The World of Horse Racing
The sport of horse racing has been a part of civilizations around the world since ancient times. Originally, the sport was used to show off the speed and endurance of horses. Later, it was used as a form of entertainment for wealthy people. Today, it is a globally recognized sport with various betting options. It is also the subject of controversy over animal welfare issues. The most prestigious flat races such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Melbourne Cup, and Dubai World Cup are all raced over distances that test both speed and stamina.
Before a race, a horse will be conditioned with routine jogs and gallops. Once the runner has built up conditioning, the trainer may ask him or her to work at a faster pace for a set distance known as a breeze. This is timed and can indicate the runner’s level of fitness and readiness for the event.
During the early days of horse racing, professional riders would demonstrate a horse’s speed to potential buyers. These riders, called jockeys, rode bareback and were often young boys with extensive skills in horse care and maintenance.
The races were short—a quarter, half, or one mile—and took place on open fields and roads. As the sport grew in popularity, horse breeders began crossing hot-blooded Arabians with native cold-blooded ancestors to produce faster and stronger horses. Eventually, knights no longer needed their horses to carry hundreds of pounds of armor; it was all about the speed.
As time went on, racing expanded to new areas and became more formalized. In 1845, the first official rules of horse racing were established in England. Today, there are over a hundred national governing bodies that regulate the sport. The governing body in a particular country has the final say about whether or not a certain type of race is legal and how it should be run.
Behind the romanticized facade of horse racing is a world of drug abuse, gruesome injuries and breakdowns, and slaughter. PETA’s groundbreaking investigations have uncovered abusive training practices for young horses, illegal electric shock devices to produce bursts of speed, and the transport of American racehorses to foreign slaughterhouses.
The plight of horses in the racing industry has spurred some positive changes, and growing awareness is making it easier for advocates to press for further reform. However, many improvements have been made only because of the pressure of animal rights activists. If you’d like to support our ongoing efforts, consider donating to PETA today.