Race Horses and Their History

History tells us that for thousands of years, horse racing flourished as a sport of kings.  The horse racing we know today remains primarily because of the revenue it generates.  After baseball, it is the second more widely attended spectator sport in the United States.  The sport of horse racing is also popular in Ireland, Canada, UK, Western Europe, South America, South Africa and Australia.  

There are many types of horse racing but the most popular is the Thoroughbreds racing on flat tracks running from three-quarters of a mile up to two miles.  Other forms of racing included quarter horse racing, harness racing and steeplechase racing. 

This sport went professional during the reign of Queen Anne. (1702 – 14)  Racecourses were popping up all over England and the purses that were offered attracted the best race horses.  Owning and breeding race horses was made profitable by the size of these purses. Betting on the outcome of a horse race has been an important part of this sport since prehistory. Betting done in the states takes place under what is known as the pari-mutual wagering system.  This system was developed by Pierre Oller in the 19th century. 

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