Horse races have a long history, both in the United States and around the world. The sport is primarily about betting on the outcome of a race, with the winning horse earning money for its owner. In addition to the money wagered, the races also provide a venue for socializing and enjoying entertainment. Spectators at marquee events often wear fancy hats and sip mint juleps.
In the early days of horse racing, most contests were match races between two or at most three horses. As the number of participants grew, pressure from public opinion produced standardized events with a minimum number of runners. In 1751, the King’s Plates began with six-year-old horses carrying 168 pounds (63 kg) at 4-mile heats; a horse needed to win two heats to be adjudged the winner. Then in the 1860s, heats were reduced to 2 miles (3.2 km) and four-year-olds were allowed into these events. This made it more important for the jockey’s skill and judgment to win a race.
The oldest known written manual on the training, care, and feeding of horses dates from about 1500 bc in Asia Minor. Chariot racing was popular at the Olympic Games in 740 to 700 bc, and a type of race called the steeplechase—in which horses jump over obstacles—dates from the 5th century bc.
Modern horse racing involves large mature horses and requires as much stamina as speed. The breed most commonly used for such events is the Thoroughbred, which is bred to be fast and agile but can also endure lengthy races over difficult terrain. The sport is regulated in most countries, and racehorses are carefully monitored for health and safety concerns.
Many horse races are handicap races, in which each runner is assigned different weights for fairness. These weights are determined by age, sex, and previous race performances. A horse that has a lower weight than the favorite will be expected to finish closer to first.
Despite this, multiple veterinarians and trainers tell me that racing continues to cause significant physical and mental distress in the animals. These problems include cribbing, biting, and self-harm, which may be a result of their confined and artificial lifestyle. Several organizers with the Maryland-based Horseracing Wrongs group have been organizing anti-horse racing demonstrations most weekends at Laurel and Pimlico since 2018.
Insiders say that this negative attention has hurt their industry, which relies heavily on public subsidy to survive. They argue that I am imposing blue-state urban values on what is essentially a red-state rural enterprise. They further argue that horse racing is at a pivot point, and that more bad headlines could kill public willingness to support the industry. They also note that the rights of free speech and press are guaranteed in the US, meaning news outlets have wide leeway to report on topics they wish. But animal rights activists are not buying this line of reasoning. The exploitation of these vulnerable animals is unacceptable and the public should have an informed choice about how they want to spend their money.