What attracts a lot of people to horse racing ?
Copyright 2006 Ngullen Rivera
Anyone who has not experienced the thrill of horse racing with the sound of hooves thundering by, the jockeys with their colors urging their mounts on, the crowd on tenterhooks waiting for the outcome of the game and very often their fortunes, does not know what he is missing. Even more than the gambling, it’s the sheer excitement that grips spectators where horse racing is concerned.
Let’s take a look at the history of horse racing in our country. It all began when the US was just a colony and the first track was in Long Island. The Jockey Club was set up in 1750 and horse racing spread all over North America. The famous Kentucky Derby was first organized after the Civil War and today is among the three most famous events together with the Belmont Stakes and the Preakness. Not just in the US but all over the world, this sport has become popular among all strata of society. If a person cannot go and watch a race, he can always sit glued to his TV set with nail-biting concentration.
Bulle Rock was perhaps the most famous horse in the 18th century but the most popular one is Seabiscuit, which won its first race in 1937. The intrigue that surrounded this horse, which was a target for a death threat, has inspired a book and a movie. One particular attempt on its life made headlines!
Let’s look at the lineage of horses in the horse racing circuit. The thoroughbred is the most famous and was imported from England. It has an Arab and Turk ancestry. It can keep going for long distances and can carry a lot of weight, which makes its perfect for racing. Almost all the famous horses on the racing scene are thoroughbreds. For smaller sprints, the Quarter horse is usually used. These also find favor in ranches and farms. They are sometimes crossed with thoroughbreds to improve their speed.
What attracts a lot of people to horse racing events is the thrill and adventure of men and beasts pitted against each other. Equally important is the betting. Today, this has been elevated to almost a science with bettors needing to know about a horse’s ancestry, medical history and temperament before they put down their money. This is a high-risk sport like all other fast sports and injuries to both horse and jockey are common. Horse racing season has also evolved to be a fashionable event with a great deal of designer outfits on show. In fact, today, there’s a perfect blend of sport and style in every racetrack around the world.
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For more information about Horse Racing Please visit: http://horseracingsport.com
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