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RacingBetter News
Wednesday 30th September 2020
   
Interesting Facts About Tradition and Origins of Horse Racing

Horse racing in the UK is the second-largest spectator sport, with more than 50.5 million UK attendances or 67% of the global annual numbers. This sport stems back to medieval times when horse sellers wanted to show off their horses' speed and agility to potential buyers. In the late 12th century reports state that the first prize for racing was offered by Richard the Lionheart. The race was three miles long, and the jockeys were knights in that time. The roots are traced back to Roman times, and this is where many of the rules and regulations are valid up to this day. Over the years there have been successes on the track that have transcended popular culture and made mainstream headlines.

Horse Racing

Here are the most interesting fun facts related to horse racing in general that took place in England:

Blessed by Royals

During the reign of King Charles II, Newmarket became known as the cradle and headquarters of British horse racing. The horse enthusiast. The King was known as the “father of the English turf” for his part in organising the King’s Plates races. Horses were around six years old and rode with 168 pounds (76 kg) on their back. King Charles also created and signed the first official horse racing rules in history.

Essex has the newest UK racecourse

The Chelmsford racecourse in Essex brings racing closer to the London crowd. It has opened its doors in 2015, which is relatively recent compared to the medieval Chester racecourse. This field has taken advantage of modern materials and its Polytrack surface, meaning it can adapt to every weather condition. Moreover, it’s one of the few racecourses that are fully floodlit.

Middle East Roots

Even though official races first began in England, the origins of the horses themselves can be found in the Middle East, particularly in the Arabian breed. They are known for its grace, spirit and endurance, and it’s from just three stallions that all thoroughbred racehorses now descend. The oldest one is the Turkish stallion and former war horse Byerley Turk. Here is Darley Arab, born in Syria of which 95% all blue blood racehorses can trace their ancestry back to. The third forefather is the Godolphin Arabian, foaled in Yemen.

US ban and potential horse racing elimination
An anti-gaming and betting sentiment has emerged in the early 20th century, which resulted in almost all states introducing a ban on betting. For horse racing, a sport in which betting is at the core of the game, this news nearly eliminated the sport. Unlike many sports where betting is a secondary activity, placing a bet on the outcome of horse racing was the original concept behind the sport, and one of the main reasons that are still in existence today. The age of online gaming has only progressed the global popularity of this sport. It has made a big comeback in the online scene, along with online bingo and slots games. Thanks to gaming websites and mobile devices, they are more accessible to a broader audience than ever before. Make sure to check the best new bingo sites at Bingo Scanner and review the offers, themes and online bingo gameplay.

Future overview

There are around 60 licensed racecourses around the UK. The younger audience and the vast number of online sportsbooks allow this famous pastime to live and adapt to modern times and demand. The biggest horse racing festivals were some of the most attended events on the sporting calendar. Until it’s completely safe for the audience to return to stands and activities slowly return to normal as before, we can say that UK horse racing will continue to grow its success rate. The quality of horse training, the discipline and vision, in general, will ensure that this sport is here to stay, in the safest form for both the horses and riders. 

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