Both chariot horse racing and the mounted horse racing were popular over these ages. These later became an obsession among Romans whether they have adopted the sport.

For countless years that followed, this type of sports was known to be performed just for the noble men and royalties.

Modern racing is said to have going in the 12th century when the first breeding between Arabian and English horses were made. These were sparred through the return of the noble knights towards the mother land after the Crusades. These are recognized to have produced sturdy horses with excellent speed. Thus, breeders maximized the potentiality of the racehorse and set them into tracks. This breed is the Thoroughbred that we know of today that is still the most popular breed in the uk.

King Charles II was recognized to have held horse races in his private courses during 1660 to 1685.

By the 16th century, the English had been recognized to produce a quantity of racecourses. Queen Anne who founded the Ascot in 1711 is known to have made horse racing the official sport.

Halfway in 1700’s, the Jockey Club was created with the initiation from the elite figures involved in horse racing. This organization was the very first legion of jockeys that established the comprehensive regulations such as the standards as taught in sports. Thus, they had become the overseers from the sports and sanctioned horse racing events.

The Jockey Club seemed to be the initiator for that regulating breeding among horses. Thus, James Weatherby, a cpa from the Jockey Club during days past, traced back the household lines of all racing breeds in England. His researches brought forth the publication of the General Stud Book, which was basically, the basis of authority with regards to the breeds that may be put to race. According to the General Stud Book, just those pedigrees which have descended from the type of the “foundations sires” are thought as Thoroughbreds. The foundation sires are the: Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian.

Only in 17th century did the activity get to America for which the very first racetrack was observed in the New york. While it has become a favorite activity among Americans, no one initiated the formalization of horse racing until after the Civil War. Due to the already-established obsession as well as the industrial development, and widespread gambling on horse races, the sport grew largely by the entire year 1890 when 314 operating tracks are recognized to be on regular operation in the country.

Due to the lack of a governing body, this sport had become purely dominated by criminal elements. In 1894 though, the most prominent and high-ranking stable owners met and organized the American Jockey Club which was patterned on the system as utilized by the Jockey Club in England.

Nowadays the activity has reached various countries across the globe. Governing bodies were also formed to manage the horse racing events.