The Essential Features of a Horse Race
A horse race is a competition of horses in which the first one to cross the finish line wins. This is one of the oldest sports, dating back to prehistoric times, and it has developed into a spectacle that involves large fields of runners, sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, and enormous sums of money. But the essential feature of a horse race has remained unchanged over the centuries.
Horse races are usually divided into different categories based on the type of horse and its previous performances. For example, in the most prestigious races, which are called conditions races, horses are allocated a certain weight to carry for fairness. In addition, a horse’s age, sex, and training are taken into account.
The earliest organized horse races in the United States were run in 1731, but the concept was already well established elsewhere in the world. In fact, there are traces of organized horse racing in prehistory, including both four-hitch chariot and mounted (bareback) races.
Organizing the sport in the United States started with British occupation of New Amsterdam. The colony’s commander, Colonel Richard Nicolls, set up a system for racing that was similar to the British model. Horses in the King’s Plates, which were standardized races for six-year-olds carrying 168 pounds in four-mile heats, had to win two heats to be adjudged winners.
As the sport evolved, more and more restrictions were put in place for both the horses and the spectators. For instance, in 1751, the races were reduced to two miles and five-year-olds were admitted.
By the late 1800s, horse races were more of a public entertainment than a sport that relied on speed and stamina. At that point, they began to take on a more glamorous look. Spectators were attired in fine clothing and sipped mint juleps.
But beneath the veneer of romance, horse racing is a brutal business. Injuries are common, and deaths occur frequently on the track and during morning workouts. The equine athletes, which can weigh twelve hundred pounds, have delicate ankles. Even the slightest knock can cause a serious injury.
To race a horse is to force it to sprint around a track as fast as it can, sometimes over jumps that are too high or in the wrong direction. Those who ride them are called jockeys, and they must have exceptional skill and judgment. The screams of the horses, coupled with the sound of their hooves hitting the ground at top speed, can be very loud. Moreover, horses are forced to run so fast that they often suffer pulmonary hemorrhage, which can be life-threatening. And, like their human counterparts, they are also prone to mental breakdowns and other gruesome breakdowns. It is difficult to witness such cruelty and move on without a pang of remorse. This is why horse racing needs to change. But that will only happen if the public demands it. Otherwise, the exploitation of these animals will continue indefinitely. If you can’t see it, then you probably won’t care.