Horse racing is simply a contest of speed among horses ridden by jockeys or pull sulkies and their drivers or no drivers over a distance for competition. It’s an ancient sport, as its main aim is to identify which horse is the fastest over a certain distance.
It is tough to pinpoint precisely the time horse racing began. However, it is possible to trace some early horse racing history to the Greek Olympic Games in 700 to 40 B.C. During that period, horse riders participated in two races, namely the mounted bareback and the four-hitched chariot races.
Soon enough, horse riding started gaining popularity, and neighboring countries like Persia, Middle East Arabia, China, and even North Africa were joining in this fun and exciting sport. Fast-forward to the 21st century, and horse racing is now a sport everyone vies for each year.
Today, horse betting is a popular activity on racetracks and online. There are many different ways to bet on horses, and free bets are often available to new bettors. Free bets allow you to place a bet without risking your own money. This can be a great way to get started with horse betting, but it’s important to understand how free bets work before taking advantage of them.
With a bit of research and understanding, free bets can be a great way to get started in the exciting world of horse betting. Free bets typically have certain conditions, such as minimum odds or a maximum payout. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of any free bet before you place it.
Horse racing lovers also love to visit the racecourses to enjoy the game in its full glory, like seeing the thoroughbred horses up close and joining in the crowd’s cheer. However, if you’re a fan who hasn’t visited any horse racing track, there are many tracks you could visit and join.
Countries have their own sports variations for horse racing by offering different challenges for the horses to overcome, and a winner emerges. Some of the variations countries offer is that they gather a certain breed of horses to compete. Sometimes they set obstacles on tracks for the horses, introduce different racing lengths, and so on.
However, the racing tracks for horses are a vital part of every horse race. That is why every horse track is made of synthetic surface. Well, not every; some tracks are made of turf or dirt.
Remember when we mentioned there are a lot of horse racing tracks you should try visiting? We have compiled a list of the best five legendary horse racing tracks globally.
1. Saratoga
Saratoga Race Course is one of the best and was created in 1863. Apparently, the state of New York owns this racecourse.
This racecourse is located in Saratoga Springs, New York. The Saratoga gates are open to its customers from July to September, and there is always an ongoing race taking place, which offers mouth-watering prizes.
Saratoga grounds is fondly called the “Graveyard of Champions” because it’s the racecourse where champions get defeated. One recent and popular competition still fresh in the memory of those who watched the event in 2015 is that of the “Triple Crown Winner American Pharaoh.” The American Pharaoh lost the race at Saratoga.
2. Churchill Downs
Churchill Downs is owned by Churchill Downs incorporated, and this racecourse is in Louisville, Kentucky. This famous international racecourse was founded in 1875 and has been growing since then. Today, it spans 147 acres of land from the 80 acres they started with.
Lots of people have made a fortune from this racecourse. The horse races last for at least two minutes, and it attracts an audience of over 150,000 people. You can get your free horse racing picks today and start making a profit from the races at Churchill Downs. Make sure to wisely look over all your options before placing a bet.
3. Santa Anita Park
You’ll find Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It was established in 1934, and it holds famous horse racing competitions like the Santa Anita Handicap, Santa Anita Derby, the Sunshine Millions Day, and a host of others. In 1935, Santa Anita was the first to offer a huge sum of $100,000 to its winners. The news was all over the front page of the Los Angeles Times.
4. Del Mar Race Track
Del Mar opened officially in 1937, its founder being Bing Crosby and other celebrities like Oliver Hardy and Gary Cooper. The idea of building the Del Mar racetrack started when William Quigley pitched the idea to Bing Crosby. Crosby was there to personally greet his fans when he first opened the gates of Del Mar. This 370-acre event ground holds the San Diego County Fair annually. The legendary Seabiscuit-Ligaroti race that started in 1938 is held every August 12th and attracts over 20,000 people to the racecourse.
5. Arlington Park
Arlington came into official existence in 1927. They started with 1000 acres, with everyone calling it the most beautiful in America. This track has gone through rough times and still came outstanding and victorious. Remember the World War II? Arlington parked survived it and stood more ground in the coming years.
Final Thoughts
If the five aforementioned horse tracks are close to you, you definitely need to watch the games there yourself. They hold the most prominent and major American horse racing competition.
