Horse races are one of the world’s oldest sports and have evolved into a spectacular spectacle with huge fields, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, and vast sums of money at stake. But the sport’s essential feature remains the same: a contest of speed or stamina between two horses.
In the wild, horses love to run fast—there are even places in the world where you can watch them moving joyfully in groups. But winning a race is not natural to them. As prey animals, they want to stay safe by running as a pack and keep each other in sight. The thrill of seeing a beloved animal achieve something special unites people around the globe in celebration. In 1930, Australia and New Zealand united in cheering on Phar Lap’s Melbourne Cup victory.
Behind the romanticized facade of Thoroughbred horse racing is a multibillion-dollar industry rife with drug abuse, injuries and breakdowns, and slaughterhouses. Despite the sport’s declining popularity, horse racing authorities have been taking steps to protect the well-being of horses and improve conditions.
Nevertheless, the gruesome reality of horse racing is still widely misunderstood by the public. In addition to cruel training practices, a horse’s psyche suffers under the pressure of being whipped and forced to sprint on tracks made of hard-packed dirt at speeds that are dangerous to them. Their physical pain is not always visible, but their psychological suffering is manifested in repetitive behaviors such as cribbing, biting on their gates, and head shaking.
As animal advocates, we know that horse racing is a cruel and outdated industry. But we also know that growing awareness is driving the industry to take action—from improved track conditions and veterinary care to more humane breeding and transport policies, and a renewed focus on protecting horse welfare.
When placing a bet on horse racing, the term “Across the Board” is used to refer to any wager that covers the Win, Place, and Show prices of a runner. This bet type is popular amongst horse racing enthusiasts because it provides the best odds of winning and offers players more chances to win if their runner finishes first or second.
The earliest records of horse racing date back to the 17th century. The sport was popular in France during the reign of Louis XIV (1643-1715), and he organized a jockey club to regulate the sport. He set up rules, including requiring that horses be of a certain breed and imposing extra weight on foreigners.
In the early days of horse racing, races were standardized and limited to a number of participants based on age, sex, or other factors. For example, the King’s Plate was a race for six-year-olds that required horses to carry 168 pounds in four-mile heats. The sport continued to evolve, with a variety of races introduced, including ones for five-year-olds and four-year-olds. Ownership turnover is high, and many horses are callously sold through claiming races, where a horse can be claimed by a new owner immediately after the race is completed.