Whether at the track or in front of the television, horse races are events that bring together millions of people around the world. They are steeped in tradition and celebrate national pride and heritage. They are a sport that captures the imagination, and for many of us, betting on the outcome adds to the excitement. But while horse racing is a popular and exciting sport, it is also an exploitative industry for the horses that compete in it.
A horse race is a form of competition between thoroughbreds, run over a set distance on dirt or grass tracks. There are a number of categories of horse races: sprint, middle distance and long distance. Each category tests different characteristics of the horse including speed and stamina, but the majority of races are middle distance, where both speed and endurance are tested to some extent.
The most prestigious flat races in the world, such as the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Melbourne Cup and Japan Cup are middle distance races. They are generally run over a mile or more. This distance is considered the most challenging for the horse, requiring them to have both speed and endurance.
In addition to the distance of a race, horse races can be influenced by the course, the weather and other factors. For example, if the course is muddy or a race is on a turf course, it may be difficult for the horses to grip the ground and maintain their speed. The weather can also affect the outcome of a race, with hot and dry conditions being ideal for fast running, while rain or wind can slow down the pace and cause horses to tire early.
A common practice in horse races is to weight the horses. This is done to ensure that the top contenders are equally matched. The amount of weight a horse must carry is dependent on the horse’s class, age and sex. This can be a huge factor in the horse’s chance of winning, especially in the more prestigious races.
While the most obvious aspects of horse race have been well-reported, such as injuries and deaths on the track and the use and overuse of drugs and medication, animal advocacy informants suggest that these concerns are only the tip of the iceberg. They argue that routine training and husbandry practices, as well as human-horse interactions are the real welfare issues in thoroughbred racing.
The concept of naturalness emerged as a consistent theme in the animal advocacy informants’ responses to the verbal-only questions. This concept of naturalness relates to all aspects of a thoroughbred’s life and encapsulates: their species-specific; physiological; emotional; cognitive; social and behavioural needs and capabilities; their telos; health and healing, as well as their condition and treatment and the way humans relate to them. This is in contrast to the industry informants’ emphasis on a horse-human bond. This suggests that there is a need to shift the discourse on horse race welfare from Layer 5 to Layer 6, in the interest of thoroughbreds’ best interests, while the industry continues to exist.