Horse races are competitive events in which horses compete against one another while bettors place bets on each. Horse racing can be an exhausting test of speed and endurance for these majestic animals; many suffer serious injuries during competition and sometimes die as a result. While this tradition dates back centuries, steps have recently been taken to improve their welfare.
In the 17th century, a standardised racing system emerged, establishing eligibility rules based on age, sex and place of birth for horses competing. A weight system was also instituted with certain horses carrying more weight than others to help ensure only superior horses won. Furthermore, races were organized with limits on competing horses as well as rules concerning their owners and jockeys.
An erratic horse is defined as one that runs in an unpredictable fashion that makes it hard for the jockey to keep under control. These horses may lope, move in and out of the track or be “lugged”, pulled back by their rider momentarily due to being overraced by competitors. When in such state they make poor candidates for quinella bets – which requires selecting three finishers but pays out no matter who wins or loses – with punters having to select all three finishers regardless of outcome
Modern Thoroughbreds are large and muscular breeds bred specifically to perform in racing events, including jumping. Their historical predecessors came from Arab and Barb horses imported to England during the 3rd century, which were then crossed with other types of horses in order to produce racehorses with greater stamina and overall ability.
Horse racing remains an engaging entertainment. Characterized by ceremonial pageantry at major races and colorful silks covering riders, its popularity remains evergreen. Unfortunately, though, its industry has come under increased scrutiny for being cruel to horses during training or when running at high speeds; many become injured while training while their skeletal systems become damaged from overstressing from running on hard tracks at unnaturally fast speeds; many more die from accidents during races than survive to end their lives as slaughterhouse livestock after no longer useful to racers.
Horseracing resembles animal agriculture in that its treatment is similar to raising animals for meat consumption, with horses often placed under extreme confinements that result in both physical and mental injuries, along with human greed and profit driving them beyond their limits. When racehorses become unresponsive or injured beyond expectations for human greed and profit, they are usually abandoned when no longer capable of performing as expected and eventually discarded when their performance cannot match expectations. Many racehorses receive both legal and illegal drugs to enhance performance or mask pain; random drug testing exists but often does not apply across industries due to corruption and greed resulting in racing industry that plagued with corruption and greed.