Horse racing is one of the oldest sports and evolved from a primitive contest of speed or stamina between two horses into a huge public-entertainment business with sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, enormous fields of runners and immense sums of money. But its basic concept remains the same: The horse that crosses the finish line first wins. The sport is a dangerous one, and it is estimated that more than 10,000 racehorses are killed each year in the United States, according to Animal Rights Advocates.
Behind the romanticized facade of Thoroughbred racing lies a world of injuries, drug abuse, gruesome breakdowns and slaughter. The animals are forced to run—often under the threat of whips and illegal electric shockers—at speeds that can cause serious injuries and even hemorrhage from the lungs. The suffering endured by these athletes is often exhibited in repetitive, compulsive behavior, such as cribbing, biting on their gates or scratching themselves. The animals are also confined in unnatural conditions, which can lead to mental and emotional problems, including fear, stress, anxiety and depression.
Despite the inhumanity of the industry, it continues to grow. There are dozens of racetracks across the country, and many more facilities for breeding, training, grooming, feeding and conditioning. And the betting pool is large, attracting millions of fans. In addition, many people make a living in the industry, including trainers, breeders, jockeys, exercise riders and groomers.
The RSPCA believes that the implementation of mandatory welfare standards for racehorses, to protect them from injury, pain and distress, is an urgent government priority. In addition to a minimum level of legal protection, the RSPCA also believes that a code of practice should be in place for racehorses, which should include provisions for a minimum standard of care, based on internationally recognised best practices.
This code would cover areas such as:
In the early days of horse racing, races were often match races between two or three horses. An owner who withdrew from a race forfeited half of the prize purse, or sometimes the entire amount. Agreements on the rules of the races were recorded by disinterested third parties, known as keepers of the match books. In 1729, Newmarket-based keeper John Cheny published An Historical List of All Horse-Matches Run (1729), which became the most authoritative consolidation of match books.
Researchers have found that the media largely frames elections as horse races, focusing on polls and giving more attention to frontrunner candidates. The effect is especially strong when the election is close, and in cases where a candidate has a distinct advantage over his or her opponent. The practice is more common in corporate-owned newspapers and during the weeks leading up to an election. It is less common in independent and local publications. Regardless of the approach, this sort of coverage can skew voters’ perceptions and influence their choices. This is especially true when the election involves a particular issue that is polarizing or deeply emotional. A presidential horse race is an example of such a situation.