Shooting (doing it correctly) is indeed considered a "humane" form of euthanasia. There is a committee on euthanasia, part of the American Veterinary Medical Association, that publishes a report every so often, reviewing positives and negatives of methods of euthanasia for large animals, small animals, lab animals, shelters, etc. You might be able to find it online, or at the AVMA website.
Some feel shooting is far more humane than injecting a sedative, then stopping the heart in the horse.
I don't think using a firearm at a racetrack as a first choice is very smart. Most people who care about horses don't want to see that. Although euthanasia of any standing horse can be traumatic to viewers.
I've euthanized ponies with a humane killer (captive bolt gun). It provides instant insensibility.
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"Have the clean racing people run any ads explaining that giving a horse a Starbucks and a chocolate poppyseed muffin for breakfast would likely result in a ten year suspension for the trainer?" - Dr. Andrew Roberts
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