Horse racing is one of the world’s oldest sports and has evolved from a primitive contest of speed or stamina between two horses to a multibillion-dollar global entertainment industry. The sport remains rooted in a centuries-old tradition, but modern technological advances are helping to make horse races safer and more accurate than ever before. These technological improvements include thermal imaging cameras, MRI scanners, and endoscopes that can detect injuries or sickness and provide the trainers with valuable information before a race. Also, 3D printing technology allows the quick production of casts and splints to help injured or ailing horses recover faster.
While the exact date of the first horse race is not known, horse racing began to develop as an organized activity at the Greek Olympic Games in 700 to 40 B.C., where riders participated in both four-hitched chariot and mounted bareback races. From there, the racing culture spread to other ancient civilizations such as China, Persia, and Arabia where the sport continued to evolve into what we know today.
By the 18th century, horse races in Europe were well-established and regulated, with rules governing eligibility based on age, sex, birthplace, and previous performance. In addition, racing was organized into open events and restricted fields of runners. Also, racing developed into an industry where horses were owned by individuals and not corporations, and jockeys were professional riders rather than paid servants.
The first official American horse race was held in New York City in 1664, establishing organized racing in the United States. A large part of the industry’s success was due to the development of thoroughbred breeds, which were bred for speed and stamina. This emphasis on speed, however, came to an abrupt end after the Civil War, when owners started to sell their horses through a system of races called claiming. During this period, a single horse could be “claimed” by several different owners in a two-month span of time.
As the sport of horse racing developed into a multibillion-dollar industry, a number of issues began to plague the sport. Many horses are pushed beyond their physical limits and are exposed to cocktails of legal and illegal drugs designed to mask injuries and enhance performance. Often, these drugs cause horses to bleed from their lungs, a dangerous condition known as exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH). Despite the industry’s insistence that it takes a variety of measures to ensure safety for the animals, a recent study found that horses in the United States have a higher rate of death than most other mammals. In addition, a growing awareness of animal cruelty has helped to bring more scrutiny to horse racing. This has led to better conditions for the horses, including mandatory pre-race veterinary checks and restrictions on the use of medications, which are sometimes administered with the intent of masking underlying problems. The increased scrutiny has also helped to highlight widespread abuses such as the euthanasia of injured or sick horses, illegal drug use, and the transportation of horses to slaughterhouses in other countries.