Horse racing has been around for centuries and is derived from ancient chariot and mounted (bareback) races. Today’s version involves large fields of runners with sophisticated electronic monitoring equipment, large sums of money being wagered on every race, but hidden behind its romanticized facade lies injuries, drug abuse and breakdowns which often end in slaughtering of horses.

Awareness of the darker aspects of racing industry is driving improvements and will put pressure on racetracks and owners to better the lives of their horses. Scroll through this gallery to witness racehorses’ grim fate, from abusive training practices for young horses, drug use, overbreeding and finally their death in foreign slaughterhouses.

As soon as thoroughbred racing began in the 1660s, horses were bred for long distance running to develop incredible stamina. But over time, breeders adapted breeding practices in response to expanding demand – looking for smaller animals with increased speed as well as breeding stallions with superior genetics; eventually creating an entirely new racehorse breed.

As Thoroughbreds became larger and faster, racing evolved into an event-based series to recognize their best runners. Each race had a minimum distance and maximum time; the winner being defined as the horse who completed it fastest; some races included extra requirements such as minimum age or weight requirements for eligibility.

Early races took place on public roads. Later, horseracing moved indoors. By the early 19th century, several horseracing pioneers created tracks modeled on European models; most notable among these was Saratoga Racecourse in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Horseracing is an enormous industry that employs thousands of workers on both the backstretch and grandstand to ensure every event runs smoothly. Some work directly with horses while others fulfill administrative or managerial responsibilities.

Horses’ bodies are composed of delicate skin and blood vessels that can become injured from running hard. To safeguard these creatures, trainers frequently administer Lasix on race day as an antidiuretic to avoid any possible pulmonary bleeding due to hard running; trainers indicate this diuretic with a boldface “L.”

Bettor are constantly on the lookout for signs that a horse is ready to run in races, such as its coat looking bright and muscles rippling with sweat – these indicators indicate readiness to race. But if a horse balks or displays signs of fidgeting it may not be considered fit enough and bettors may choose another horse instead. Eventually all will finish in their positions and prize winners may receive either a trophy or purse for finishing in these spots.