The horseracing industry is one that has seen plenty of controversy. How the horses are treated before and after their careers has created a fair share of chatter. How moral is the horseracing industry?
Many people would argue that the horses’ abuse starts from day one. Because racehorses can cost millions of dollars, they are trained quickly and often start racing even before they are fully-grown. And because breeds like Thoroughbreds are biologically fragile, the injury rate is extremely high. They live a fast-paced life and often don’t get the chance to bond with one person or other horses.
Though the average horse’s life span is about twenty years, their careers rarely last longer than four. Injuries and illnesses can make this time even shorter. And while some high-achieving racehorses may have earned enough money for their owners to care for them when their careers are at an end or they suffer grave injuries, the vast majority of horses don’t have that luxury. They are often euthanized or sold at auction, possibly ending up in a slaughterhouse.
Slight injuries are common in such intense races, as are devastating ones. Horses are often put on medications that help dull the pain or act as steroids to keep them racing when they should be off the track instead. Horses that ought to be retired are put back on the track, putting themselves, the jockeys, and the other horses in grave danger—as in the case of Earle I Mack and Star Plus.
Despite a winning or losing career, most horses are eventually auctioned off rather than being sent to a quiet retirement. A lucky few might get adopted by caring new owners, but others end up doing hard labor on farms or being sent to slaughterhouses in Japan, Canada, or Mexico. Transportation conditions are poor and once at the slaughterhouses, horses become spooked and have a traumatic final few minutes before being euthanized.