Horse racing is one of the oldest and most beloved spectator sports worldwide, dating back centuries with archeological evidence showing it was practiced in Greece, Rome, Babylon and Syria as well as featuring prominently in Norse mythology. Today it attracts millions of fans who attend races around the globe making it one of the most financially lucrative sports worldwide.
While horseracing remains a beloved pastime and legacy for many people, some still feel uneasy with how racehorses are treated. This article investigates some of the dark side of racing: abusive training practices for young horses; drug use; and slaughterhouses that slaughter millions of American thoroughbreds abroad.
Santa Anita hosted an impressive spring day and the horses seemed eager to get racing. Bettors took notice as the horses entered the walking ring, hoping for attractive coat colors to indicate readiness to race. When balks–indicating either fear or anger–were heard, bettors knew these beasts weren’t ready yet for racing.
Before the starting gate opened, trainers stood on their hind legs in front of each stallion and waved flags to signal it was time for racing to commence. Once gates opened, approximately six hundred spectators dressed in polo shirts, sunglasses and cowboy boots moved forward holding betting slips while jockeys guided their mounts into position.
War of Will took the lead early and maintained it through to the clubhouse turn, while Mongolian Groom and McKinzie battled behind him for second.
As the field approached the top of the stretch, horses began accelerating with immense power and smooth grace. Nearing the finish line, one horse began to fade, so its jockey urged it to push harder – prompting an incredible surge of speed that sent cheering spectators wild with excitement!
McKinzie emerged victorious, having come from far out in the far outside and executed an amazing move to win by just one nose. Abel Cedillo from Guatemala rode alongside him; having spent most of his life riding thoroughbreds himself.
Governance experts may criticize the horse race approach to selecting their next leader, yet it has proven useful for numerous respected companies to identify their next CEO. If implemented fairly with diverse executive candidates in mind, however, this method of selection can be effective at finding someone qualified for the position. However, board members must be mindful of potential negative repercussions if implemented incorrectly: this includes disruption of internal processes or creating tension among senior executives who competed for CEO role and possibly hindering other key managerial positions from being filled successfully by filling positions without direct competition among competitors competing for CEO role or filling other key management positions within an organization.
