Horse Racing...... ? Cruel or Not ?

My own personal view is that much of this is cruel and unnecessary. Race-horses are fatally injured and destroyed on a regular basis at race-courses all over the UK. I read that from 2010 to 2015 the average number of horses killed every year because of racing is 193. Most of these deaths occuring in National Hunt racing (also known as jump racing or steeplechase) which includes the Grand National and Cheltenham Festival.
That's without horse deaths that occur during training or elective euthanasia (this is defined by the BHA as euthanasia carried out on welfare and/or economic grounds when the injuries do not fulfil the criteria for immediate humane euthanasia).
Races can be long (over 4 miles) and the fences are too difficult. Can suffering for "sport" really be justified?

Is four miles a long way for a horse to gallop?

I think it's cruel, and I hate to see the horses being whipped. Have we not moved on from this sort of thing?

I think its cruel too. My 2 eldest DGD's are quite horsey and assure me that horses are natural runners and jumpers ( often can't bear to watch) but even they agree that jump racing is cruel.

I would think that ‘galloping nonstop ‘for 4 miles is too much .

Very cruel poor horses

Just googled. It seems wild horses can gallop for two to two and a half miles without over-tiring.

Now I'm wondering if the training, better diets, and breeding of race horses would make a difference. My guess is that they would.

I think it’s cruel. Would a horse choose of its accord to gallop non-stop for four miles?

That's what I'm querying. Given that horses are naturally galloping animals and that natural selection developed the galloping ability, as in other galloping animals – wildebeest, zebra, etc — to escape predation, I wonder if "making" them gallop is cruel.

I don't have a pre-formed view on the matter but its cruelty does not seem 'obvious' to me. I'm open to being persuaded.

It's over 4 miles with an adult on it's back, holding/using a whip! Looking at the National, one fence alone is 5 feet 3 inches high (1.60 m), preceded by a 6 feet 0 inches (1.83 m) open ditch on the takeoff side (just checked).

Jockeys are quite small adults and horses are very strong animals. Are those things they hit the horses with actually whips? Or non-injuring whackers?

Are all races over four miles?

What about the horses whose riders fall off and just carry on? I guess that might be to do with their herd instincts.

Not all races are that long but I do stand by my view that "jump racing" i.e Cheltenham / Aintree etc are the worst.

There's a site run by Animal Aid and if you look at this year alone in the UK, 23 horses have been killed mostly in National Hunt racing.

Measurements don't mean much. Human athletes train to jump enormously high or long distances and can sustain injuries by doing so. That doesn't stop them wanting to do it.

So, to go back to something I said earlier, mightn't training and breeding make a difference? What I'm asking is whether race horses are horse athletes compared to your average horse?

I think it's sad that horse deaths are associated with racing but, again, it doesn't follow from that that all horse racing is cruel?

I think it's cruel. I hate dog racing even more. The greyhounds have a horrible existence and are dumped when they can't run any more.

Yes, Baggs I think you are correct , there are different breeds of horses.
Perhaps they should be raced without Jockeys, could be interesting ?

My view is purely personal, I think the whole racing "industry" is cruel.
Here's a link to one report but it's not pleasant;

www.animalaid.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/troubleracing.pdf

Yes Salsaqueen, there are quite a few Greyhounds in Kennels after they have served their purpose.

Baggs I would say yes, they are athletes.

Just as I could not compete with Mo Farrah, or Usain Bolt in a sprint, or anyone who can run a marathon because A)I'm not built for it, and B)I'm not trained for it.

Yes, I think that it's cruel. Horses can be medicated to race through injury, break legs while running their hearts out and jumping incredible heights. In the name of entertainment. Then of course what happens when they are no longer fit to race and no use for breeding?

Dee1012, Thankyou Although upsetting to see & read , it shows us that the situation is worse than many of us will have realised.