How Horse Racing Came To Be
Even during the time of the major civilizations of the world, horse racing had already been an organized sport from the Mediterranean down to Central Asia. During the Olympics in ancient Greece in about 638 BC, mounted and chariot horse racing are included in the sports events. The Roman Empire even have a public obsession of the sport of horse racing.
The origin of the horse racing that we now have today dated back to the 12th century. This is the time when the English knights have returned form the Crusades that they have done and with them are the swift horses of the Arabs.
For the next 400 years, there was an increase in number of imported Arab stallions that were bred to the English mares and thereby produce horses that has a combination of endurance and speed. Two-horse racing were done to see whose the fastest of these horses and private wagers were done. The horse racing has become a popular past-time of the English nobility.
During the reign of Queen Anne in 1702 to 1714, horse racing had started to be a professional sport. Horse racing were done where a number of horses were involved in the race and the spectators could wagered. Racecourses were built in many place across England. To attract the best horses to race in a certain horse racing, large purses were offered by the organizers.
Because of the fast expansion of the horse racing sport, a central governing authority was organized in 1750 and was name as Jockey Club. The Jockey Club has the complete control and authority over the English horse racing sports until today.
The Jockey Club composed the rules of horse racing and the racecourses must comply to these rules. From 1814, there are five horse racing that are considered classic and three-year-old horses are the participants. Three of the horse racing are open to male and female horses, which composed the English Triple Crown: Epsom Derby, 2,000 Guineas, and St. Leger Stakes. The two horse racing are Epsom Oaks and 1,000 Guineas, which are open only to female horses.
The Jockey Club also regulates all the breeding of the racehorses and the task was assigned to James Weatherby and his descendants. In every horse racing event in England, a family history or pedigree of the racehorses are traced and recorded in the General Stud Book. Due to this meticulous recording of racehorse's family history, only those Thoroughbreds or direct descendants of the racehorses listed in the book are allowed to enter the horse racing from the year 1800s up to the present.
Horse racing is a sport that have survived through the test of time. From the early human civilization up to the present, the popularity of horse racing have never faded through time.