Training and Racing Practices

Similar to many human athletes, most horses begin training and racing at a young age to maximize their potential, with most first stepping onto the track at age 2. By the age of 3, horses are eligible for the Triple Crown races (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes). According to the Thoroughbred Times, most race horses stop racing by age 6 or 7, if not sooner. However, many horses can live into their twenties and thirties, so retired race horses can still have many productive years ahead of them when they leave the track (see the "After Racing" section for more details on programs for retired racehorses).

Early conditioning can be beneficial if done properly, with close monitoring of any stress imposed on the horse’s body. However, if placed in the wrong hands, training and racing practices can lead to serious damage, often permanent. Additionally, the HSUS believes that the minimum age at which a horse should be raced is 4 years old, to minimize the physical demands placed on young thoroughbreds. The age issue has come into question more frequently in light of some recent horse breakdowns, such as the injuries sustained by Eight Belles after crossing the finish line during the 2008 Kentucky Derby, which resulted in the horse’s immediate euthanasia.

The HSUS believes risks can be minimized in a number of ways, including more selective and conservative breeding, changing the starting age of racehorses, and limiting the number of races a horse competes in per season.

Additionally, the tracks themselves can also contribute to injuries, though in recent years, the development of synthetic tracks has been explored as a safer alternative. Diana Pikulski, executive director for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, notes, "The debate about synthetic surfaces versus dirt tracks is still fairly new and experts are still trying to determine if an artificial surface is better than a dirt surface. Most would agree that a well-maintained dirt track can be just as safe as a synthetic track. It’s the base of the dirt track that is most important and is most difficult to maintain. Some tracks that have switched to a synthetic surface have seen improvement. Those in the industry agree that it’s important to find the most absolute safest way to race horses and more research is being conducted."

According to the HSUS, Polytrack is one of the most well-known brands of synthetic racetrack materials and is already being used at a number of tracks across the United States, including Turfway Park (Florence, Ky.), Arlington Park (Arlington Heights, Ill.), Del Mar Racetrack (Del Mar, Calif.), Keeneland Race Course (Lexington, Ky.), as well as several tracks in England, Canada and Ireland. Other forms of synthetic footing include Cushion Track, Pro-Ride and Tapeta, which can be found at tracks like Santa Anita (Arcadia, Calif.), Hollywood Park (Inglewood, Calif.), Golden Gate Fields (Albany, Calif.) and Presque Isle Downs (Erie, Penn.).

The use of steroids in horse racing is another issue that has created much debate. Though the practice is outlawed by all European tracks, drugs are still used and accepted in the U.S., which does not have a regulatory body that governs horse racing, allowing states to set their own regulations in regards to steroid use. However, the United States Equestrian Federation, which oversees a variety of equine sports, bans drugs known to be pain-masking or performance-enhancing, and tests horses regularly to detect such usage.

Some owners and trainers think steroids can gives their horses competitive advantages as well as aiding with and preventing injuries, while organizations such as the HSUS believe the use of steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs for non-therapeutic purposes are extremely detrimental to horses and can lead to catastrophic injuries and breakdowns.