Man has been known to use race horses for racing since this specie was first domesticated. Historical evidences uncover that as early as 4500 BC, the actual nomadic people 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 became an obsession among Romans when they have adopted the activity.
For thousand of years that followed, this kind of sports was considered 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 and English horses were made. They were sparred by the return of the noble knights to the mother land after the Crusades. These are known to possess produced sturdy race horses with excellent pace. Thus, breeders maximized the potentiality of a racehorse and put all of 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 to 1685.
Through the 16th century, the English had been known to produce 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 with horse racing. This business was the very first legion of jockeys which established the comprehensive rules and regulations including the requirements as covered by the sports activities. Thus, they became the overseers of the sports and sanctioned horse racing occasions.
The Jockey Club was also the actual initiator for the regulation 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 book of the General Stud Book, which was essentially, the basis of authority in terms of the breeds that may be put to race. According to the General Stud Book, only individuals pedigrees which have descended from the line of the “foundations sires” are thought 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 initial racetrack was seen in the Long Island. Although it has turned into a favorite past time among Americans, no one initiated the 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 activity 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 prominent and high-ranking stable owners met and organized the American Jockey Club which was patterned on the system as used by the actual Jockey Club in England.
These days the sport has reached various countries across the globe. Governing bodies were also formed to regulate the horse racing events.
