Horse racing has a rich and longstanding history, dating back to ancient Greece, Rome, Babylonia Syria and Egypt. Additionally, biblical references indicate horse racing was an event between gods’ steeds.
Horseracing combines the power and excitement of horses with gambling – known as “the race that stops a nation.” Horse racing has gained wide international acclaim and fans eagerly wait to watch their favorite horses compete at top levels.
To win any race, horses must not only possess outstanding speed and endurance but also be properly trained by their jockeys. Their jockey is responsible for feeding, exercising and training their horses as well as making sure that each one performs to its potential during races.
There are various kinds of horse races, each of which has different rules and regulations. Distance can range from one mile to six miles; lap counts around a track can also differ; depending on the race type, horses may need to run in a particular position or with certain girth sizes or saddle types.
Horse races have long been criticized for their heavy reliance on pre-election polling, with scholars and journalists alleging that this type of journalism reduces coverage of issues relevant to voters while contributing to partisanship and division in American politics. Yet such criticisms are unwarranted; polling data usage is both common practice and constitutional under the First Amendment.
Horse racing offers more than the thrill of betting; one major draw of horse racing is its tradition of hospitality. Racetrack spectators enjoy food and beverage offerings while taking in all of the sights and sounds of an event, often being serenaded by singers or bands as entertainment; racetracks can even serve as venues for weddings, birthdays and anniversaries!
Attractive as the glamour and excitement of horse racing may be, its abuse of animals should serve as a sobering reminder that this industry exploits living beings. Bred for speed at the expense of their health and bone mass, racehorses are forced to compete despite suffering debilitating conditions such as bleeding lungs, ringbone fractures or gastric ulcers; many even experience heart attacks or die from physical demands of racing.
After their racing careers are completed, few racehorses are retired to pastures; instead many end up at slaughterhouses where their carcasses may be turned into glue or dog food, or eaten as delicacies in Japan and France. By boycotting this sport, you can help end this exploitation and show that horses are willing athletes rather than unwilling victims.
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