Horse racing is a thrilling experience that has stood the test of time. However, it’s not without its dark side. Despite the industry’s claim that horses are born to run and love competing, the reality bears little resemblance to what they’re made to do at the racetrack.
In addition to a grueling schedule of races, many racehorses are subjected to painful and unnecessary medical procedures. One such procedure is the injection of corticosteroids to prevent the inflammation of joints. This practice is especially dangerous for older horses, who are more likely to develop degenerative conditions and bone cysts, holes in the bones that lead to pain and discomfort. The injections also increase a horse’s susceptibility to other injuries.
Other equine treatments include the use of sedatives during training, which can impair a horse’s breathing. These practices are not only inhumane, but they can also cause serious and life-threatening injuries. For example, a recent study showed that one in four racehorses will suffer from an injury that requires surgery. A horse’s skeleton is not fully matured at the time of their first race, and a catastrophic injury in a young horse can be fatal.
Moreover, many racehorses are given cocktails of legal and illegal drugs to mask their injuries and artificially boost performance. As a result, they often bleed from their lungs, a condition known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. These horses are then given the drug Lasix to decrease the bleeding and enhance their performance.
The racing industry also uses sedatives to keep horses calm and focused before they race, which can result in an overexertion of their muscles and the risk of injury. As a result, most racehorses do not finish their races, and some of them even die while racing. The number of injured and dead horses is a scandalous reminder of the risks of this sport, and it’s time to take action.
To truly act in the horses’ best interests, the horse racing industry should commit to a comprehensive ideological reckoning that prioritizes horses at every decision-making level from breeding through aftercare. This should include a commitment to reforming the industry and integrating a more natural and equine-friendly lifestyle for racehorses. This will require a complete restructuring from the ground up, including caps on the number of times a horse can be run, limiting the age of the racehorses that are allowed to participate, and introducing lifetime retirement plans. This will ensure that all the races are fair and safe for the horses, and give fans a reason to attend.