History Of Horse Racing

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Horses and horse racing have had a substantial impact on the history of America and continue to be a large part of American culture today. It is easy to see how horse racing has evolved by going back in time and identifying how it all began. First off, Thoroughbred: Born to Run, A PBS documentary produced and directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Paul Wagner, discusses the origins of horse racing, “The first steeplechase race in Ireland in the 1600s was a race between two steeple churches” (Thoroughbred). This was the first historically recognized “horse race,” although it is very possible that horses were raced previously. Two men decided to race their horses in order to prove the basic principle of whose horse was faster than the other's. It was much later in the 1750s that a group was established to define the standards and regulations of breeding, racing, and racecourses. This regulatory group was known as the Jockey Club and is still overlooking racetracks today. Secondly, the movement of horse racing across the America is identified by PBS’s timeline of horse racing in the United States:
“in the 1840’s westward-moving settlers take horse racing with them, establishing the sport in Illinois, Missouri, Texas, and Louisiana...and in the 1850’s prospectors heading to the Gold Rush bring Thoroughbreds to California" (“Timeline”).
Settlers during the Westward movement spread and established horse racing throughout Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Louisiana, and eventually California. Not only did horses help settlers to work the land and travel, but they also provided a means of entertainment and pleasure at the track. However, horse racing experienced an abrupt halt during the Civil War in the 1860s when Thoroughbreds were u...

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... claiming races, selling races, maiden races, and apprentice races (“Types"). Each of these races provides a challenge for the horses that partake in them. When many Americans think of horse racing the Kentucky Derby comes to mind, there is nothing more thrilling then watching the ‘two most exciting minutes in sports.’ Since the Kentucky Derby was established in 1875, it has become a nationally recognized event, occurring the first Saturday of May, and attracting over 16 million viewers annually. Whether jumping over hurdles, or racing on the flat, horse racing is a physically demanding sport on both horse and jockey. Horse racing will continue to be a controversial sport, and hopefully one day will overcome the flaws within it, but horses will not cease to impress their audience with their compassion to run and seemingly limitless abilities on and off the track.

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