by From ancient chariot races to modern-day events like the Kentucky Derby and Royal Ascot, horse racing is more than just a sport—it’s a world steeped in traditions of elegance, glamour and spectacle. Its history is rich, stretching from early civilizations to the current day, and it continues to enthrall fans across the globe.
The fabled winner’s circle, where the jockey and trainer stand after the race, has long been a symbol of triumph. But it has also been a site of superstitions, where many believe that wearing certain colors, following particular rituals or even avoiding specific words can bring good luck.
As an industry, horse racing generates billions of dollars in economic activity and supports tens of thousands of jobs, including those of breeders, veterinarians, trainers, groomers, stable workers, track maintenance crews, food vendors, and local businesses that serve the racing community. The money is generated through a variety of sources: ticket sales, hospitality and merchandise purchases at the tracks, licensing for TV or simulcast, sponsorships and gambling.
But that same revenue can mask troubling practices. Animal rights advocates point out that most horses are bred to be fast, and often they’re pushed far beyond their limits, which can cause injuries such as bone cysts and the bloody, swollen limb seen in Havnameltdown, the colt that died after being run on soft ground at Yonkers last year. In addition, the horses are given cocktails of legal and illegal drugs that are designed to conceal the horses’ injuries and artificially enhance their performance.
Racing’s proponents argue that the money stimulates a multibillion-dollar economy and benefits everything from the trainers to the farmers who grow the grain that fuels these athletic superstars. But, they admit, it’s not a zero-sum game: The racing economy doesn’t get the same amount of money from taxpayers as other industries do.
But critics, such as John Shachtman of the New York Times, question whether the sport deserves the money it gets. He writes that despite the “fantastically large” purses at Yonkers, it’s “abnormally hard to find people willing to work in the industry.” And he questions how the industry can justify its reliance on taxpayer dollars when, he writes, so many of its workers live below the poverty line and can barely make ends meet.
