Horse Racing Ethics

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The things that set humans apart from animals may at first seem quite numerous, but in actuality, the difference with the foremost importance lies within our brains. The evolution of cognitive process in humans reached a major turning point approximately 40,000 years ago with the combining and cross-processes in our then modular brains (Hawks 2013). This expansion in brain functionality enables us to recall events, people and places and it gives us the ability to think about what others are thinking. In essence, we became self-aware and able to feel pride. We began to desire to be remembered and our heritage remembered along with us through tradition. The traditions a culture embraces define it, and without those traditions, a culture is no …show more content…

This growing popular trend toward the ethical treatment of animals eventually paved the way for The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to be signed into law in 1966. The AWA states regulations and requires that “minimum standards of care and treatment be provided for certain animals bred for commercial sale, used in research, transported commercially, or exhibited to the public” (United, 2011). In accordance to this law, many businesses and research facilities were either shut down or forced to undergo a complete overhaul; however, it is not the same for horse racing. While it is blatantly obvious that cruelty to horses exists in the horse racing industry, somehow the so-called “sport” is legal in every country and the government has taken no large-scale action to reduce the illegal use of drugs and animal exploitation in the events. The sport is often crowned with the Kentucky Derby, a pageant of sorts where mobs of people will flock to witness the thundering of powerful beasts down the track adorned by jockeys in colorful uniforms watched by ladies in flamboyant hats. This event exudes a feeling of clean, wholesome class with the promise of fame and fortune, and this experience is what a majority of Americans associate with horse racing (Baski, …show more content…

The horses are often seen as machines and are cared for as such: rough and stressful handling processes, constantly being fed perfectly formulated chemicals and given antiquated surgeries (Baski 2012). The sole purpose of this care is to get the horse to the next race, and if the horse begins to lose by too much too often, it also begins to lose its value. This is where the main issue with horse racing lies. Once a horse is no longer useful or profitable, it is either euthanized (not necessarily humanely) or sold to slaughter auction with no hesitation (Baski, 2012). The horses are seen as literally dispensable objects and are treated as such. This constant practice and needless slaughter are completely legal in every country in the world, with little to no government

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