

Run at Aintree in Liverpool every April, this gruelling test is the most revered in horse racing.

However, the most famous race of all is the Grand National. Other notable horse races in Britain include the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Ascot Gold Cup, Eclipse Stakes, King George VI Stakes, Champions Hurdle and Champion Chase. The St Leger is the oldest of these, dating back to 1776 with the Derby being first run in 1780. These are the St Leger, Derby, Oaks, 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas. In the UK, there are five Classics associated with the Flat Horse Racing season. Chariot racing also belonged in the ancient Greek Olympics but was deemed extremely dangerous to horse and rider. The race would normally last for about two to three minutes.Īlong with horse racing, chariot racing was also popular in Roman times and ancient Greece. Fifteen to 20 horses with no jockeys would be set loose on one of Rome’s famous straight streets. However, every year, the spring carnival ended in a horse race. In Rome, their spring carnival was a hugely popular event from the 1450s until 1882, when it stopped. Records from thousands of years ago indicate that horse racing may have occurred in ancient Greece, ancient Egypt, Rome, Babylon and Syria. You can go back even further in history to find out where the origins of horse racing lies. Over the course of the next 400 years, a huge number of Arabian stallions were imported to the UK for breeding purposes in order to produce horses who had two key components needed for racing – speed and stamina. Horse racing goes as far back as the 12th century, when English knights returned from battles with Arabian horses, who were swift and strong. From midweek meetings to all the big races, betFIRST is where it is at for all the biggest and best horse racing odds! The origins of Horse Racing Across Europe, horse racing has proven itself to be one of the most thrilling sports across the continent and we pride ourselves on being able to offer the best horse racing online bets available. Here at betFIRST, horse racing is one of the most popular sports you can bet on.
