The Hidden Side Of Horse Racing by Alyssa

What Is Really There Under All The Glamour?

rowea — 2014-05-07 15:39:38 UTC

Horse races are great fun to watch, but what most people

don't know is that the horses are being beat and sometimes

shocked into running that fast. The Kentucky Derby is called

"The best two minutes in sports." But is it that fun for the

horses? The answer is no.

Buzzers

rowea — 2014-05-07 15:49:22 UTC

Buzzers are a small electrical device that shock

horses to make them run faster. Thankfully, they

were outlawed at all the US. racetracks. But, some

people sneak them into races anyway. In the

2000's alone, there have been 53 buzzer cases at

US. races. Jockeys can be suspended from

racing for using buzzers.

Hitting And Shocking Doesn't Work

rowea — 2014-05-07 15:59:08 UTC

A study done by the University of Sydney shows that

when the horses are not being beat and shocked

during the first part of the race they accelerate and go

faster. But, at the final stretch of the race when jockeys

beat them mercilessly, the horses either slow down or

stay at the same speed. This is because hitting and

shocking to make the horse go is actually punishing

the horse for running faster.

What We Should Do Instead

rowea — 2014-05-07 20:33:44 UTC

Another study shows that a jockey can
actually help their horses run faster by
standing, crouched over in the saddle,
using their legs as shocks like in a car to
make it easier for the horse to run. They
can also time movements with the
horse's stride to help push it forward.
Race times in the US and Britain
improved 5-7% using this "Monkey
Crouch" position. Do jockeys have to
whip and beat their horses to win races?
No they don't. If they improve their
position, there will be no need for this
abuse.

Whipping

rowea — 2014-05-07 20:59:07 UTC

You can see that the jockey is hitting the horse in this picture.

My Opinion

rowea — 2014-05-07 21:00:48 UTC

My opinion on what to do is to totally outlaw

buzzers and have thorough searches to make

sure no one is hiding any. As for whips, well, I

would say to not let anyone use them during

races unless the horse is misbehaving. Like

bucking, refusing to move, etc. But, slamming

the whip down on them 15-20 times down the

home stretch is not something I'd like to see

any more of.

rowea — 2014-05-19 02:51:38 UTC

Would you hurt us?

rowea — 2014-05-19 02:55:45 UTC

Do we deserve this?

rowea — 2014-05-19 02:59:10 UTC

Do you want to be beat with a whip?

rowea — 2014-05-19 03:04:18 UTC

We're living things too you know.

Sources

rowea — 2014-05-27 17:21:39 UTC

Drape, Joe. "Faster Horses? Study Credits Jockeys." The New York Times. The New York Times, 16 July 2009. Web. 28 May 2014.

Drape, Joe. "Seamy Side of a Sport: Prodding Horses With Shocks." The New York Times 28 Mar. 2014: B16(L). Student Resources in Context. Web. 28 May 2014.

"Whipping Doesn't Make Racehorses Go Faster." PETA Whipping Doesnt Make Racehorses Go Faster Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 May 2014.

rowea — 2014-05-28 18:25:41 UTC

rowea — 2014-05-28 18:26:35 UTC

Fun and Games?

rowea — 2014-05-29 04:16:15 UTC

"And they're off!" The race begins. The horses gallop full speed down the straight away. Hooves thunder on the ground as they round the first corner. The horses' legs flash like lightning slightly skimming the ground before being thrust into the air again. Now they are coming down the home stretch at full speed. But is racing all fun and games? Or is there another side to the sport that not many people know about?

rowea — 2014-05-29 04:21:08 UTC