Origins and History of British Horse Racing

Within hundreds of years, people all around the world, especially in Britain, has enjoyed horse racing as an exciting recreation. Origins and history of British horse racing will be revealed in this article.

It is believed that the sport of racing horses originated in Central Asia, where the first organised races took place. Horses were first introduced to the British Isles around 1500 BC as horse racing became part of religious and social festivals. In particular, the Celtic goddesses Epona was honoured with horse racing.

The Development of the Thoroughbred

The breed of horse used in most professional horse races in the world is the Thoroughbred, also known as the English thoroughbred. According to the International Encyclopaedia of Horse Breeds, the breed originally developed for British horse races was the small and sturdy Galloway, a breed which is now extinct.

In the 1700’s, Galloways were crossed with many different breeds from the Middle East and Central Asia. The breeds used in British horse races gradually became taller, with longer legs for a greater stride and a deeper chest for greater lung capacity. By the 1800’s, the Thoroughbred was well established, with British horse racing conducted on the flat in heats of several miles.

The Sport of Kings

King Stephen (1135 -1154) was one of the first recorded English monarch to import horses from different nations for war and for racing. There was racing in Chester, at the Roodee Fields, in 1539, during the reign of Henry VIII. Consent for this race was given by the Lord Mayor of Chester, Henry Gee, which is where the term “gee-gees” comes from.

King Charles II (1660 -1685) became thoroughly enamoured by the early Thoroughbreds and helped to establish Newmarket, one of the main venues in British racing. Queen Anne (1702 -1714) followed this by opening Ascot racecourse in 1711.

Even today, the Royal Family takes an intense interest in British horse racing, both on the flat and over hurdles.

Regulation of British Horse Racing

The Jockey Club was formed at Newmarket in 1750 to help set guidelines for the ever growing sport. In the 1800’s, they decided to close the Thoroughbred stud book. They also would not allow American-born Thoroughbreds to be imported into the UK for fear of their not being purebreds. This rule was overturned in 1949.

Since June 2007, British horse racing has been governed by the British Horseracing Authority, a merger of 2 bodies, the British Horseracing Board and the Horseracing Regulatory Authority, which previously held the governing and regulatory authority for the sport respectively.

Horse Racing Today

Racing today is very popular all around the UK, and is becoming much more accessible for people who wouldn’t normally have gone to watch race meetings. In addition, many race courses offer corporate entertaining in order to provide a fantastic days racing for individuals and companies alike.

If you’re looking for a day out with a difference, or somewhere different to take your clients, why not consider a race meeting?