Horse racing is one of the oldest sports in the world with equestrian events having taken place in some form or another for thousands of years. Organised horse racing developed through the centuries to become the sport it is today and it is often referred to as the sport of Kings owing to the great interest taken by monarchs such as King Charles II.
The sport was truly established in the late 17th century as British owners began to breed their own mares with stallions from all over the world. Some of the most famous horses in history emerged during this period including Eclipse and Herod.
Courses such as Epsom and Newmarket were already in existence at this point but in the years that followed, major venues started to emerge right across the UK. Perhaps the most notable of these is Aintree which first opened its doors in 1829.
Disregarding harness racing, which is still popular in some parts of the world, there are two main types of horse racing today. These are National Hunt, where the runners are required to jump over fences and flat, which is a straight race with no such obstacles involved. Horses run on a track which is typically oval in shape and the distance of each race is measured in furlongs which are equivalent to one eighth of a mile.
Of the major horse races to take place over the course of the calendar year, the Epsom Derby and the Aintree Grand National are probably the most famous of all. The Derby first took place on Epsom Downs in 1780 and remains the most eagerly awaited event for some race goers. It is a flat race for three year olds and throughout its history, some of the most well known jockeys have triumphed here. Lester Piggott won the race on no fewer than nine occasions. Other famous riders such as Willie Carson and Pat Eddery have also triumphed at Epsom more than once.
As for the Grand National, it produced the World`s best loved horse in the 1970s when Red Rum became the first to win the race on three occasions. The Aintree course is a truly gruelling test for any horse and to win it just once is one of the most difficult achievements in the sport. Red Rum`s exploits therefore were truly remarkable and alongside with the jockeys and trainer associated with him, he became a true national hero.
These days, horse racing is a global phenomenon and although it grew from relatively humble beginnings, it has always been one of the world`s most popular sports. From an armchair spectator`s viewpoint, there has been a boom in televised events in recent years which has led to a major increase for the betting fraternity at the same time.
In the meantime, a day at the races is a popular activity with all of the main courses having excellent facilities and entertainment in some cases after the races themselves. As such, it is always worth looking out for <a href="http://www.groupon.co.uk/">Groupon</a> vouchers and taking time to enjoy horse racing for yourself.
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