Horse racing is a sport that has been around for centuries and continues to be popular. However, the sport has not been immune to changes brought about by technological advances and growing awareness of animal cruelty within the industry.
In addition to its enduring popularity, horse racing is also very lucrative for the tracks that host them and the people who place bets on them. According to a study, horse races generate nearly $20 billion in total wagers each year in the United States alone. The profits from these bets, called handle, are then distributed to the horse owners, trainers, jockeys and others involved in the business of running horses.
The sport of horse racing is a complex affair with numerous traditions, rules and regulations. Among the most important is pedigree, which dictates which breeds are allowed to compete and which races they are eligible for. To be eligible for most races, a horse must have a sire (father) and dam (mother) who are purebred individuals of that particular breed. This system of breeding was established in the 16th century, when English soldiers who occupied New Amsterdam introduced organized racing and laid out a 2-mile course on the plains of Long Island.
Despite its popularity and enviable economics, horse racing remains controversial because of concerns over the health and well being of the animals who are used for it. Despite this, the industry is undergoing improvements that it hopes will keep the public interested in the sport.
These improvements include increased oversight of track safety, better veterinary care and the use of safer, less toxic drugs to improve horses’ performance. However, the growing number of deaths of racehorses raises questions about the integrity of the sport. The Jockey Club has acknowledged that it is losing fans, races and revenue to other forms of entertainment. The industry is also facing scrutiny from groups such as PETA, which has exposed abusive training practices for young horses, drug use, and the transport of American thoroughbreds to slaughterhouses abroad.
A horse may be pushed to the brink of collapse in a race, which can cause a condition known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, or bleeding in the lungs. This is usually caused by overwork and can be prevented by the administration of a drug such as Lasix, which is commonly used to treat this problem.
Horses, like humans, experience a range of emotions, including fear and pain. They are social creatures that prefer to live in a stable, where they are safe from predators and other threats. Their main concern, however, is survival. Unlike humans, who tend to anthropomorphize horses by imagining that they feel what we do, horses have no understanding of the concept of winning or loss. Ultimately, the most they can hope for is to survive another day in the saddle. This is why the sport must be made more humane. It is the only way to ensure that it will continue to be successful for both the public and the industry itself.