The sport of horse racing is popular in many parts of the world. In fact, the sport is so highly regarded that governing bodies have been formed to regulate horse racing events. Many people may not realize that horse racing’s history stretches way beyond the well-known annual Kentucky Derby. Although the origins of modern horse racing date back to the 12th century, horse racing was actually popular long before that.

Horse racing can be traced back to around 4500 BC; it was popular among the nomadic tribesmen of Central Asia. This is not surprising since these wandering clans were the first people to domesticate horses.

In the 12th century, English knights returned from the Crusades with Arabian horses. These horses were revered for their swift speeds. An effort began to import an increasing number of Arabian stallions to breed with English mares. The goal was to produce horses that combined the traits of speed and endurance. This breeding continued over the next 400 years and resulted in the Thoroughbreds we know today.

The fastest horses were paired up and raced against each other, which grew to be a popular pastime among the English nobility. King Charles II held private horse races from 1660–1685, and during Queen Anne’s reign (1702–1714), horse racing emerged as a professional sport. The races began to include several horses, and spectators wagered on the outcomes.

Soon, there were racecourses all over England, which increased the competition to attract better horses. In order to compete, the courses offered increasingly large purses. This resulted in the potential for breeders and horse owners to make a very nice profit. With all the changes and expansions, it was evident that there was a need for a governing authority. The Jockey Club was formed in 1750, and it still exercises complete control over English horse racing to this day.

The Jockey Club set forth standards and rules that helped define the quality of horse racing. It also designated certain races as definitive tests of excellence, such as the Triple Crown. The English Triple Crown consists of the 2,000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby and the St. Leger Stakes.

Beyond setting the standards and rules for horse races, the Jockey Club also defined regulations related to racehorse breeding. The huge task of tracing the pedigree of every horse racing in England was given to James Weatherby. Although tracing the complete family history of each racing horse was not easy, Weatherby completed his research and published it as the Introduction to the General Stud Book in 1791. Members of the Weatherby family have carefully tended to keeping records of the pedigree of every foal born to those racehorses as the years have gone by. By definition, all true “Thoroughbreds” are descendants from horses listed in the General Stud Book. It’s also interesting to note that the pedigree of every Thoroughbred can be traced back to one of three stallions, referred to as the “foundation sires.”

Meanwhile, the industrial economy was booming during the 1800s in America, which resulted in an increase in various types of gambling, including betting on horse races. The popularity of the sport grew exponentially, and hundreds of tracks were constructed across America. However, at that time there were no governing bodies to enforce rules or standards, which led to the domination of many tracks by criminal elements. This corruption resulted in a growing anti-gambling sentiment throughout the country, and soon many states banned bookmaking. By 1908, the number of racetracks had dropped from hundreds to just 25. That same year, pari-mutuel betting was introduced for the Kentucky Derby, which marked the beginning of a major turnaround for the sport in America. Soon, more tracks opened, and more state legislatures legalized pari-mutuel betting. Today, American horse racing is regulated by state governments.

The newest trend in all types of gambling, including horse racing, is Online Betting. These online games are realistic, and they offer chances to win real money. In addition, you can find great horse racing tips, such as ways to beat the odds and other advice, at quality online resources.

Horse racing may have started as a simple sport, but it has grown into a global phenomenon. The Internet makes learning about horse racing and gambling on races all over the world easier than ever before.