A horse race is a type of gambling event in which people place bets on a particular outcome of the contest. Bettors can place bets on a single horse or accumulator bets that involve more than one horse. The sport originated in ancient times and is still popular today. Betting on horse races is a common practice in many countries around the world.
The 2008 death of Eight Belles sparked a public reckoning with the ethical and moral foundations of horse racing. The subsequent deaths of horses like Medina Spirit, Keepthename and Creative Plan have done little to dispel the impression that horses in racing are routinely subjected to exorbitant amounts of stress and pushed beyond their physical limits.
Despite the publicity, there is still little willingness in the industry to take on the difficult task of reforming itself. Those inside the sport who would do the right thing are a small and scattered group. There are those who consciously crook the game, those who countenance such behavior from their agents and those in the middle — not naive or cheaters but honorable souls — who know the problem is more serious than it ought to be and do little to change it.
There are also those who are turned off by the sport’s reputation for corruption and animal cruelty. New would-be fans are increasingly looking for other ways to spend their time and money. The bottom line is that if horse racing wishes to survive, it must address its problems and move into the mainstream of modern culture, where animals are recognized as creatures with fundamental rights.
One such right is the right to a safe and secure future away from the for-profit, for-profit business that made them. That is what was stolen from Eight Belles and from thousands of other thoroughbreds who will never run again.
Horse races have long been controversial, and this issue has only increased in importance with the advent of social media. The speed of the sport, coupled with the close proximity of the track to spectators, has provided an ideal opportunity for people to broadcast their opinions on a variety of topics related to the race.
Various rules have been put in place to prevent these situations from occurring. One example is the Jersey Act, which was passed by the English Jockey Club in 1913. The act was intended to protect the integrity of English Thoroughbreds from infusions of American sprinting blood. Several horses that had won prestigious races were disqualified under the act due to their American bloodlines.
The sport’s ability to regulate itself and to punish those who engage in illegal activities is hindered by a lack of resources for enhanced drug tests and a code of silence among the industry insiders. The time has come for the entire industry to acknowledge that it is more crooked than it should be and make bold efforts to clean up its acts.