Even though England has been the leader in the sport of horse racing, dozens of other countries have enjoyed long histories of horse racing, also.

England

While there is documented evidence that horses have been used for sport throughout the history of many cultures, England was perhaps the first to modernize the sport and imbue it with the traditions and rules of racing. Historians theorize that English knights returning from the Crusades around the twelfth and thirteenth centuries introduced Arabian horses to the English landscape. Arabians proved to be much faster than English stock. As a result, the practice of breeding Arabians to English horses began in earnest.

In the 1700s, formal racing, along with an already well established betting system, was popular among the nobility. The Jockey Club of England was established and made the governing body for all things racing, including breeding practices, rules and wagering. Horse pedigrees were documented and compiled into the now famous Stud Book. A true Thoroughbred, according to the Jockey Club, is one that has direct lineage to one of three accepted Arabian lines.

Currently, racing in England continues to draw huge crowds to its renowned venues. The sport is exciting to watch and has pageantry unrivalled among sporting events.

United States

When the English settled America, they brought with them a horse culture. Horse racing gained an early foothold, and by the late 1800s most sources report that there were regular formal races. The American Jockey Club, patterned after the English version, was established to regulate the growing American sport. The first Kentucky Derby was run at Churchill Downs in Kentucky in 1875 and where it has been run every year since. The Derby has become one of the world’s most celebrated equine events.

Australia

Australia has had a significant horse racing history based on early British influence. An increasingly popular event, The Melbourne Cup, has been run in Australia since 1861. The Australian Racing Board oversees all national races, and all regions of the country have racing.

While other forms of gambling have fallen in and out of favor in many countries, horse racing has remained a stable part of the landscape.