Horse races are competitive events in which horses are driven at speed over an established course while bettors place wagers and place bets, with prizes awarded to those finishing first, second, and third respectively. Prize amounts depend on how many entrants participate; some races may be open to all or may be restricted depending on age, sex, birthplace or other criteria.
Recent technological advancements in racing have greatly advanced its safety for both horses and jockeys. Thermal imaging cameras can detect when an overheated horse returns after racing; MRI scanners, X-rays and endoscopes can quickly diagnose health issues that might develop into major ones; 3D printing technology provides casts, splints or prosthetics for injured horses or jockeys in need.
At present, racing is dominated by unscrupulous individuals who exploit horses by dangerously doping them and condone such conduct from their agents. While some dogged people exist within racing, these heroes do not do enough to bring about meaningful change.
Underneath the glamour and romance of horse racing lies an ugly world of injuries, devastating breakdowns and slaughter. Without an adequate funded industry-sponsored aftercare solution for all former racehorses, horse racing will continue its downward spiral into slaughter pipelines where horses may be charged exorbitant ransoms before eventually dying an agonizing death.
As it should be, when the public witnesses the tragic death of a young racehorse in racing or training without much regret, and moves on without taking appropriate action – be that turning away or moving onto other tragedies and scandals in racing – this should be considered an outrage and it should also not lead to dismissal of PETA and their work; nobody outside racing cares how PETA obtained its undercover video; they only care about its content. It would be wrong for us to conflate hostility toward PETA with condemnation of The Times publishing their story and link for that content and this would then create hostility between us all parties involved – neither should happen simultaneously!