Havnameltdown Could Have Been One of the Most Controversial Horse Racehorses Ever
Horse racing is a sport that has a long history and played an important role in human civilizations throughout the world. It’s been called “the sport of kings,” has inspired poetry and art, and is immortalized in myth and legend, including the contest between the god Odin and his giant steed Hrungnir. Despite its popularity, the sport is controversial in many respects, and there’s a growing movement to limit its practice.
During the Preakness, on May 19, 2018, a horse named Havnameltdown broke his left front leg. He had been running well, and he was in a good position to win the race’s second-largest purse, which equaled a hogshead of whiskey. His injury is one of a number of problems that should raise concerns among people who are not horse-racing insiders, but the details of those problems will likely be unfamiliar to many.
Havnameltdown’s medical and drug records, which were published after his death, reveal a pattern of injuries and breakdowns that are alarming to those not familiar with the racing industry. He was injected with corticosteroids multiple times in the weeks leading up to the race, and he was given sedatives during his training. He was also treated for bone cysts, a condition characterized by holes in the bones of a limb that is a common problem for horses in the sport.
He was bred to run fast, but his massive torso and spindly legs were not made for such speed. The average Thoroughbred, which is pushed into intensive training at age 2 (the rough equivalent of a first-grader) and races as a two-year-old, does not reach full maturity until it’s around six years old. The rapid rate of growth and the way in which it happens can make a horse susceptible to injuries like fractures and pulmonal hemorrhage from exercise, which are known as breakdowns.
To reduce the risk of pulmonal hemorrhage, many horses are given cocktails of legal and illegal drugs to mask symptoms and enhance performance. These drugs, often administered by syringe, can lead to a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in the muscles and joints. As the lactic acid accumulates, the horse becomes increasingly inflamed and inflexible.
In addition to these physical ailments, a horse that runs frequently may develop psychological problems. Horses are not used to spending their lives in confined spaces, and this stress inhibits their natural instincts for self-preservation. As a result, they can develop repetitive and compulsive behavior like biting on their gates or kicking themselves, as well as behavioral issues that include pacing and cribbing, which cause them to gnaw at their own limbs.
Despite the fact that horse racing is a lucrative industry that provides an income for families, owners, and jockeys, there’s no question that it causes harm to the animals who are forced to sprint to the finish line at breakneck speeds, often in close quarters. The industry has made some improvements, and activists are putting pressure on it to do more.
Horse racing is a sport that has a long history and played an important role in human civilizations throughout the world. It’s been called “the sport of kings,” has inspired poetry and art, and is immortalized in myth and legend, including the contest between the god Odin and his giant steed Hrungnir. Despite its popularity, the sport is controversial in many respects, and there’s a growing movement to limit its practice. During the Preakness, on May 19, 2018, a horse named Havnameltdown broke his left front leg. He had been running well, and he was in a good position to win the race’s second-largest purse, which equaled a hogshead of whiskey. His injury is one of a number of problems that should raise concerns among people who are not horse-racing insiders, but the details of those problems will likely be unfamiliar to many. Havnameltdown’s medical and drug records, which were published after his death, reveal a pattern of injuries and breakdowns that are alarming to those not familiar with the racing industry. He was injected with corticosteroids multiple times in the weeks leading up to the race, and he was given sedatives during his training. He was also treated for bone cysts, a condition characterized by holes in the bones of a limb that is a common problem for horses in the sport. He was bred to run fast, but his massive torso and spindly legs were not made for such speed. The average Thoroughbred, which is pushed into intensive training at age 2 (the rough equivalent of a first-grader) and races as a two-year-old, does not reach full maturity until it’s around six years old. The rapid rate of growth and the way in which it happens can make a horse susceptible to injuries like fractures and pulmonal hemorrhage from exercise, which are known as breakdowns. To reduce the risk of pulmonal hemorrhage, many horses are given cocktails of legal and illegal drugs to mask symptoms and enhance performance. These drugs, often administered by syringe, can lead to a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in the muscles and joints. As the lactic acid accumulates, the horse becomes increasingly inflamed and inflexible. In addition to these physical ailments, a horse that runs frequently may develop psychological problems. Horses are not used to spending their lives in confined spaces, and this stress inhibits their natural instincts for self-preservation. As a result, they can develop repetitive and compulsive behavior like biting on their gates or kicking themselves, as well as behavioral issues that include pacing and cribbing, which cause them to gnaw at their own limbs. Despite the fact that horse racing is a lucrative industry that provides an income for families, owners, and jockeys, there’s no question that it causes harm to the animals who are forced to sprint to the finish line at breakneck speeds, often in close quarters. The industry has made some improvements, and activists are putting pressure on it to do more.