The Fascinating History Of Horse Racing
What used to be referred to as the ‘sport of kings’, the history of horse racing goes back as far as 4500 BC when primitive tribesmen living in Central Asia began domesticating horses. It is one of the most popular sports all over the world because it is essentially a legitimate way to gamble.
Only second to baseball in popularity, horse racing is a major spectator sport in America. It also ranks as a top sport in South Africa, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Europe, Canada and Great Britain. The most popular format takes place on level courses of different distances. The thoroughbred horses are ridden by professional jockeys.
By the time mankind learnt how to write, horse racing was being held in every major civilization, right from Central Asia through to the Mediterranean. Even the 638BC Greek Olympics included chariot and mounted horse races as events. During the Roman Empire period, the public became fanatical with the sport.
The modern format of the sport was first evident during the 12th Century. On their return from the Crusades, English knights brought home a number of fine Arab horses. During the next 400 years stallions were imported to England for stud purposes. When bred with the fine English mares, the offspring had amazing endurance and remarkable speed. They were ideal for horse racing.
In the early 1700s, when Queen Anne was on the throne, horse racing was classified as a professional sport. Races comprised of several horses and jockeys pitting their skills against each other. Race courses sprung up all over England and, with ever increasing purses, breeders and owners were turning huge profits.
Competition became fierce and, to prevent any corruption, a Jockey Club was formed in 1750 at Newmarket. The sport was controlled by this body which introduced a number of rules and regulations. Even to this day, British horse racing is overseen by the Jockey Club.
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.
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