List of Animal Racing Sports A-Z

Animal racing sports are sports where animals race each other around a track or predetermined terrain. These sports can involve animals of all types, from dogs to horses to birds and many other unique animals. Animal races usually take place as races with animals racing other animals of the same species.

Animal racing sports have different laws and restrictions based on the animal and the state where they take place. Sports like horse racing are very popular and likely to be legal in more places. Racing of dogs and other animals, however, are less likely to be legally accepted. For example, Alabama, Arkansas, Iowa, Texas, and West Virginia are the only states in the U.S. that allow dog racing and still have active tracks, while four more states allow racing but have no active tracks.

There are many ethical debates regarding how humane it is to take part in animal racing sports. Many sources describe the awful conditions and mistreatment of these animals. Some such sources describe the cruel practice in which animals that are no longer able to race, either due to old age or injury, are abandoned or even killed. While there are certainly individuals within animal racing sports that treat the animals involved with respect and the utmost care, there are also people who abuse these sports and the animals that make them possible. Animal racing sports are much different from human racing sports because humans choose to compete, but animals are forced into competition.

The most popular animal racing sport in the United States is undoubtedly horse racing. Horse racing has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry each year between breeding, owning, training, maintaining, and racing horses. The three most prestigious horse races are the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes. If a horse wins all three of these races, they win the “Triple Crown,” which has only been won 13 times all-time, most recently by Justify in 2018.