A horse race is a close contest between rivals. The term can be used to describe a political contest, as well as a sporting event or any other form of competition where the outcome is largely determined by a small number of factors, often very influenced by luck.
In horse racing, a jockey uses his whip to compel the horses to run at breakneck speeds. In the wild, horses – who are prey animals – prefer to run as a group to keep each other safe and stay away from danger.
The term horse race is also used to refer to a political contest, particularly one involving the presidency of the United States. With all of the mudslinging, name-calling and attack ads, it’s easy to forget what the real issues are in a presidential election. One of those issues is how much we rely on a system that involves horses to get us where we need to be.
Horse races are conducted on tracks and are often divided into different categories based on the ages and genders of the horses competing. For example, a maiden special weight race is designed for horses that have never won a stakes race. Generally, these races are held in the fall and are a good way to build up a horse’s fitness and conditioning for the next step in their career. As a result, these horses are often pushed past their limits and are likely to experience a number of injuries, including exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, which can be life-threatening.
To help them recover from these injuries, trainers frequently give their horses cocktails of legal and illegal drugs to mask the pain and enhance performance. This practice is known as “doping.” In addition, many horses are euthanized after suffering from life-threatening injuries such as fractures of the distal sesamoidean ligament or the fetlock, which is located at the bottom of the long and short pastern bones.
Despite its long history, horse racing is rapidly losing fans and profits as people become increasingly aware of the dark side of the industry. This is primarily due to increased awareness of abusive training practices, drug abuse and gruesome breakdowns.
It is time for Upstate New York to rid itself of this chokehold that keeps its communities from thriving and growing. Rather than continue to support an industry that is a charade of cruelty and deceit, the state should instead look to other ways to encourage local growth, including the promotion of ecotourism and agricultural activities. With the right approach, New York can attract a new generation of visitors and begin to thrive again. It’s the right thing to do for upstate New York – and the right thing to do for horses. For more information, visit PETA’s campaign website. We encourage you to learn more about the sport of horse racing and its deep roots in animal abuse, overbreeding, drug use, euthanasia and slaughter. You can help make a difference by taking action today!