Is horse racing harmful to horses?

Yes, there is a significant risk of injury to the horse and rider, but statistics clearly show that the fatality rate is very low, and the number of horses dying in flat horse races is about 1 in every 1000 horses.

Do race horses die young?

The average lifespan of racehorses is 27 years, which is the same as most horses. Just like humans, some horses live long, healthy lives while others die young. The lifespan of a racehorse isn’t any different than that of other athletic riding horses.

Are horses killed after racing?

Racing to the Grave Between 700 and 800 racehorses are injured and die every year, with a national average of about two breakdowns for every 1,000 starts. According to The Jockey Club’s Equine Injury Database, nearly 10 horses died every week at American racetracks in 2018.

What injuries do race horses get?

Common Injuries in Retiring Racehorses

• Bog Spavin. Filling in the upper aspect of the hock joint.
• Bone chip. As mentioned above, it is possible that joint filling (effusion) is due to the presence of a bone chip in the joint.
• Bone Spavin.
• Bowed Tendon.
• Bucked Shins.
• Condylar Fracture.
• Curb.
• Grabbed Quarter.

How are race horses killed?

Around 150 horses are ‘destroyed’, as the racing community calls it, mostly by lethal injection, at racecourses each year, usually after sustaining badly broken legs.

What is the life expectancy of a race horse?

The majority of racehorses will have a racing career of only 2-3 years yet their life expectancy is 25-30 years.

Why do they shoot lame horses?

A horse with a broken leg is usually killed because it is very difficult to heal a horse’s broken leg properly. In addition, the blood flow of a horse depends on its hooves. Keeping a horse still for a long period of time to allow its bone to heal is an enormous risk to its life.

Is horse racing actually cruel?

While the horse racing industry markets itself as a glamour sport, there can be no doubt that horses suffer. Racing exposes horses to significant risk of injury and sometimes, catastrophic injury and death through trauma (e.g. broken neck) or emergency euthanasia.

What happens to injured race horses?

Career-ending injuries Injuries can end a horse’s racing career, and a broken leg can be a death sentence. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) says that “often the kindest way to help a horse with a broken limb is to put it down” due to the animals’ “complex physiology”.

Do racehorses get abused?

Some racehorses are mistreated and abused; they are drugged, whipped, and even shocked during races. Their sole purpose is to win races. Some trainers go too far in their pursuit of winning and abuse their horses.

What are the risks of horse racing?

Racing exposes horses to significant risk of injury and sometimes, catastrophic injury and death through trauma (e.g. broken neck) or emergency euthanasia. The odds are stacked against horses in the racing industry.

Why do Thoroughbreds die at racetracks?

A New York Daily News reporter remarked, “The thoroughbred race horse is a genetic mistake. It runs too fast, its frame is too large, and its legs are far too small. As long as mankind demands that it run at high speeds under stressful conditions, horses will die at racetracks.” 2

Are race horses given drugs before a race?

Horses are commodities in the horse racing industry. Their sole purpose is to win races. Some trainers go too far in their pursuit of winning and abuse their horses. Racehorses are given performance-enhancing drugs. Horses are often administered a cocktail of drugs before a race.

What can we do to stop horse racing abuse?

Congress must get on track with horse racing reform. There is a bill in Congress right now to stop the abuse and reform the industry to focus on equine welfare. To learn more about the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2019 (HR 1754) click HERE. Please donate to help us save more horses from abuse (no amount is too small).