A horse race is a competition in which horses are urged by human riders, called jockeys, to run at breakneck speed. The sport, which dates back thousands of years, is a violent endeavor in which many horses are injured and killed every year. The horses suffer at the hands of a multimillion-dollar industry that treats them like disposable commodities.
When humans sit on their backs and compel them with whips to a speed they cannot understand, the animals are at risk of breaking their necks or being kicked in the head. Whether they are injured on the track or in training, die from terrifying accidents or are euthanized after suffering crippling injuries, or fail to win races and are shipped to slaughter, these sensitive animals are but disposable commodities to a multimillion-dollar industry that treats its victims with unimaginable cruelty.
This is the most lucrative industry on Earth and it is fueled by taxpayer subsidies and casino cash. As a result, most racehorses cost less than a used car and most race purses are jacked up to encourage horsemen to push their animals past their limits in order to generate more revenue.
To qualify for most races, a horse must have a pedigree that includes the horse’s sire (father) and dam (mother). In North America, the majority of the races are on a dirt surface and run in a counter-clockwise direction. Runners are on their right lead in the straightaways and on their left leads around the turns, and teaching a horse to change leads on command is an important aspect of racing.
Jockeys wear helmets to protect their heads from flying debris during a race and to help them maintain control of their mounts. Some races are long and require endurance, while others are shorter sprints. The average racehorse weighs 1,000 pounds and can reach speeds up to 55 miles per hour during a sprint.
The first race that a horse ran was probably a four-hitched chariot or bareback race in Ancient Greece, followed by similar contests in Ancient Rome, Babylon, Syria and Egypt. The sport spread from there throughout the world and is an integral part of mythology, including the epic tale of Odin’s steed Hrungnir.
After completing one lap of the course, all horses speed into a sort of equine pit row where teammates with fresh mounts await them for what’s known as an exchange. The jockey then dismounts, brushes off the dirt, and takes one, two or three steps on each horse to be handed another horse for the next leg of the race. This process is referred to as “scrubbing” and is a form of training that allows a jockey to ride a horse without using the whip.