Horse racing has a long and complicated history. It has been a sport, a betting activity and an important part of the American culture for centuries. But now, with the advent of animal rights activists and a media that is no longer willing to defer to racing aficionados, the sport is facing an existential threat. This is an important moment for the industry and it must decide how to respond.
The immediate reaction to the Times and PETA story was revealing, dividing racing partisans into three camps. There were those suspicious of the origins of the video and seeking to downplay it; there were those who cited it as vindicating proof of the need for reform; and, finally, there were those who uttered a lot of empty platitudes about how much they cared about horses.
In the end, though, the truth will out, and when it does, it’s unlikely that any of these camps will be able to hide behind their falsehoods or their blind allegiance to the sport they claim to love so deeply. This is because, regardless of what the truth reveals, the fact remains that racing is a cruel sport that hurts and kills too many horses.
As a result, the number of people willing to go into this business, or to support it financially, is dwindling. And, without a rethink of the business model and an evolution in its moral code, the sport will die a slow and painful death.
The term horse race, like so many other words and concepts that have been tainted over time, was once a straightforward equine contest in which one horse beat another. The word’s earliest recorded usage dates back to 700 to 40 B.C., when it was used in relation to four-hitched chariot races and mounted bareback races.
By the late 1700s, horse races were increasingly standardized and focused on horses in their prime. Large, mature animals were preferred and stamina was as necessary as speed. As dash racing (one heat) became the norm, a few yards in a race came to have enormous significance, and it became a jockey’s skill and judgment in coaxing that advantage from his mount that mattered most.
Today, horses are raced far too young, with their skeletal systems still developing and unprepared to handle the rigors of running on hard tracks at high speeds. They are pushed past their limits and subjected to cocktails of legal and illegal drugs that mask injuries and enhance performance. Too often, they bleed from their lungs and have to be put down. Despite improved medical treatment and technological advances, the truth is that horse racing is a cruel game that continues to harm too many of its horses. It’s time for this industry to stop pretending that the problem doesn’t exist and begin taking bold steps to change the course of its future. Otherwise, it will continue to face the prospect of being outmaneuvered by animal rights advocates and the ever-growing media coverage of its brutal practices.