Every year women up and down the country book in their spray tans and up dos, donning their best dresses and hats in order to head off to Ladies Day at the races.
Though many attend in order to participate in a glamorous day out, little do they know they are participating in a sport that has claimed the lives of hundreds of horses on UK racecourses alone.
Over two hundred deaths a year to be exact.
Unlike punters and jockeys, these animals have no choice but to turn up at the starting line, with the high possibility that they may not make it to the end of the race.
Falling over a hurdle could mean a broken leg, which for a horse means almost certain death.
Though some of us may have a penchant for consensual whipping, horses are whipped relentlessly during a race in order to force them gallop faster. In most cases it is illegal to hit an animal in this manner, with the RSPCA explaining that “using whips can cause pain and suffering to horses”.
But the League Against Cruel Sports reveals racehorses remain the only animals in Britain who can be legally beaten in public for the purpose of entertainment.
In October 2011, after Grand National winner Ballabriggs was severely beaten in the final stages of the race – sparking much public outcry – the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) introduced tighter whip rules.
However, after protests from jockeys, the BHA quickly downgraded their restrictions to guidelines, with decisions on excessive whip use left to the discretion of racecourse Stewards.
According to PETA, horses are put on drugs (some legal and some illegal) to help ‘mask’ their pain. This is terrible for the horses’ health and can lead to tragic and fatal falls during the race.
When the horses eventually ‘retire’, they are often sold to slaughterhouses. Animal Aid reports that over 1,000 race horses are killed for meat every year and turned into dog food.
Behind the glamour and the gambling lies an industry where horses are cruelly exploited for entertainment.
Will you be booking your Ladies' Day ticket now?
In a new video by Playboy playmate Victoria Eisermann and Polish singer Pola, the pair use the 50 Shades trend to explain how race horses are forced race to the point of exhaustion.
Watch the video below: