A horse race is a form of sport in which horses are ridden by jockeys and guided along a prescribed course to a finish line. Generally, prize money is awarded to the first three finishers depending upon the type of race. Horse racing is one of the world’s oldest and most popular sports. Wagering on the outcome of a race is a long-standing tradition amongst fans and spectators. In recent years, betting on the outcome of a race has become increasingly prevalent online with the advent of probabilistic forecasting that combines polling data into an odds-based probability of winning. However, this has led to accusations of sex discrimination in the odds.

In the United States, horse racing is regulated by state and national regulatory bodies. The main goals of regulating bodies are to ensure the safety of participants and to provide an environment in which fair competition can take place. However, there is a growing body of evidence that suggests these goals are not being met. In particular, there is a growing concern that horse races are being corrupted by illegal gambling and criminal activity.

The concept of what is natural has a powerful influence over thoroughbred breeding, handling and racing practices. The naturalising discourse is used to justify many common racing practices that may impact the horses’ welfare. This study explores how key industry and animal advocacy informants based in the US, Australia and the UK conceptualise naturalness within the context of common racing practices that are potentially harmful to the horses.

Interviews were conducted with nine industry and advocacy informants ranging from breeders to track managers, trainers and owners. Photographs were also used to capture common scenes from a race day and to prompt discussion around the thoroughbred’s experience and welfare. The findings suggest that the informants use photographs to sanitise the visual, and as such, are likely to overlook or downplay human factors in the images. For example, most industry informants ignored the image in Figure 3 depicting a horse resisting entering its starting gate. This could be because the informants were concerned about conveying that there are no welfare issues at play. However, it is possible that the image illustrates a common behavioural and mental response to the start of a race.

Several informants talked about the exploitative dimension of the horse race, with one advocating that the racing industry has a “trickle-down effect on the mainstream equine world and beyond.” Another advocated for the exploitation of the thoroughbred as a breed of economic value that elevates prestige and status. These concerns are reflected in the literature on animal cruelty and the horse race industry. However, there is a growing body that challenges these perspectives and highlights the need for further research on the relationship between the horse race and its underlying values and ethics.