The 2008 deaths of Eight Belles and Medina Spirit prompted a national reckoning with horse racing’s integrity, ethics and safety. Despite reforms, such tragedies continue to happen far too frequently.
A horse race is a competition in which horses are pushed past their physical limits to win a prize — money. While betting on races is legal in many states, it’s difficult to attract new would-be customers to the sport because of its reputation for corruption and doping scandals. In addition, many Americans are turned off by the idea of seeing their tax dollars used to subsidize gambling on horses.
Horses are bred for racing, with the goal of producing a fast, healthy animal with long legs and a short neck to keep its head in the air. They are usually rushed into intensive training at age 2 — the rough equivalent of being a first-grader. Then they are pushed to the limit in high-stress races that last up to two or more miles.
Flat races, known as sprints in the United States and route in Europe, are generally over distances ranging from four furlongs (440 yards) to more than two miles (6 km). In most cases, horses must accelerate quickly in order to win, but speed is less important in long-distance races. In addition, endurance is a crucial component in both types of races.
A race can be run either on a track or over obstacles such as hurdles, ditches or fences. The races are usually held in an enclosed arena and are started from starting stalls or by flag signal (requires special permission). Most horse races start with the help of a starting gate, but some hurdle, steeple chase and jump races can be begun with a flag.
During an individual race, a horse is guided by a jockey (or driver). The rider’s job is to get the horse to run as fast as possible by using his or her riding skills and knowledge of the horse’s abilities. The jockey also helps guide the horse through turns and makes decisions about when to use his or her whip.
The sport’s governing body, the Jockey Club, has a Code of Conduct that stipulates a rider must “speak softly and respectfully” to the horse at all times. In addition, a rider must be physically fit to ride and should not take unnecessary risks. If a rider is found to be in violation of any of these rules, he or she may be disqualified from a race. The Code of Conduct also outlines the proper procedures to follow when an injured horse is encountered during a race. The horse must be examined by a veterinarian and given a thorough examination to determine whether or not it is ready to compete. If the veterinarian deems that the horse is not fit to compete, the race will be abandoned. If a horse is found to have a serious injury, the owners must disclose the information. If they do not, the horse will be sold at auction or sent to slaughter.