Horse races are thrilling events that have endured through time and have become an integral part of American culture. Yet this form of entertainment relies heavily on mistreated animals – making betting on horse races potentially painful experiences for them while you watch and participate. As such, many are opting out altogether.
Horse racing can be an extremely hazardous sport that poses fatal injuries for both riders and horses alike. Furthermore, allegations of animal cruelty against both horses and jockeys abound, including abusive training practices for young horses, drug use by trainers and transporting horses to slaughterhouses across the globe. Due to this growing concern over how horses are treated in horse racing industries worldwide, various organizations are now exerting pressure to improve conditions for these creatures.
An integral component of horse racing lies with jockeys’ abilities to ride each runner and coax out their best performance, winning races in this way. To accomplish this feat requires skill, judgment, and an intimate knowledge of animals; horse racing is particularly hard on horses who may experience doubled heartbeat during races leading them towards exhaustion or even death.
Horses in their natural state enjoy running fast. Although these social, plains-ranging animals thrive as wild horses, racehorses are isolated and confined, leading them to display stereotypical behaviors such as crib-biting (repetitive oral behavior), bucking and weaving (where the horse moves its body from side to side). Unfortunately injuries are a frequent occurrence in this industry – according to research more than 200 horses die each year on British racecourses alone!
As a result of increased awareness surrounding animal cruelty in racing, there have been significant improvements to how horses are treated within the racing industry. These include improved veterinary care and medication for horses as well as jockeys, reduced drug usage overall and more thorough monitoring and inspections to ensure both horse’s safety and their owner’s. In addition, organizations like PETA are exerting pressure on industry officials to do even more to protect these amazing athletes.
Though much has changed in horse racing, it remains an exploitative sport. If betting is something you enjoy doing, consider placing it elsewhere; other sports provide just as much thrills and excitement without adding to animal suffering.