Horse Racing Throughout the History

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

Both the chariot horse racing and the mounted horse racing were well-liked during these ages. These types of later on grew to become an obsession among Romans when 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 as well as royalties.

Contemporary racing is believed to have started in the 12th hundred years when the first breeding between Arabian as well as English horses were made. They were sparred by the return of the noble knights in combat to the mother land after the Crusades. They are known to possess produced sturdy race horses with excellent pace. Thus, breeders maximized the potentiality of a racehorse and put them into tracks. This particular breed is the Thoroughbred that we know of today which is still the most popular breed in the United Kingdom.

King Charles II was 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 quantity of racecourses. Queen Anne who founded the Ascot in 1711 is known to have made horse racing an official sport.

Halfway in 1700�s, the Jockey Club was made through the initiation of the elite figures involved in horse racing. This particular business was the first legion of jockeys that established the comprehensive rules and regulations including the requirements as covered by the actual sports activities. Thus, these people became the overseers of the sports and sanctioned horse racing occasions.

The Jockey Club was also the actual initiator for the legislation of breeding among race horses. Thus, James Weatherby, an accountant of the Jockey Club during those times, traced back the family lines of all racing breeds in England. His researches brought forth the publication of the General Stud Book, which was basically, 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 believed as Thoroughbreds. The foundation 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 become a favorite activity among Americans, no one initiated the actual formalization of horse racing until after the Civil War. Due to the already-established obsession plus the industrial development, and widespread gambling on horse races, the sport grew largely by the year 1890 when 314 operating tracks are considered to be on regular operation in the united kingdom.

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

These days the sport has reached various countries around the world. Governing bodies were also formed to regulate the horse racing occasions.