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The History of Horse Racing

Racing horses is a pastime as old as the wheel. Ever since humankind first sat astride a horse, we’ve been fascinated with racing. In fact, the history of horse racing is said to date as far back as 4500 BC when the nomadic tribes of central Asia domesticated the wild horse. 

Since then, it’s been such an integral part of society throughout the world that it’s quite possibly one of the oldest known sports aside from some forms of athletics such as wrestling and, of course, running cross country.

The Roman Races 

We’ve all seen the old films such as Ben Hur with that epic chariot race. And the truth is, that this is perhaps where the modern age of betting on horse races began. The crowds would gather in the stands and place bets on their favourite horseman who would then race at breakneck speeds around the arena.

It gave the people a taste for equine sports and the Romans being the Romans, they then took their ideas to the rest of the civilized world. However, this was not the beginning of horse racing but it did give us a taste for placing the odd wager on a race.

Horse racing in the UK 

During the crusades of the 11th -13th centuries, English knights returned home with Arabian, Barb, and Turkish horses. These foreign animals were a considerable improvement on the breeds available locally and soon became prized possessions. Owners began to breed the foreign mounts and sell them at a premium to local lords and knights.

It’s thought that thoroughbred horse racing began in England at this time. Breeders would race horses against each other in a bid to impress potential buyers. This became a common occurrence and during the reign of Richard the Lionheart, the first purse was offered for a race over a 3-mile course. 

By the 17th century, organised horse racing had become commonplace with horses and riders competing for the King’s Plates. These were the prizes introduced by Charles II and earned him the moniker ‘The father of the English Turf’. 

King Charles brought in the first known sets of rules to horse racing. He determined that horses must be the same age (six years old) and that they must carry a similar weight. It seems like a common-sense rule in this day and age, but incredibly, prior to Charles racing articles, there were no regulations regarding a rider’s weight. 

Racing quickly became a national pastime with events taking place all across the UK.  Fast forward to today and we now have live horse racing events across the globe, many of which were, in fact, inspired by the races championed by King Charles.

Horse racing becomes a global sport  

Horse racing events can now be found all across the globe

The sport quickly took root in France where the first documented horse race took place in 1651. This first race was a result of a wager between two nobles but it started a trend and in a few short years, betting on horse races was prevalent among all the classes. By the 18th century, King Louis XVI created a jockey club and imposed rules on any organised racing event. 

Around the same time that the French were getting carried away by the racing bug, the colonists of America introduced the sport to the nation. What was then known as New Amsterdam that we now call New York was where the first track was built. It was a 2-mile course on Long Island that the commander of the British Troops named Newmarket after the home of British horse racing. 

In the mid-19th century, British residents in Japan organised a racing event in the new port of Yokohama. These were informal races, but the locals were intrigued and just a few years later a dedicated race track was built. While the track was initially intended for expatriates, the local community were so enamoured by the sport that it became a thriving hub of activity with races held every week. The sport spread throughout the country and soon became one of the most popular athletic events in Japan and it remains so to this day. 

The rise of horse racing may have taken a couple of centuries to get where it is today but it is now one of the most recognized sports in the world. With organised events in such far-flung locations as Dubai, Melbourne, and Tokyo, racing has at long last become a truly global sport. Sure, we may not have thoroughbred races in every nation in the world, but in time, we most likely will.

Photo credits: Clarencealford & Marcelkessler

5 Reasons to Go Horse Racing

When did you go to your first horse racing meeting? Perhaps you have never been and have no intention about going. 

You know, even though it sounds a strange thing to say, going to the races isn't all about betting on the horses or losing your shirt. For many, betting is their priority and good for them. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with gambling as long as you use login and reason (don't drink and bet at the same time, unless it is a drinking competition and you can neck a yard of ale like a Newzealand prop forward.)   

I must admit I like a bet. I don't bet for fun as this is my profession along with running umpteen websites. So, horseracing, in many ways, is my life. It doesn't consume every second on the day but it eats up a giant chunk of the working week. However, it isn't a chore because I enjoy what I do for a living.

The first time I went to the races? To be honest, I can't remember what age. No, it wasn't because of a drunken haze. I imagine I was nine or ten years old and went to Great Yarmouth horseracing with my Dad. We used to stay down the road at a caravan park at Caister-on-sea, Norfolk. I'm sure many readers will have a similar experience of being interested in gambling by a relative or friend. (You have them to blame if it has all gone pear-shaped!).   

I pride myself on being an educated gambler - who actually wins money. Don't believe all those stories that you cannot beat the bookies. The majority don't but many do. As the travelling French salesman said as he rode his bike: ''Know your onions.''

So here are my 5 Reasons to Go Horse Racing:

1) Even if you are not a gambler, you may be surprised how enjoyable a day at the races can be. Remember, children under 18 go free and if you are a carer looking after a family member or friend you don't need to pay. The spectacle of watching the horses, brightly coloured silks worn by the jockeys is something you don't see every day and it makes for an exciting day. the sound of the horses' hooves rattling down the final furlong, the booming commentary (hopefully mentioning your horse) and the cheer of the crowd. It sure gets the blood pumping through your veins.  

2) Autograph hunters, photo with your favourite horse trainer or jockey. Horseracing is all about media and very few people in the racing game will turn down an opportunity to sign a race card, take a snap (photo) or point you in the direction of the bar (joke). 

3) The hustle and bustle of the betting ring. There is nothing like placing a bet with a bookmaker on course. Searching for the best price. ''Look, I've seen 11/4 over there, while the others are priced at 5/2''. You don't win if you don't bet. (You don't lose either so remember that part if you are having a day you would rather forget). 

4) Celebrity watching. Even at a small horseracing meeting, you can see a celeb or two. They may be from the racing world such as Lester Piggott, or Shiek Mohammed, flying in by helicopter to watch a two-year-old fancy at Great Yarmouth. There is much to see and enjoy. If you go to Chester, the chances are you will see a professional footballer or two. I even heard that Scarlett Johansson was seen at Huntingdon on a cold, winters afternoon. 

5) Whether you win or lose at the races you have the opportunity to watch the best horses in the world. Who would forget seeing such brilliant equine specimens as Frankel, the day Dessert Orchid won the Gold Cup. Take a photo, because one day you can look back and say with pride: ''I was there!''

A Beginners Guide to the Melbourne Cup 2019

Think of a famous horse race in Australia? I'm betting odds on you said the Melbourne Cup. 

With a history dating back to 1861, this annual event takes place on Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria. I've known a few friends who have visited the Spring Racing Carnival to enjoy the richest ''2-mile'' handicap in the world.

This spectacular race doesn't just have a history of winning horses but big bettors, too. If you enjoy a wager, and you fancy yourself being lucky on this special day, then the melbourne cup betting is one of the most famous races to savour. Those punters who backed the 2018 winner, Cross Counter, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, will remember the day with added zest. 

Considering the Melbourne Cup is held on a public holiday for those living in Melbourne and parts of Victoria, it's a day for gambling. As one of the bookmakers at Great Yarmouth loves to state: ''It's MONEY without WORK!''.

The race is run over a distance of 3200 metres (fractionally less than two miles) and open for horses three-year-old and older. The race takes place at 3pm on the first Tuesday in November. Very much like the British Grand National, it is known as ''the race to stop a nation''. 

With total race prize money of $8,000,000 ($4M to the winner), it is a contest which attracts runners from around the globe. For example, Charlie Appleby trained the winner in 2018, while other high-profile UK trainers such as Saeed bin Suroor, Aidan O'Brien, John Gosden, Hughie Morrison, Mark Johnston, Charlie Fellows & Iain Jardine hope to hit the jackpot. 

Cross Counter is likely to be a hot favourite to take the spoils for the 2019 contest. 

Interesting facts:

Makybe Diva, trained by Lee Freedman, is the only horse to have won this race three times. In actual fact, this mare won the contest in consecutive years from 2003 - 2005. 

Historically, Bobby Lewis (1902 - 1927) and Harry White (1974 - 1979) have won the race four times each, respectively. 

The trainer who has won this race an incredible 12 times is Bart Cummings (1965 - 2008).

Lloyd Williams is the most successful owner with six winners (1981 - 2017).

The fastest horse to win this race Kingston Rule (1990) in a time of 3-minute 16 seconds (.30).

If you enjoy a bet, you may strike lucky with a 100/1 winner. Amazingly, four horses have won at these huge odds. The most recent Prince Of Penzance (100/1) in 2015. 

The shortest prized winner - one of the most famous racehorses of all time - was Phar Lap who was 8/11 favourite in 1930. 

If you back favourites, they have a 23% strike rate in the 150-year race history. 

The oldest winner heralds two eight-year-old victors in the shape of Toryboy (1865) and Catalogue (1938).

We said the Melbourne Cup is popular with racegoers. In 2003, the racecourse saw a record-breaking crowd of 122,736. 

Good luck if you are betting.

Is Gene Doping a Threat to Horse Racing?

While they are keen to reassure us that they do not consider gene doping to be a current issue, it seems that the British Horseracing Authority has significant concerns to the tune of £1m which it has added to an international pot to ensure that the practice does not find its way into the sport as bonusbets.com reports. 

Gene doping is basically the term used to cover the science of gene manipulation for the sole purpose of enhancing performance. Obviously breeders have been using the practices of natural selection for years and explicitly breeding their best examples of racing horses to create new thoroughbred lines that are even better, but until now actually manipulating genes in a lab is something we have not seen.

Less than a decade ago the idea was touted as future development, and now the know-how exists to make it a reality. Keen to keep the industry free from what would essentially be cheating there is an international team working on staying ahead of the potential threat. As they are keen to reinforce there is no danger right now, but if it were to find its way into the sport the consequences could be disastrous, and this is not something the industry wants and has global commitment to prevent.

The money will be used for various things including research as the Chief Regulatory Officers, Brant Dunshea explains. “Late last year we were in discussion with our laboratories, who said that we need to be part of international collaboration on gene doping to ensure that we are not globally duplicating work. Across six or seven countries, we are all working together to do various pieces of the jigsaw puzzle on gene doping. There’s no specific evidence that we’re aware of in relation to there being genetic manipulation that’s happening, but we haven’t done the research yet to be able to develop the techniques to be able to monitor it, so that’s what this research is all about.” 

This initiative will offer reassurance to trainers and breeders, the majority of whom would not want to see the sport polluted in this way. David Sykes, the British Horseracing Authority’s director of equine health and welfare explained how technology could undermine the competition and create issues. “This is new technology that is unravelling all the time. None of us here think that there has probably been a previous incidence of it, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be looking forward into the next five or 10 years and at least being able to identify if it is going to occur. For example, you could send in the material which would alter the EPO [erythropoietin] receptor site, to allow an animal to produce increased levels of EPO naturally [and increase the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity]. That could be expanded to anything else. For example, you could target muscle mass and increasing it, or at some point talk about circulatory systems, increasing blood supply or even cardiac muscle size by genetically altering the DNA sequence.”

Understanding the history of Glorious Goodwood

Today’s grandstand at Goodwood Racecourse

There’s no doubt that Glorious Goodwood is one of the most historic and enjoyable racing festivals in the UK, hosting a glut of high-class horse racing action. The Sussex Downs plays host to a highly competitive string of races across five days. Typically, Glorious Goodwood is scheduled some six weeks after Royal Ascot, giving top-grade Group 1 horses a chance to recover in time to enter in some of Goodwood’s most prestigious races such as the Golden Mile and the Nassau Stakes. 

British horse racing tipsters are just as passionate about Goodwood as they are about some of the other major racing festivals throughout the year, such as Cheltenham. That’s because some of the most valuable and competitive races in European horse racing are on the cards here. Let’s take a closer look at the emergence of Glorious Goodwood and some of the cherished traditions that make it one of the premier meetings of the flat racing season. 

Racing in Goodwood dates back all the way to the early 19th century. Officers of the Sussex Militia used to host annual events at neighbouring Petworth Park. However, when the invitation for the annual races was not forthcoming in 1801, the nearby Duke of Richmond sought to create an alternative course for the Militia within the Goodwood Estate. So well-received was the two-day event hosted by the Duke that he sought to host a similar meeting over three days the following year. The first Goodwood grandstand was erected for the second year to house the event’s most exclusive guests. 

Goodwood’s facilities were quickly upgraded

The Goodwood Racecourse in the rolling hills of the Sussex Downs

The now-prestigious Goodwood Cup was soon established a decade later in 1812, offering a three-mile flat race that’s always been a gruelling test even for first-rate thoroughbreds. The fifth Duke of Richmond was arguably the driving force behind the rapid evolution of Goodwood as a legitimate racecourse. After severe injury forced him to retire from fox hunting, the Duke dedicated his life to improving the facilities at Goodwood, investing in a new grandstand fit for over 3,000 spectators in 1830. 

The fifth Duke of Richmond has also been revered for driving improved standards in the Jockey Club. The Duke introduced several measures that would eventually become commonplace on all other Jockey Club racecourses, including race numbers for each runner, fines for the course Clerk in the event of overrunning start times and flags for race starters. The Duke was even the mastermind behind the concept of the pre- and post-race parade rings. 

Some of today’s headline races at Goodwood were founded in the 19th century 

As the decades ticked by in the 19th century, some of today’s biggest races of Glorious Goodwood were established, such as the Molecomb Stakes, the Stewards’ Cup and the Nassau Stakes in 1833 and 1840 respectively. The Sussex Stakes became a race exclusively for three-year-old thoroughbreds in 1878 and it has been that way ever since. The appeal of Goodwood was enhanced during the years of World War II when no horse racing was scheduled. The post-war years saw the start of a real ‘boom’ era of racing at Goodwood. The Tuesday meeting of Goodwood’s 1955 festival drew a record 55,000 visitors to the course and more than 20,000 catching a glimpse of the action from Trundle Hill – these figures haven’t been surpassed even in the modern day of Glorious Goodwood. 

The festival was expanded in 1970 to become a full five-day event, including a Saturday brimming with races to try and entice locals and newcomers to horse racing at Goodwood. Just after the turn of the Millennium, Goodwood celebrated its 200th anniversary, maintaining its status as one of the most prestigious and historic race meetings in British horse racing. In 2014, Goodwood Racecourse confirmed a 10-year partnership with Qatar who have invested millions into improving and supporting Glorious Goodwood, although the name of the festival has now changed to the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The Group 1 Qatar Sussex Stakes is now one of the richest one-mile races on the planet, with a prize pool of £1 million up for grabs. There’s no doubt that Goodwood really is the definition of vintage British horse racing.

Photos: Peter Trimming