Horse racing is a multibillion-dollar industry that requires an incredible amount of capital, skill and luck to be successful. While the sport may be glamorous and entertaining to watch, it is not without its problems. Race horses are subjected to the whims of their owners, trainers and jockeys, and they are subjected to extreme physical exertion on tracks that are often made of hard-packed dirt that can cause severe injuries. Despite their enormous size and physical prowess, many racehorses suffer inhumanely, and their careers usually end in slaughterhouses, where they are turned into dog food, glue, or a delicacy in France or Japan. The breeding and training of these creatures is an art as well as a science, with some stables relying on long-standing methods passed down through generations.

Horses begin training and are sometimes ready to race as early as five months after birth. This is extremely dangerous for the animals, as their skeletal systems have not yet fully matured and are unprepared to handle the rigors of running on hard tracks at high speeds. As a result, one study found that about three thoroughbreds die every day from catastrophic injury at a track. Another found that one horse in 22 will be injured enough to prevent them from competing at the track.

Aside from the dangers of racing, a racehorse’s unnatural training can lead to psychological and emotional distress. These stressors aren’t always visible in the horses, but they can manifest as compulsive behaviors such as cribbing, pacing and biting, and self-harming. Those suffering from these issues can be put down by their owners, who don’t want to pay for a veterinary bill. After a lifetime of abuse and confinement, few racehorses are able to retire into pastures; they often end up in slaughterhouses in Canada, Mexico or Japan, where they are sold for dog food or glue.

For trainers, horse races are grouped into categories by age, sex and other factors to make the sport more fair. For example, six-year-old horses are assigned a certain weight to carry in order to keep races competitive. There are also handicap races, which allow trainers to place their horses with a better chance of winning. These are not based on weight, but rather by age, sex, and previous performance.

While many people enjoy watching horse races, the vast majority of Americans don’t support the practice and are deeply concerned about its impact on animal welfare, human health and safety, and environmental impacts. The fact that horse racing is a popular pastime in the US doesn’t mean that it can’t be ended. A growing body of research shows that when journalists focus on who’s winning and losing instead of policy issues — what’s known as horse race coverage – voters, candidates and the news industry suffer. This updated roundup of research looks at the effects of this type of reporting, which is common in political coverage.