Headline : Cobra Venom, Cocaine, and Corruption: New Documentary Reveals the Dark Side of Horse Racing

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As millions of horse-racing enthusiasts tune into the 150th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, the pageantry of “the sport of kings” will be on full display: magnificent thoroughbreds thundering down the muddy, mile-and-a-quarter-long track at Churchill Downs, a heavy-betting crowd in their most flamboyant finery cheering them on. But behind the lemon-colored sundresses and feathered headpieces, the iconic bugle call and the hold-your-breath excitement, one of America’s most storied sports is plagued with problems. 

Corruption and a win-at-all-costs mentality have long been a part of horse racing, but in recent years that culture has led to dire consequences. More than two dozen people were charged in March 2020 for secretly distributing drugs to racehorses, following an FBI investigation. Last year marked a nadir: Twelve horses died at Churchill Downs in the days just before and after the Derby, and 13 more at the Saratoga Race Course over that summer. 

In the wake of those controversies, Broken Horses, a new FX documentary produced by New York Times Presents and available on Hulu, takes a closer look at the systemic issues and questionable practices that have thrust the sport into crisis. Featuring interviews with trainers, jockeys, and medical professionals, it sheds new light on horse racing’s dark side, revealing a deadly pattern in an industry that works steeds past their limits. 

“They’re just really pushing sore horses because [of] the money,” says Times reporter Melissa Hoppert, who is featured in the documentary. “The trainers need to win to keep their winning percentage up to get the best horses. So, they keep them out on the racetrack. They keep them in training.” 

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