Horse racing is an enduring tradition brimming with competition and elegance, dating back centuries of chariot races to today’s high-profile events. Although horse races remain an international spectacle today, behind its glamour lies an industry beset by injuries, breakdowns, drug abuse, overbreeding and slaughter. Awareness of these issues threatens to put this lucrative industry into decline; The Jockey Club recently admitted this loss as revenue, race days and entries all decrease significantly.

Horses have long been used for entertainment and profit since ancient times. Even before formalized tracks existed, horses raced for enjoyment and gain. By the 1600s, Arabian hot-bloods were crossed with native cold-bloods to produce quick and compact breeds capable of carrying hundreds of pounds of armor in chariot races; speed became the driving force in this early industry.

Today’s horse racing consists of flat courses of various distances ranging from one and a half to four miles in length, called circuits or routes depending on where it takes place (in Europe these races are known as staying races or routes). Sprinting races take place within this short period while longer ones called routes or staying races will last an additional mile or two and require fast acceleration and stamina from horses competing against one another. The sport requires swift acceleration as well as stamina.

To win a horse race, one horse must finish ahead of all the others at its conclusion. Track officials use various methods to ascertain which horse will finish ahead; such as analyzing past race results and monitoring each individual race in real time; they also consider factors like health and condition of horses involved, distance of the race and weather conditions when making their selections.

After each race, jockeys, trainers, and owners collect winning bets as winning bets are taxed by individual states. Furthermore, owners earn additional income from winning purses (the sum offered to winners of races) which help fuel a multibillion-dollar equine economy that includes breeders, trainers, farmers who produce hay and carrots, etc.

Many anti-racing activists cite the suffering of racehorses as grounds to reform or abolish racing. Beyond injuries and breakdowns, confined conditions in racing horses can cause mental and emotional stress that manifests as compulsive behaviors like biting the gate to express anxiety; or self-harm such as kicking themselves; often these symptoms go ignored or misdiagnosed.