Horse Racing Throughout the History

Man may be known to make use of horses for racing since this specie was first domesticated. Historical evidences reveal that as early as 4500 BC, the actual nomadic individuals of Central Asia has already developed systems of horse racing. Actually, the Greeks tend to be known to have incorporated horse racing in the Olympics since 638 BC.

Both the chariot horse racing and also the mounted horse racing were popular during these ages. These later grew to become an obsession among Romans once they have adopted the activity.

For thousand of years that followed, this type of sports was known to be performed only for the noble men and royalties.

Modern racing is said to have started in the 12th hundred years when the first reproduction between Arabian as well as English horses were made. These were sparred by the return of the noble knights in combat to the mother land after the Crusades. These are known to possess produced sturdy horses with superb pace. Thus, breeders maximized the potentiality of a racehorse as well as put them into tracks. This breed is the Thoroughbred that we know of these days which is still typically the most popular breed in the United Kingdom.

King Charles II had been known to have held horse races in his private courses during 1660 in order to 1685.

Through the 16th century, the English have been known to make a number of racecourses. Queen Anne who started the Ascot in 1711 is known to have made horse racing an official sport.

Halfway in 1700�s, the Jockey Club was created through the initiation of the elite figures involved in horse racing. This particular business was the first legion of jockeys which established the actual comprehensive rules and regulations including the requirements as covered by the actual sports. Thus, these people grew to become the overseers of the sports as well as sanctioned horse racing events.

The Jockey Club was also the initiator for the legislation of breeding among race horses. Thus, James Weatherby, an accountant of the Jockey Club during those occasions, traced back the family lines of all racing breeds in England. His researches brought forth the publication of the General Stud Book, which was essentially, the basis of authority in terms of the breeds that could be put to competition. According to the General Stud Book, only individuals pedigrees which have descended from the line of the “foundations sires” are thought as Thoroughbreds. The building blocks sires are the: Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian.

Only in 17th century did the sport arrive in America for which the very first racetrack was seen in the Long Island. Although it has turned into a favorite past time among Americans, no one initiated the actual formalization of horse racing until after the Civil War. Because of the already-established obsession plus the industrial development, as well as widespread betting on horse races, the sport grew largely by the year 1890 when 314 operating tracks are known to be on regular operation in the country.

Because of the lack of a governing body, this activity had become purely dominated by criminal elements. In 1894 though, the most prominent and high-ranking stable owners met as well as organized the American Jockey Club which was patterned on the system as used by the actual Jockey Club in England.

Nowadays the sport has reached various countries across the globe. Governing bodies were also formed to regulate the horse racing events.