What Is a Horse Race?
A horse race is a competition in which horses compete against one another over a set distance. The race can be either flat or jumps-based. The former involves running around an oval track with a fixed length, while the latter takes place on a jumping course where fences must be cleared to win. In either case, fast acceleration and stamina are essential to victory.
The word race can mean any event, but the term horse race is most often used to refer to a competition in which a horse is placed. Runners are assigned a rank according to their chance of winning. The most likely runners are rated as A, while others are ranked as B or C. A player who places a bet on an “A” runner will collect the Win, Place and Show prices if that runner finishes in first place.
In the wild, horses love to run and move swiftly. But in races, they’re supposed to run as a pack, moving together and keeping each other safe. This is a human construct, and when it goes awry, horses can get hurt. The resulting injuries, which are almost always abysmal, have led to a proliferation of laws intended to protect the animals.
One way to avoid injury is to wear protective headgear. But the equestrian industry is also experimenting with ways to reduce the need for such gear. The resulting innovations are reshaping the sport, but they’re not changing the fundamental fact that, at their core, horse races are dangerous events for humans and animals alike.
Despite the many precautions, accidents still happen. The most common injuries are bone fractures and head trauma. The last is particularly devastating for horses because their delicate skulls aren’t adapted to blunt force, and the impact can cause permanent damage. Other serious injuries are musculoskeletal, such as a torn tendon or shattered sesamoid bones in the front feet of horses that are raced over long distances.
A shattered sesamoid bone is a particularly nasty injury because it can cause severe pain and difficulty walking and standing for long periods of time. The shattered bone can also lead to infection and is extremely difficult to treat, requiring surgery.
The shattered bone usually occurs in the middle of the two small, rounded bones, or sesamoids, located at the back of the fetlock joint. The two sesamoids are connected by a ligament, and the fracture can affect this ligament if the horse is forced to change gaits or is turned abruptly. Sesamoid fractures can be asymptomatic, or they may manifest as lameness or inability to walk. A common type of shattered sesamoid is the apical or basilar fracture, which can be diagnosed by an X-ray and treated by arthroscopy. Another type of shattered sesamoid, the abaxial or lateral fracture, is typically a symptom of a more serious problem, and is not usually treated by X-ray or surgery. Sesamoid fractures can also be the result of a blow to the front of the foot.