Horse Racing

This is one of the oldest forms of competitive racing dating back as far as 1500 B.C. Egypt when horses were likely raced in contests. Harness racing gets its roots in the famed chariot races that were a popular form of entertainment during the Roman Empire. Special breeds of horses were developed for work, military and sport.

Horse racing became popular in England when the first public racetrack opened in 1174. Known as the "sport of kings" was now a "sport of the masses". As early as the 1500s prizes were awarded but the first "sweepstakes" event was held in 1780 became known as the Epsom Derby or English Derby and is still held yearly to this day.

In North America, the American colonies held informal races during the 1600s. By 1700 racetracks were built and formal horse races held. Interest in horse racing all but disappeared during the American Revolution. A north-south contest at a Long Island track in 1823 helped renew interest in the sport.

Modern forms of horse racing including harness racing and steeplechase racing had their beginning in the early part of the 19th century in England and Ireland. The steeplechase is a type of race in which horse jump over obstacles like fences and over small pools of water to simulate a countryside race.

Harness racing origins can be traced back to the 1830s when people organized informal horse and carriage races. By 1891, popularity for the sport rose and the high large wheel carriages were replaced by low small wheel carriage. Before WWII harness racing was found mainly at country fairs, but after the war, it gained popularity in the cities.

The first major thoroughbred racing in the U.S. was found in New York in 1863. After a major track opened in Kentucky in 1875, racetracks began to open up across the country. Early jockeys were African American, but whites soon replaced them. Riding opportunities would return for them until the end of the 20th century when some of the top jockeys were Latin American and women.

Betting on horse races was legalized in the U.S. in the 1800s and has been a popular spectator and betting sport ever since. All tracks in the U.S. use a system called the pari-mutuel system of betting in which all bets are pooled and the odds are based on what has been wagered on the various horses. Bets are usually made on whether a horse will win, place (second place) or show (third place). In many places, you'll also find OTB or off-track betting allowing people to bet on races without having to be at the race itself.

The best winnings are to be found at graded stakes and handicap races - the highest level of racing. Stakes competition is usually among the best horses. The owners must pay a fee to race their horse and a nomination free to be nominated to all three Triple Crown races in the Spring. These fees are normally paid back in the form of purses or winnings. Horses with the most weight are preferred in handicap races. Horses that have won the most in the past are given more weight. Lesser competitive horses have less weight. Weights help level the odds among the horses. Weight also takes into account things like age and fillies against colts.