Horse Racing: When Did It All Begin?

Horse racing is one of the oldest and most revered sports in the world. Man and beast have continued to race together for centuries, culminating in the iconic sport of horse racing that exists today.

If you want to find out more about the origin of this iconic sport and when it all began, this article has everything you need! We’ll be taking a look at the first recorded horse races and also when making bets and learning about win, place, and show became a significant part of horse racing.

Let’s jump straight in!

First Recorded Horse Race

It’s quite difficult to establish exactly when this sport first came about. Yet archaeologists have found evidence of horse racing dating back to the Greek Olympic Games in around 700 to 40 B.C. 

At this time, riders used both mounted bareback races and four-hitches chariots to compete. It was a popular sport with spectators and participants alike and quickly began to gain traction, with neighboring countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and China adopting their version of the sport.

This resulted in the horse racing that we know and adore today!

When Was The First Horse Track Made?

The first ever recorded horse track is said to have been in ancient Greece in 648 BC. The basic track was around 600 feet in length and was hosted in a stadium. This was a very early variation of the sport that was a world away from what occurs today. At this time, no horses were bred specifically to take part in races.

Chariot racing was the preferred variation of racing during this time but horse racing quickly flew up the ranks in terms of popularity.

As we have established, it’s pretty tough to pinpoint exactly when the first racecourse was established. However, Chester Racecourse is universally recognized as the world’s oldest horse race track! It opened in 1539 and continues to operate to this day.

The first American racetrack was established in 1665 and the American Stud Book was established and officially put in place by 1868. The American Jockey Club was then set up in 1894. 

Organized Horse Racing

With the popularity of horse racing growing significantly year after year, it wasn’t long until it became a globally renowned sport. 

Following the Restoration of the Stuart monarchy in 1660, King Charles II returned from exile. This marked an excellent time for horse racing in Britain. In 1666, he introduced The Newmarket Town Plate races which were some of the first-ever races that featured prizes for the winner. 

These were open to female riders from the offset, unlike professional rules that only permitted women riders in 1972. These races also brought about the first ever recorded set of rules for horse racing, many of which still apply to the sport as it currently stands. 

Betting On Horse Racing

The reign of Louis XIV marked the introduction of horse race betting. Nowadays, the thrill of betting on a race’s outcome is the sole reason that many people attend horse races!

As of today’s horse racing rules, any gambler can stake some money on the final placement of horses participating in a race. However, at some race tracks, gambling on horses is still prohibited. Due to a law passed in 1951, betting is illegal in the Springdale Race Course, located in South Carolina. This race course is home to the nationally renowned Carolina Cup.

In some countries including Australia, the UK, and Ireland, an alternative to gambling is provided by different bookmakers who make their profits in odds. This means a bettor can ‘lock in’ the odds on a specific horse at a particular time.

In the early 1900s, all bookmaking was banned in the United States. In 1908, it was pari-mutuel betting that went on to save the US horse racing industry. Since this time, horse racing in the US has gone from strength to strength!

Modern Horse Racing

While the modern-day sport originated in Britain, horses have been racing for just as long as they have been domesticated. Modern horse racing is widely said to have begun in the 18th century.

The first modern horse race came about in England in 1776 and was named St. Leger. This was quickly followed by the Oaks (1779) and then the Derby (1780). These races are still come of the most popular among equestrians and horse racing fans everywhere.

France was next to follow in England’s footsteps with the introduction of notable events including:

• Prix du Jockey Club (1836)
• Grand Prix de Paris (1863)
• Prix L’Arc de Triomphe (1920)

Despite having an initial race course in the 1600s, it took quite a while for the USA to begin introducing more modern horse racing. Notable events include the Belmont Stakes (1867) and the Kentucky Derby (1875) which remain some of the most popular and highly anticipated global horse racing events!

Summary

Despite its humble beginnings many centuries ago, horse racing remains one of the only performance sports with an equally rich history and promising future. With millions of global fans, it’s not going anywhere anytime soon!

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