| Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has been | | | | horse racing today. |
| practiced over the centuries. Its origins date back | | | | With the arrival of better transport links and other |
| to about 4500 BC among the nomadic tribesmen | | | | technological innovations in the 19th century, horse |
| of Central Asia who first domesticated the horse. | | | | racing became a sport that is watched by millions |
| Since then, horse racing has flourished as the | | | | of people each year. Leading newspapers began |
| Sport of Kings. | | | | to give horse racing far more coverage, and |
| Since the beginning of recorded history, horse | | | | there was a significant increase in the volume of |
| racing was an organized sport for all major | | | | betting on races. The arrival of professional |
| civilizations around the globe. The ancient Greek | | | | on-course bookmakers into the sport brought |
| Olympics had events for both chariot and | | | | with it different challenges. The Jockey Club |
| mounted horse racing. Then the Romans | | | | reacted by establishing high standards of order, |
| embraced the sport. In the Roman Empire, chariot | | | | integrity, and discipline to ensure that the sport will |
| and mounted horse racing were major industries | | | | continue to prosper. |
| with imported bloodlines, breeding programs, | | | | Racecourse attendance has become increasingly |
| exhaustive training routines, and all the | | | | popular by the early 21st century. After a drop in |
| accoutrements of organized wagering like | | | | attendance in the 1970s and 1980s, racing posted |
| bookmakers, horse-racing tracks, scandals, hot | | | | an attendance figure of 6 million in 2004. Now |
| tips, and most of all, excitement. The decline of | | | | internet wagering has horse racing off and running |
| the Roman Empire also saw a decline in organized | | | | in ways never imagined. With the emergence of |
| public racing until well into more modern times. | | | | online horse racing betting, the Sport of Kings has |
| Horse racing then became a professional sport as | | | | attracted new audiences who, rather than |
| early as the 12th century, when the English | | | | standing trackside studying the form guide, would |
| knights returned from the Crusades with Arab | | | | prefer to place their horse racing bet from the |
| horses. Over the next several hundred years, an | | | | comforts of their own homes. Wagering on the |
| increasing number of Arabian stallions were | | | | outcome of horse races has been an integral part |
| imported and bred to English mares, producing | | | | of the appeal of the sport since prehistory and |
| horses that combined endurance and speed. | | | | today is the sole reason horse racing has survived |
| These are the breed of horses that are used in | | | | as a major professional sport. |