Horse racing is one of mankind’s oldest sports. It was started by prehistoric tribesmen in Central Asia who, in 4500BC, domesticated wild horses. For thousands of years, it was known as the ‘sport of kings’. Today it is so popular because it is a form of legalized gambling. The history of horse racing makes for interesting reading.
Horse racing is the next most popular spectator sport in the US after baseball. It is also has a huge following Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, South America, Australia, South Africa and Europe. Modern day horse races are competed over various distances with jockeys riding superb thoroughbreds.
When early man learnt how to keep records, horse racing became prominent in all main cultures spanning Asia across to the Mediterranean. Chariot racing and mounted horse races formed part of the Greek Olympics way back in 638BC, and during the Roman Empire, the public became obsessed with horse racing.
Horse racing as we know it today started in the 12th Century. English knights returned from the Crusades with robust Arab horses. Over the following 400 years, Arabian stallions were brought into Britain and were bred with English mares. The offspring were perfect for horse racing. They had incredible speed and endurance. At this point, betting was exclusive to English noblemen.
In the early 18th Century, during Queen Anne’s reign, horse racing was regarded as a professional sport. Each race consisted of a several jockey-mounted horses competing for prize money. The English public was captivated and race courses mushroomed all over the country. Owners and breeders were making huge profits thanks to substantial winning purses.
With the fierce competition, it became necessary to form a governing body to oversee the sport. In 1750, at Newmarket, the very first Jockey Club came into being. Regulations and rules were drawn up and everyone involved in racing was incumbent to conform. Even today the Jockey Club controls horse racing in Britain.
In 1665 horse racing was introduced to Americans with the arrival of English settlers who came with their horses. The first track was constructed at Long Island. After the Civil War and the subsequent recovery of the industrial economy, there was an explosion in the popularity of horse racing. By 1890 the USA boasted 314 race tracks.
Because of a criminal element and corruption, it was also necessary to set up a Jockey Club in America. This was done during 1894 in New York. The new body, the American Jockey Club, followed the same principles at the English Jockey Club, and it stepped in with a firm hand to eliminate corruption.
Attending the Australian horse races is great fun, especially when you win! It’s time to start making every trip to the track a great one when you get the horse racing tips that will give you the winning edge today!
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