Horse racing is an iconic global industry attracting millions of followers around the world. Dating back to ancient Greece and Olympic Games participation, its current form has evolved over time into what we see today. While horse racing has come a long way since then, horses still face risks when participating in races; broken legs being among them and heart or lung complications often leading to sudden deaths being major concerns among animal rights activists.
Horses endure constant physical strain and are frequently injured from falls or collisions with other horses during racing, yet people of all ages and backgrounds continue to enjoy horse racing despite its inherent risks. With HBO’s cancellation of Luck following one horse’s death during filming, however, has triggered new scrutiny for the industry; public outrage could eventually bring about changes within it.
Racehorses bred for speed are typically put through intensive training at age 2. When their bones have not fully developed, racehorses must compete on hard tracks at breakneck speeds without proper rest, often leading to injuries such as condylar fractures, laminitis and coffin bone disease – as well as potentially being injured from whips used to prompt them into faster speeds.
Horses are routinely subjected to stressors that push their limits and are given various legal and illegal drugs to mask pain and increase performance. Many horses bleed from their lungs while running, and furosemide (better known as Lasix) may help lessen this bleed-out; this drug, considered performance enhancing despite appearing as pain relief medication has even been linked with the deaths of multiple horses in recent years.
Another issue facing racehorses is their infrequent retirement to pastures due to owners unwillingness to continue paying for horses that don’t bring in any revenue. Instead, many end up in slaughterhouses in Canada, Mexico, and Japan where they end up being turned into dog food or glue for commercial production.
Animal rights activists are pushing for changes to the horse racing industry. They demand zero-tolerance drug policies, turf (grass) tracks only for racing purposes, no whipping allowed and competition to only start after each horse reaches three years old, among other changes they think would make a substantial impact on racehorses’ welfare and health. These changes would make a real difference in their wellbeing and health.