What Is a Horse Race?
A horse race is a sporting event whose participants are human and equine. The animals involved in this event are required to run for their lives, often at speeds that lead to horrific injuries and breakdowns. The horses are forced to compete in a sport that often involves drug abuse, and they are subjected to the constant threat of the whip. Despite the romanticized facade of horse racing, this sport is full of abuse and death.
The video that shook the world of thoroughbred horse racing like a thunderclap was an expose on the treatment of racehorses at two of the most famous tracks in America: Churchill Downs and Saratoga Race Course.* The allegations made against trainers Steve Asmussen and Scott Blasi by the animal rights organization, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, were shocking. The story revealed the brutal treatment of these horses and their trainers, and triggered a massive outpouring of anger and sadness from many people in the equestrian community.
In racing, a horse’s weight is one of the most important factors in its performance. Horses are assigned a certain amount of weight to carry in each race, based on its ability. Certain races have more weight than others, such as the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Derby. The weights are determined by a number of things including the horse’s age, gender, training, and past performances.
A horse may be given a weight allowance if it has had an injury that could prevent it from competing at its usual level of competition. A horse that is allowed to race with less weight than other horses is called a handicap horse. The amount of weight that a horse is required to carry can have a significant impact on its final finish position, so determining how much a horse should be weighed is an art form in and of itself.
Several other factors also affect a horse’s performance, such as the length of its stride and its pace, the type of track (dirt, dirt/turf, or grass), and how much mud it has ingested. A horse is typically assigned a jockey, and the way that jockey interacts with the animal can have a significant impact on its finishing position. A jockey who is able to use subtle movements to encourage the horse can be more effective than a rider who resorts to using the whip.
Horses race on a variety of surfaces, but the majority are held on dirt tracks. Some dirt races are known as heavy tracks, while others are referred to as dry tracks. A track with a lot of mud on it is called a muddy track.
Those who participate in the sport of horse racing are usually divided into three categories: the cheaters, the good-intentioned but misguided, and the far too large group that understands that serious reform is needed. The first category is a small, feral minority that stain the integrity of horse racing for everyone else; the second is a silent majority that won’t give up on their love of the sport; and the third is a group of devoted individuals who network, fundraise and work tirelessly to save horses after they leave the racetrack.