Horse Racing

"When you are on a great horse, you have the best seat you will ever have" - Winston Churchill

Horse racing is an equestrian sport with global popularity. The format of races varies across the world, having evolved through a diverse range of cultures and traditions. Training a top thoroughbred racehorse takes the knowledge and love of a stable lad, a trainer, a jockey, an owner, and finally, a spectator. Going to the races has become a thrilling day out for viewers from all walks of life; whether you’re there for the picnics and punts or hospitality and horses.

📜 Horse Racing History

With its simple premise of speed and endurance, racing has roots in antiquity – from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome to Babylon and North Germanic cultures – and is a thriving sport to this day. Its historical connection with royalty earned it the label, "Sport of Kings" and it was particularly popular with British royalty such as King Charles II who helped develop the sport in Britain. With continued growth especially in countries like Ireland, Japan, Australia, and the USA, horse racing is no longer confined to the aristocracy and a day at the races is a breathtaking experience open to all.

💯 Horse Racing Format

In all horse racing formats, the first across the finish line wins the race. The most popular forms of the sport are flat racing and jump racing. Flat racing distances range from 400 m for "sprints" to 4 km for "staying races" or "routes", and track surfaces are commonly either turf or dirt. Jump racing – also referred to as National Hunt racing in the UK and Ireland – can be split into steeplechasing and hurdling, depending on the size of the obstacles being jumped. Horses and jockeys specialise in either flat or jump racing.

In countries like the USA, racing takes place around a short oval circuit making the whole race easy to see from the stands. In other countries like the UK and European nations, racing is usually contested on much longer courses over a larger area of ground.

Horse racing is overseen by different national and regional governing bodies depending on the location of the race or course.