Horse races are a popular spectator sport, with bettors wagering on which horse will finish first. Betting on a race can include a win bet, place bet, or accumulator bet. In Europe, Australia, and Asia betting to place is more common than in the United States.
Until 1984, horse races had been a sport that was only accessible to wealthy people, who were willing to pay high commissions and buy expensive racing tickets. The emergence of the computerized pari-mutuel system and the advent of televised races brought horse racing to a new audience and greatly increased revenue and attendance.
The deaths of Eight Belles and Medina Spirit in the 2008 Kentucky Derby have prompted many fans to question the ethics of the sport. Though their deaths were not caused by the same factor, they share a similar origin: the exorbitant physical stress of performance. These events are just the latest in a long history of horses dying in the course of racing and training.
In order to ensure that the horses are able to run at their best, racing officials set rules for eligibility of entrants. The criteria include age, sex, and past racing records. Moreover, the race may be restricted by location or time of year. These rules are intended to balance the interests of owners, jockeys, and the public.
Despite the best efforts of racing aficionados, horse racing remains a dangerous sport for horses. The sport lacks an adequately funded industry-sponsored wraparound aftercare solution for all horses leaving the track. As a result, tens of thousands of horses hemorrhage into the slaughter pipeline every year, destined for places like Louisiana and Mexico where they face a desperate future in which they are charged arbitrary and often outrageous ransoms in exchange for their freedom.
When journalists focus primarily on who’s winning and losing in a given election, rather than on policy issues — which is known as horse race coverage — voters, candidates, and the news media itself suffer, according to multiple studies. Fortunately, this trend is beginning to reverse as more and more journalism scholars and critics call for an end to this type of coverage.
In a world of flashy political polls, there is an increasing demand for complete context. As journalists strive to make complicated numbers meaningful for their readers, it is crucial that they take the time to examine the material costs of each polling methodology. A thorough investigation of the cost of a horse race is one way to do just that. It can also help to inform the discussion of whether or not horse races are worth supporting. The bottom line is that they are not if the industry does not put the welfare of the horses as its top priority. This can only be accomplished with an evolved business model that reflects the true cost of horse racing. Until this occurs, the problems with equine welfare in the sport will continue to persist.