Horse racing has been used in the past to help equestrians train and improve their skills through the sport of racing. This eventually went on to become a sport and pastime. It was seen that equestrian sports offered vast amounts of entertainment for people as well as helping a horseman gain experience that could be later used on the battlefield. The sport not long after became a series of impromptu competitions that pitted not only animal against animal but also their riders. Because of the nature of the competitions and the requirements that were needed from the skills of both the rider and his horse; special equipments and specialized breeds of animal were developed over time.
The advancement of horse racing would move into chariot racing which was hugely popular in Greek, Roman and Byzantine sports. Even though the sport of chariot racing was dangerous to all involved on the track, it became popular due to spectator enthusiasm. Horse racing became one of the cornerstones in ancient Olympic Games not to mention other Panhellenic Games; these sports would eventually become some of the most important events on the field. Not only was horse racing impacting in real life but also in mythology did horse racing hold an importance.
As far back as 1665 you can date the existence of horse racing in the United States. The very first race track, the Newmarket course on the Salisbury Plains is known as Hempstead Plains of Long Island, New York today and can still be seen. This very first racing meet was supervised by the New York colonial governor, Richard Nicolls who felt that the extra revenue generated from these games would be good for the colony. Today horses still meet there with their mounted riders to race to compete and entertain.
In 1955 the sport of horse racing would begin to evolve into what it is today as endurance racing was introduced in the state of California. This would be the very first race to win the Tevis Cup. By 1972, America would have their very first endurance riding association named, the American Endurance Ride Conference.
As part of myth and legend, the gods held contests of their own as Odin would race his mighty steeds through Asgard in Norse Mythology. The popularity of these horse racing sports throughout the years has helped maintain and preserve a part of world culture that more than likely would have vanished in the annals of time once horses has outlived their usefulness to man in the field of combat.
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