Wait! What?! "On average, 24 horses die each week at racetracks across America..."

[FrodosPet]

13. Perhaps a biased source which is overstating the impact, BUT...

...it's a start into the economic impact of horse racing.

http://www.horsecouncil.org/national-economic-impact-us-horse-industry

* There are 9.2 million horses in the United States.

* 4.6 million Americans are involved in the industry as horse owners, service providers, employees and volunteers. Tens of millions more participate as spectators.

* 2 million people own horses.

* The horse industry has a direct economic effect on the U.S.of $39 billion annually.

* The industry has a $102 billion impact on the U.S.economy when the multiplier effect of spending by industry suppliers and employees is taken into account. Including off-site spending of spectators would result in an even higher figure.

* The industry directly provides 460,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs.

* Spending by suppliers and employees generates additional jobs for a total employment impact of 1.4 million FTE jobs.

* The horse industry pays $1.9 billion in taxes to all levels of government.

* Approximately 34% of horse owners have a household income of less than $50,000 and 28% have an annual income of over $100,000. 46% of horse owners have an income of between $25,000 to $75,000.

* Over 70% of horse owners live in communities of 50,000 or less.

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On the bright side, many people in the industry care very deeply about their animals. And a domesticated horse is going to have a much longer and healthier existence than a wild horse, who is subject to no shelter, predators, and untreated illnesses and injuries.

On the dark side are people who are in it ONLY for the money, and yes, running horses can and do get hurt, whether on a track or in a field.