Protecting the Horses’ Welfare in a Horse Race

Horse race is a type of competition in which horses are ridden by jockeys to finish over a set course and hurdles (if present) in the fastest time. The race can have one winner or it may be a dead heat. It is a common event in many countries. The participants in the race are usually bettors who stake money on their chosen horses to win. The bet types include bet to win, bet to place and bet to show. The winners are awarded prize money depending on their finishing position.

There are a variety of reasons why horse races occur, including for the thrill of seeing the horses compete and for a chance to make money. However, there are also several concerns about the way horses are treated in a horse race. These issues include the physical conditions of the horses, the use of drugs and the overall safety of the race. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help protect the welfare of the horses in a horse race.

The concept of what is natural has particular significance in the thoroughbred racing and breeding discourse as it guides breeding regulations, influences how the thoroughbreds’ behaviour is perceived and has implications for husbandry, training and racing practices. This study investigates how key industry and animal advocacy informants based in the US, Australia and the UK conceptualise naturalness within the context of common racing practices that potentially impact the horses’ welfare. Using semi-structured interviewing and photo-elicitation, a sample of the informants were asked to comment on four common images of thoroughbreds on race day.

In the majority of cases, the industry informants constructed a notion of the thoroughbred’s nature that defends racing practices. For example, they portrayed the horse as a breed that loves racing and considers it to be the most natural activity for the horse. They also tended to ignore or downplay the mental and behavioural expressions of the horses in the photographs, even when those behaviours could be considered to be problematic.

On the other hand, animal advocacy informants tended to focus more on the behavioural and mental expressions of the horses. In addition, they also tended to view the control mechanisms used on the horses and the environment that surrounds them as problematic for their welfare. They also viewed the horse-handler interactions, routine training and husbandry procedures as the real problems in racing.

If two or more horses are unable to be separated from each other at the finish line, a photo finish will be declared. A photograph of the race is studied by stewards who decide which horse crossed the line first. The winning horse is then declared as such. Depending on the type of race, there may be different rules regarding how to declare the winner. For example, a Derby will require the winning horse to have accrued points in designated races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby in order to qualify for the race.