Over the centuries, the allure of horse racing has always captured the interest of a great number of the populace. All through historical accounts from Norse Mythology down to the Circus Maximus in Rome and finally to today’s modern-day racetracks, horse racing enthusiasts have felt the exhilaration and excitement of watching live horse races enough to keep them coming back for more. All over the world today, horse racing is one of the best forms of entertainment around. Part of the fun is the wagering involved in most horse races today. However, even if you do not bet, Betfair horse racing can be exciting.
Horse racing traces its roots down to Greece. In these races, mounted horses and chariots often participated. Horse breeding and racing in this part of the world died down with the fall of the Roman Empire. It was not until the time King Henry I of England imported an Arabian stallion to breed, train, and race, when the sport of horse racing came back to life. Soon, the first racetrack in existence after the fall of Rome – the Smithfield Track, was constructed in London to hold purebred mount horse races. Horse racing is also a popular feature in most English fairs. It is because of the royalty’s support of the sport of horse racing that it was dubbed the “Sport of Kings.”
In the mid-1600s, the first American racetrack was built in Long Island, New York. The new racetrack, the Newmarket, was where the earliest North American horse races were held. More and more purebred British mares and stallions were sought after by Americans for breeding and training horseracing steeds. The horse racing enthusiasts soon organized themselves and formed clubs to standardize horse breeding, training, and racing practices. Huge amounts of money were poured into the sport. Not a few people have also made money betting in the races. The American Jockey Club was formed late in the 19th century in order to standardize the ethics in horse racing. The responsibility for maintaining the American Stud Book, the rule book for horse racing all over the United States, was soon taken over by the American Jockey Club. The Thoroughbred Racing Associations of the United States in Chicago was later on established.
There is nothing more entertaining for horse racing enthusiasts than watching live horse races. Nothing beats standing in the sidelines or watching up on the bleachers around the race track, cheering with all horse racing enthusiasts around, and feeling the rush of horses race by. Add betting successfully and you have something that is even more enjoyable. Before you start placing your bets, you have to understand the sport of horseracing first so that you can plan your bets properly.
The types of races that you can bet on vary. Your choice of races and horses to bet on would differ depending on how much money you would like to bet and what kind of odds you are willing to risk. Horse race gambling rules are also varied from state to state. Horse race betting involves what is called as parimutuel betting. This kind of betting pools together all the bets placed on a race, deducts the amount of taxes and racetrack expenses, and then divides the money among the winners. Such betting in thoroughbred horse racing made the sport flourish. The most popular US horse races that people bet in are the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes, and the Preakness – otherwise known as the Triple Crown.