A horse race is a contest in which horses run over an established course. Horse racing is a popular sport, but it is also dangerous for the horses involved. It involves sprinting, which causes injuries to muscles and lungs. The most common injuries are fractures and strained tendons. Many horses also experience a painful condition called exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, which causes them to bleed from their lungs. Often, the injury is so severe that it kills the horse. In addition, the equine industry uses cocktails of legal and illegal drugs to mask injuries, improve performance and enhance endurance.
In some races, the horses are ranked by their finish, with the winner earning a certain amount of money. Other races are based on time, which is measured by an electronic device called a stopwatch.
The earliest horse races were match contests between two or three horses, but pressure from the public led to events with larger fields. Rules for eligibility were developed based on age, sex, birthplace, and previous performances. Some races are called handicap races, in which the horses are given weight allowances based on their ability.
To start a race, the horses are led into the starting gate and are paraded past a team of stewards and patrol judges who look for violations of the rules. Then the stewards signal the starter to start the race. The first horse to cross the finish line is declared the winner, and other entrants are eliminated from competition as they fall behind. In some races, the horses are timed to the nearest one-fifth of a second, and the results are announced after the race is over.
After the race is over, a team of veterinary and medical specialists inspects the horses for any signs of abuse or neglect. If the veterinary team finds any violations, the horse is disqualified. The stewards then announce the final results to the crowd. A photo of the finish is taken to confirm the official results.
While the for-profit business of horse racing continues to thrive, it is time for the industry to address its problems with equine welfare. Horses like Eight Belles, Medina Spirit, Keepthename, Creative Plan and Laoban deserve a future that is free of stress, pain and suffering. Instead, they will continue to hemorrhage into the slaughter pipeline, where they face a grim existence of being shipped to Mexico and Canada to be fed to dogs. If it were not for the efforts of the dedicated volunteer rescue organizations who network, fundraise and work tirelessly to save these animals, their lives would be hell on earth.