Horse racing is a popular spectator sport with a rich history and a place in the hearts of many people. But behind the romanticized facade of pristine racetracks, stylish spectators, and mint juleps lie a world of injuries, drug abuse, gruesome breakdowns, and slaughter. The fact is, horses used for racing are made to sprint—often under the threat of whips and sometimes even illegal electric shocking devices—at breakneck speeds. They are also forced to do so in close quarters with herds of other confined, at-risk animals and compelled by humans perched on their backs to ignore instinctive desires for self-preservation.

Despite its long and distinguished history, horse racing has become increasingly controversial and is now widely considered an unsustainable industry. Growing awareness of the dark side of racing has fueled improvements in horse welfare. In particular, the practice of sanitizing and shaving horses prior to races has reduced the number of bacterial infections they suffer from. But despite these improvements, the industry still faces severe financial challenges and continues to lose fans, revenue, and race days as people turn away from the spectacle of a herd of whipped, injured, and sickly horses running for their lives.

In horse racing, a race is won by the first horse to cross a specified finish line after being ridden in an appropriate manner and jumping every hurdle (if present). The pace of the race is determined by the trainer. Horses will generally train at a moderate pace to build their fitness and then be asked to work, or breeze, which means that they are run at a faster pace for a specified distance.

During these exercises, the trainer will assess the horse’s fitness and determine whether it is ready to race. If a trainer feels that his horse is not ready to race, he may opt to geld the horse, which will allow the animal to retire from competition and live out its remaining years in a peaceful pasture. Alternatively, the horse can be kept as a brood mare, in which case it will continue to compete and receive a significant income from the racetrack.

To decide the winner of a race, stewards study the photo finish, which is usually a photograph of two or more horses crossing the line simultaneously. If a clear winner cannot be identified, the race will be settled according to dead heat rules.