The horses sprinted into the last light of day, gleaming pinkish in the sun as the grandstand crowd moved to their feet, cheering. War of Will took the lead, but around the clubhouse turn it was clear he was tiring. McKinzie and Mongolian Groom surged up on his flank, and Vino Rosso, a big chestnut colt with a hypnotic smoothness, was closing quickly.

The race was for the Triple Crown: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. Winners of these three races, the coveted Holy Grail of thoroughbred racing, are immortalized with statues at their home track and are feted in a variety of ways, including the Kentucky Derby trophy. These horses’ success is a source of great pride for their owners, trainers and jockeys and for the bettors who fill the grandstands to see them run.

But what these horse lovers don’t realize is that there is a huge dark side to horse racing that is seldom acknowledged. Whether it is an accident on the track or an illness in training, thousands of horses die every year due to this sport. And the fact is, that number could be even higher, as many deaths go unreported.

In the wake of the 2008 death of Eight Belles in the Kentucky Derby and the 2022 death of Medina Spirit at the Preakness, Congress decided that it was not willing to see animals die to entertain equine enthusiasts and passed laws requiring safety standards. But these laws are just a start. The real solution to the problem lies at the macro business and industry level, in a profound ideological reckoning that prioritizes horses at every step of the process: from breeding shed to the track, from race days to aftercare, from a culture of exploitation to one that values the health and welfare of the horses who are its lifeblood.

To truly make these changes would require a rethinking of the whole culture of the sport and a willingness to embrace what has always been true in nature: horses are prey animals, and they understand the concept of self-preservation better than we do. They instinctively flee when they are injured or in danger, not fight for the chance to win a prize or be compelled to keep running by human hands and a whip. It is the latter that has stolen the lives of Eight Belles, Medina Spirit, Keepthename and Creative Plan, and from the thousands more who have died in this sport, whose names will never be known. It is time to change that. This is an article by Elizabeth Banicki, a former longtime exercise rider for trainers and stables. She is currently working on a book on her experience in the horse racing industry. Visit her website for more information. You can also follow her on Twitter. Copyright 2020 by Elizabeth Banicki. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. For permission please contact the author.

Baccarat is a casino game that requires a bit of skill to play successfully. The game can be quite lucrative and is an excellent choice for those looking to enjoy the excitement of winning big. However, players should always make sure to play responsibly and have a clear plan before entering the game. This way, players will be able to avoid making any mistakes and focus on winning the most money. The best way to achieve this is by setting loss limits and sticking to them. In addition, players should also take note of their wins and losses and adjust their betting accordingly.

Before the cards are dealt, players must place their bets on either Player, Banker or a Tie. The dealer will then deal two cards to each hand, with the aim of getting a total closest to 9. A third card may be drawn if the first two cards for the Player or Banker hands total 8 or 9 – this is known as a natural and the game is over. Alternatively, the third card can be a ten if neither the Player nor Banker have a ten in their initial hand.

The Banker hand in baccarat offers one of the lowest house edges in the casino, which is why this is a popular choice for many players. In most places the Banker bet pays out 8 to 1 against a tie, although this can vary from casino to casino. It is important to remember that a low number of decks in play will reduce the house edge and make the Banker bet more expensive for the Player.

Aside from the Player and Banker bets, there are a number of other side bets that can be placed on a Baccarat table. These include the Super Six Bet, which pays out 12x the original wager if the Banker hand wins with 6 points; and the Pair Bet, which pay out 8 to 1 if the Player or Banker has a pair on the deal. These side bets are usually available in all casinos, and their odds will vary by establishment.

Another variation on the basic rules of baccarat is the use of a bead plate, which is used to keep track of all the scores and their outcomes. The bead plate is called a ‘cube road’, a ‘marker road’, or even a ‘baby pig road’ (a reference to the Chinese phrase for Baccarat, ).

While the basic rules of Baccarat are fairly straightforward, there are a few variations on the game that have been created by players and casinos. These variations have given rise to new side bets, which differ from casino to casino, and add an extra dimension to the game. These side bets are not always as easy to understand, and often have confusing names. They can also be very difficult to master, and can often result in lengthy losing streaks for players. However, with a little practice, they can become much easier to grasp.