The roar of spectators, the flashing of silks, the thud of hooves hitting a dirt track and the crackle of whips are all part of the drama that is a horse race. But behind the scenes, a race is a dangerous business and horses are rarely left unscathed. From pulmonary hemorrhages to fractured ribs, to severed spines to ruptured ligaments, the injuries that racehorses sustain can be catastrophic. Injuries at the track can be caused by a variety of factors, including collisions with other horses, obstacles on the course and the track itself.
While the practice of horse racing has long been a popular pastime for wealthy nobility, it became a widespread activity in the 12th century after English knights returning home from the Crusades brought back Arab stallions to breed with their English mares. The result was a breed of horse with the combination of speed and endurance needed to compete in races. The nobility began privately wagering on races, and eventually public races were created. Rules were established for eligibility, which were based on age, sex, birthplace and prior performance. Also required were the pedigree of a horse, which stipulated that its sire and dam must be purebred individuals of the specific breed in question.
Today, a horse that wants to be a racehorse is bred and raised until it is 18 months old, at which point it is thrust into intensive training and put to the test. In the wild, a horse does not reach maturity — that is, its bones have finished growing and its growth plates have fused — until it is around 6. Then it is ready for work. To get the most out of a horse, it is trained to run at breakneck speeds and then expected to perform in such close quarters that if it is injured, there is no chance for it to survive.
In a horse race, a jockey’s skill and judgment are crucial to the outcome of the race. Riders use a whip to encourage the horse forward and to control its movements. They must keep a close eye on the competition and stay alert to potential trouble in their own ranks, as well as the horse’s own limitations. A jockey who loses control of his mount may be thrown from the horse.
To improve the chances of winning, a horse is often drugged with stimulants and painkillers. This practice is called doping and is a significant issue in horse racing, which has long had a reputation for using these substances. Animal welfare advocates believe that more regulations are necessary to clean up a sport that is notoriously prone to corruption. Until then, horse racing will remain an exciting and dangerous sport.