Horse racing is a global sport whose history dates back thousands of years. While it has remained true to many of its rules, regulations, and traditions, the industry has also been transformed by advances in technology. Today, thermal imaging cameras can identify horses that are overheating post-race, MRI scanners and X-rays can detect a variety of minor and major health conditions, and 3D printing can produce casts, splints, and prosthetics for injured or ill horses.
A race is not complete until the stewards have inspected all of the runners for any rule violations and awarded the winners. The first step in this process is to weigh the jockeys, who are referred to as riders, to make sure they carry the required weight. Then, the stewards check the horses for any visible injuries and examine saliva and urine samples to check for the presence of illegal drugs. After this, the stewards patrol the racetrack and photograph each finish to determine which horse finished in what position.
Before a race begins, the jockeys walk the horses to their starting gate, which is electrically operated at most tracks. When the race starts, the stewards and patrol judges, assisted by a moving picture camera, look for any rule infractions. When a race is extremely close, the stewards will often examine the film before announcing the final results.
Injuries and breakdowns are common among horse racers, which is not surprising considering that they are forced to sprint at breakneck speeds that can damage their muscles and joints. They are also subjected to a cocktail of legal and illegal drugs that are intended to mask injury and improve performance. This includes Lasix and Salix, a class of diuretics with performance-enhancing properties, as well as opiate painkillers.
When a racehorse has a breakdown, the injuries can be horrific. They can range from heart failure to pulmonary hemorrhage, sometimes resulting in death from shock or blood loss. The bones in the neck and spine of a dead racehorse can be broken, and the limbs may be severed to the point where skin is the only thing holding them together.
In the end, the problem with horse racing is not a single event or a particular jockey or trainer; it is the whole structure of the sport itself. The industry needs to have a profound ideological reckoning about whether it is really in the best interests of the horses to continue its business model of racing them for money. This will require a massive restructuring of the sport from top to bottom, including caps on the number of races and years of service, and prioritizing the welfare of the horses at every decision making level. It will also involve implementing a wraparound aftercare system that prioritizes the horses from breeding to retirement. Until this happens, the lives of racehorses will continue to be hellish. The good news is, this can be changed. Until then, the best that we can do is to boycott horse races and encourage our fellow citizens to do the same.