With this election in full swing, pundits and journalists of all kinds are reaching for their favorite catchphrases to describe the contest. One of those is horse race, which is used to refer to a political contest or any close competition. But the term is morphing into something else: a euphemism for a brutal, destructive and unfair form of exploitation of horses.
The horses who race are put under exorbitant physical stress, often at speeds that can cause them to fracture bones or suffer heart attacks. They are subjected to abusive training practices and often have to be drugged in order to compete. And they are frequently injured or killed during races, in training or at the track. The sport is awash in scandals, with no end in sight for the mounting controversies. Eight Belles, the beloved but injured filly who died in a suspicious accident at last year’s Kentucky Derby, and Medina Spirit, America’s best racehorse in his short life, both prompted a reckoning with racing’s ethics and integrity. And the death of Creative Plan, Keepthename and Laoban at upscale WinStar Farm just days before this weekend’s Derby has only further tarnished the image of the for-profit industry that profites from these animals as racing and breeding stock before throwing them into an uncertain future.
A horse’s life begins with the breeding and raising of a foal in a barn. Once it is old enough, the foal is then trained to compete in a variety of horse races, including flat racing and jumps racing, which involves jumping over obstacles.
In flat racing, which was established in England by the 16th century, a horse is led into a starting gate, which is electrically operated at most tracks. Once the race starts, a steward or patrol judge, aided by a motion-picture camera, looks for rule violations and checks to make sure all horses finish in the same place. A winner is declared after the final count is made.
Most of the races in which a Thoroughbred competes are won by horses with the right balance of speed and stamina. Historically, horses have been timed to the nearest hundredth of a second. The first standardized races were a series of 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) heats, with two wins needed for a victory. Heats were later reduced to 2 miles, and dash racing became the norm.
During a race, many horses will bleed from their lungs, a condition called exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. To combat this, trainers will often administer cocktails of legal and illegal drugs, such as furosemide, also known as Lasix, a diuretic with performance-enhancing qualities.
As a result of the injuries, breakdowns and deaths, growing numbers of people are turning away from horse racing. This is a shameful development, as the sport has much to offer. But if it is to survive, the industry must recognize that horses are more than just breeding stock. They are living, feeling animals who deserve a respectable future, not the brutal one that for-profit racing has stolen from Eight Belles, Medina Spirit and thousands of other horses.