Horse racing is the second most widely attended U.S. sporting event, after baseball. But this game is being considered as the game of the kings and nobility for millennia. It is one of humankind's most ancient sports. Chariot racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine sports and one of the most important equestrian events in the international tournaments like the ancient Olympic Games or the other Panhellenic Games. But the origins of modern racing lie in the 12th century, with the return of the English knights from the Crusades with speedy Arabian horses. An increasing number of Arab stallions were imported and bred to English mares for the next 400 years. As a result, a good number of horses was produced which were the combination of speed and endurance. The sport flourished as a professional sport during the reign of Queen Anne (1702-14). During this time, the spectators wagered on the horses which took part in the racecourses that sprung up all over England. As with the rapid expansion of the sport came the need for a central governing body, in 1750 the Jockey Club was established which to this day controls the whole English industry. https://www.koobit.com/kentucky-derby-e942

Pros and Cons

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has the origin in the central Asia. It has been practiced for millennia as it is the most ancient sport of the world. The central Asian prehistoric nomadic tribesmen first domesticated horses in about 4500 BC. Over millennia equine racing has been considered as the game of kings and the nobility. However, in modern time horse racing is a major venue for legalized international gambling and it is the second most visited spectator game in the U.S. after baseball. Moreover, horse racing is a major professional sport also in Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and South America. There are various types of racing included in racing. Among them, thoroughbred racing, "flat" racing, steeplechasing, i.e. racing over jumps; harness racing, where a driver sits in a small cart and pulls and horses pace; hurdle and point-to-point racing are the major and widely practiced horse racing. There are numerous prestigious races which are organized round the year. The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes, the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing for three-year-olds, the Breeders' Cup races and the Triple Tiara are the some major events of equine racing.

Major Forms

There are various types of included, among them, Thoroughbred racing, "flat", steeplechasing, harness, hurdle and point-to-point are the major and widely practiced horse racing. In Thoroughbred "flat" racing, only a special kind of horse can participate in the horse racing. The Jockey Club decided which horses can be called as the "Thoroughbreds" and take part in Thoroughbred "flat" racing. According to them, "Thoroughbreds" are descended from horses listed in the General Stud Book by James Weatherby. Another popular form of horse racing is the Steeplechases. This kind of horse racing begun about 1830 and is a popular sport at the present time. In this sport the horses has to pass some obstacles which include brush fences, stone walls, timber rails, and water jumps for 2-4 miles (3.2-6.4 km). An ancient form of horse racing is harness racing which virtually disappeared with the fall of Roman Empire. But the modern harness racing was started in the U.S. Racing trotting over the country roads was a popular pastime in the 18th century U.S. As a result this type of horse racing became popular where a driver sits in a small cart called sulky and pulls and horses pace. Besides, hurdle and point-to-point racing are some other major forms of equine racing.