Horse racing is a sport that has entranced spectators for centuries, from its early days when people gathered to watch races ridden by bareback riders in the Greek Olympic Games to today’s lavish stadium spectacles. But behind the glitz and glamour are scenes of animal cruelty, drug abuse, gruesome injuries, and slaughter.
The sport is undergoing a major transformation, with increasing awareness of the dark side of the industry propelling improvements. From improved track conditions to advancements in veterinary care, the industry is working to protect its most important asset—the horses.
A day at the races usually starts with routine jogs and gallops in the morning as a horse builds up conditioning. Then trainers will ask the horse to work, or breeze, meaning he’ll run at a faster pace for a timed exercise. The pace of these exercises can indicate a horse’s readiness for a race.
During a race, jockeys mount the backs of the horses and guide them around the course in order to gain an advantage over their competitors. One of the most important things for a jockey to do is to read his horse’s behavior and cues, and to be ready to adjust his riding style at any moment. He must also be able to read the track, which can change how fast or slow a horse runs.
The track itself can have a huge impact on the outcome of a race, as different types of tracks require a certain degree of skill to navigate. For example, a muddy or sloppy track can slow down the horses. A dry track, on the other hand, can allow them to accelerate.
Another crucial aspect of running a race is learning to change leads. A horse will use his legs on one side of his body more than the other during a race, so he must learn to switch leads on cue. Lastly, the jockey must be able to keep up with the horses’ speed and avoid getting pulled from behind.
When a horse stops winning races or becomes injured, few owners will continue to pay him to train. Most of them will simply send him to a slaughterhouse in Canada, Mexico, or Japan, where they are turned into glue and dog food or exported as meat. Meanwhile, state and local governments struggle to pay teachers what they’re worth and build affordable housing, so why spend billions propping up a sport that can’t keep its fans and takes such a heavy toll on its athletes and workers?