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 individuals of Central Asia has already developed techniques 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 popular during these ages. These types of later on became 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 believed to have started in the 12th century when the first breeding between Arabian as well as 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 superb speed. Thus, breeders maximized the potentiality of a racehorse and 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 to 1685.
By the 16th century, the English had been known to produce 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 created through the initiation of the elite figures involved in horse racing. This particular business was the very first legion of jockeys that established the comprehensive rules and regulations including the requirements as covered by the sports. Thus, they grew to become the overseers of the sports as well as sanctioned horse racing occasions.
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 basically, the basis of authority when it comes to the breeds that may be put to competition. Based on the General Stud Book, only individuals pedigrees which have descended in 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 activity arrive in America for which the very first racetrack was seen in the actual Long Island. Although it has become 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, and widespread gambling 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.
Due to 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.
Nowadays the sport has reached various countries across the globe. Governing bodies were also formed to manage the horse racing occasions.
