The sight of a mass of horses thundering down the stretch in a horse race is one of the most iconic experiences at any major sporting event. Behind the romance of the sport lies a world of injuries, drug abuse, and gruesome breakdowns. Horses are forced to run—often under whips, and often with a rider on their backs—around tracks made of hard-packed dirt at speeds that make it easy for them to sustain traumatic injuries such as pulmonary hemorrhage. Injuries, drug abuse, and race fixing are rampant in the industry, which is based on gambling. Thousands of racehorses are killed each year, most of them in their prime.
The governance of racing varies from nation to nation, but in all of these races, contestants compete for money by betting on the outcome of the race. The winner of a race is awarded a certain amount of the total amount wagered. The amount of money wagered by a single bettor can be substantial, and in some instances winnings can be millions of dollars.
Races are held at different distances, depending on the custom of the country in which they are run and the type of race. For example, the Royal Ascot Gold Cup race is run over a course that is 21/2 miles (4 kilometers) long, while other races at the track are shorter. In general, the longer a race is, the greater the prize money.
Before a race begins, jockeys, as they are called, must weigh in with their kit and report to the paddock (the area at the track where horses are saddled and prepared for the race). They then parade their mounts past an official to prove that they are eligible to take part in the race. Each horse in a race must carry a fixed weight that is based on age, race distance, and the sex of the animal. Jockeys must also wear a helmet.
During the race, a judge watches over each horse to look for rules violations. After the race is over, a photo finish is taken to determine who won. If a race is very close, the judges may use a stopwatch to time each horse.
While the racing industry has a history of ignoring the welfare of its horses, there are those who fight to protect them. However, most people who are passionate about the sport blow off the concerns of equine advocates and ignore the many young horses who die catastrophically in training or while racing. This lack of interest in addressing the problems with horse racing is a detriment to all horses and society as a whole.