these races is steeple chase racing, in which a rider must jump over a series of hurdles while the horse is running at full speed.
Despite its romanticized image, the truth is that horse racing is a dangerous and exploitive industry that causes immense suffering for thousands of horses every year. While spectators show off their fancy outfits and sip mint juleps, these animals are pushed to the limit, whipped into submission, and often end each race exhausted and in pain. Many of them will even die as a result of their efforts, with one study showing that nearly 200 horses die on British racecourses each year.
Horses used for racing are bred to be fast and frightened of nothing, so that they will run faster than other horses and win the race. However, their natural instinct is to run as a herd in order to stay safe and keep each other healthy. Even when they are healthy and happy in the wild, they don’t want to win a race; they just like to move and enjoy themselves.
To make a horse race competitive, they are forced to run at speeds that can reach thirty-five or more miles an hour. During this time, their hearts will increase tenfold from 25 beats per minute to a staggering 250 beats per minute, which can lead to exhaustion, dehydration, and even fatal cardiac arrest. In addition, their legs are subjected to a great deal of force and their backs are frequently whipped.
Moreover, during the race, many horses will bleed from their lungs, which is known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. In order to decrease the amount of bleeding, the horses are given a cocktail of legal and illegal drugs that mask the injuries and enhance performance.
When the race is over, the surviving horses are rarely retired to pastures. The majority of these horses will eventually be slaughtered and turned into glue or dog food, while some may become equestrian sports stars. It is a shameful thing to do to beautiful, intelligent animals that were bred for this cruel sport. If you love horses, don’t support this industry by betting on a race; instead, put your money on a football game or any other sport in which the participants are willing athletes rather than mistreated animals. You can also help by boycotting the racetrack and encouraging your friends to do the same.