The Thoroughbred Daily News has been asking industry insiders what racing’s biggest problem is. Here is HISA CEO Lisa Lazarus’ response:
“Racing’s biggest problem is the perception – and at times the reality – that our industry treats horses as commodities rather than athletes and partners. When the public believes horses are viewed primarily as economic assets instead of sentient beings, the sport’s social license to operate is at risk. Without that license, we jeopardize governmental support, subsidies, and ultimately the future of horseracing itself.”
Other than the “at times the reality” – the commodification of the horses, all the horses, is inherent to what they do – she’s spot-on. And I particularly like the acknowledgment that “governmental support”/subsidies (they’re the same thing) is the whole ballgame.
She adds: “While most within the industry treat horses with the care they rightly deserve, a small minority still behave in ways that reinforce this damaging perception. Their actions create serious challenges: concerns about horse welfare, the slaughter pipeline, and the limited options available to Thoroughbreds when their racing careers end. These issues erode trust and threaten the long-term stability of the sport.”
Swap the places of “most” and “a small minority,” and replace “sport” with “exploitation,” and we’re done here.
