It is absolutely no accident that the racing of horses is referred to as being the sport of Kings. Even when dated back to its earliest roots in ancient times the history of horse racing tells s that it was a sport reserved for Kings and the nobility.
Thousands of years back, 4 500 BC actually, the first horse races were held by prehistoric Asian tribes. These people were the first to domesticate these animals, and it was a natural progression that one owners' horse should be pitted against another for speed, endurance and strength. If nothing else, human-kind has always been competitive.
Horse racing today creates legalized gambling at huge venues and supports many and varied industries. Keeping horses, in particular thoroughbreds does not come cheap and these animals earn a living for themselves, their owners, trainers, jockeys, sports betting shops and a myriad other industries, only rich people can afford to keep horses!
In the United States the biggest spectator sport is baseball, the second biggest is horse racing. Annually people place $ billions of wagers on these races and it is a professional sport all over the world. Most popularly in the US obviously, the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South America, Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia.
The majority of the horses we see race are called thoroughbreds, although in various parts of the world, quarter horse and harness horse races are held. Conventionally the race take place over a flat track of a specific distance. One of the most famous horse races in the world is the Grand National and this is not a flat race, it is a steeplechase.
As horse racing dates back to before history was written, so too does organized horse racing. Ancient Greeks and Romans featured these races as a big part of their culture and the Greeks had both mounted and chariot races as an official Olympic sport at the Olympic games in 638BC.
The organization of modern racing came about in the 12th century or thereabouts, when knights returned to England from the crusades, mounted on Arab thoroughbreds. More of these stallions were imported from the Holy lands and the next 400 years was spent getting the breeding strains just right.
English mares and Arab stallions were bred and this provided a unique blend of speed and endurance, and one of the favorite pastimes of these breeders was to pit one owners' horse against another, for which wagers would be made.
Horse racing became professional in 1702 in the UK, when Queen Anne was in power it was then that more than one steed was used in a race. It became all the rage and racetracks sprung up all over the country.
Thousands of years back, 4 500 BC actually, the first horse races were held by prehistoric Asian tribes. These people were the first to domesticate these animals, and it was a natural progression that one owners' horse should be pitted against another for speed, endurance and strength. If nothing else, human-kind has always been competitive.
Horse racing today creates legalized gambling at huge venues and supports many and varied industries. Keeping horses, in particular thoroughbreds does not come cheap and these animals earn a living for themselves, their owners, trainers, jockeys, sports betting shops and a myriad other industries, only rich people can afford to keep horses!
In the United States the biggest spectator sport is baseball, the second biggest is horse racing. Annually people place $ billions of wagers on these races and it is a professional sport all over the world. Most popularly in the US obviously, the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South America, Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia.
The majority of the horses we see race are called thoroughbreds, although in various parts of the world, quarter horse and harness horse races are held. Conventionally the race take place over a flat track of a specific distance. One of the most famous horse races in the world is the Grand National and this is not a flat race, it is a steeplechase.
As horse racing dates back to before history was written, so too does organized horse racing. Ancient Greeks and Romans featured these races as a big part of their culture and the Greeks had both mounted and chariot races as an official Olympic sport at the Olympic games in 638BC.
The organization of modern racing came about in the 12th century or thereabouts, when knights returned to England from the crusades, mounted on Arab thoroughbreds. More of these stallions were imported from the Holy lands and the next 400 years was spent getting the breeding strains just right.
English mares and Arab stallions were bred and this provided a unique blend of speed and endurance, and one of the favorite pastimes of these breeders was to pit one owners' horse against another, for which wagers would be made.
Horse racing became professional in 1702 in the UK, when Queen Anne was in power it was then that more than one steed was used in a race. It became all the rage and racetracks sprung up all over the country.
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Being one of the most ancient of mankind's sports also makes horse racing one of humanity's most beloved sports. We've got the ultimate inside information on horse racing tips for specifically Australian horse races .
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