Horse racing has been a part of human culture for centuries, with ancient chariot races and grand spectacles like the Kentucky Derby drawing crowds that captivate the world over. But horse racing is also a sport steeped in traditions that can make it difficult for fans to consider the equine welfare issues involved.
While the modern day sport has maintained many of its old traditions, it has been shaped by a number of technological advances as well. The most significant advance has been in horse safety, with a wide range of technological devices such as thermal imaging cameras, MRI scanners, and endoscopes used to monitor horses’ health pre- and post-race. These tools, along with 3D printing technologies that can create casts and splints, have significantly improved the safety of both horses and jockeys in the sport.
Similarly, betting on horse races has been transformed by a number of technological advancements, with new software applications offering odds on individual horses or groupings of them. These odds are based on probabilities calculated by algorithms that aggregate public opinion polls to offer far more accurate predictions than traditional betting methods. This software is known as “probabilistic forecasting” and it has become commonplace in recent years.
But while this technological revolution has brought improvements, it has also created some new problems. For instance, some of these new software applications have been designed to help handicappers determine which horses are likely to win a race by analyzing past performance data. But these applications can be inaccurate, as they don’t take into account a number of important factors. For example, a horse’s age, weight, and fitness can all impact its chances of winning.
Another problem is the way some of these software programs have been framed by the industry. For example, a recent article in The Daily Telegraph discussed how racehorses are trained to “give the impression of a natural pace.” This is likely to appeal to bettors who value a horse’s ability to run well over long distances.
Similarly, two advocacy informants pointed out that the thoroughbred is a breed of economic value and prestige that can have positive social-cultural impacts when it is successful. They argue that the global success of thoroughbred racing has a trickle-down effect into other mainstream equine industries as well as into people’s desire to get involved with horses, including non-competitive breeds such as ponies and arabians.
Overall, the industry’s tendency to normalise and downplay a horse’s mental and behavioural expressions suggests that they are engaging in a form of “unseeing” that is similar to how digital image editing functions. For example, a few of the industry informants were not able to recognise that a thoroughbred showing resistance when entering the starting gate could be a sign of discomfort or distress. This is despite the fact that Miles et al. found that most horses exhibit clear behavioural evidence of aversion to the bit in their mouths, which can range from being a mild irritant to very painful for some horses.