Horse racing is more than the popular once-a-year Kentucky Derby. Horse racing has a rich history that extends back into even before the colonization of the United States. From its origins to today, horse racing has certainly had a large impact on the world of betting and it continues to hold a big influence today.

The Origins of Racing

Horse racing in North America comes from very humble roots. The first track in North America was in fact made up of a grassy pasture on Long Island. Compare this to the tracks of more modern times, which are carefully groomed and designed, not to mention landscaped. This grassy track became the first official racing track in North America, and in 1730, the first thoroughbred –the world’s most popular race horse—made his way over to North America, too. His name was Bulle Rock, and he arrived in North America after a hard trip overseas from England. The Jockey Club –the organization that remains today to be one of the most important racing organizations in the United States—was formed in 1750, and the rest is history.

However, horse racing did suffer a few setbacks before it really began to take off. Racing was delayed in the 1700s due to the British Stamp Act. In protest, no more thoroughbred horses were imported and racing was thus delayed. In the 1840s horse racing began to spread westward across America as American families began to migrate and settle further into the United States. Racing was again delayed briefly during the period of the
Civil War but came back strong with the first Kentucky Derby in 1875 at what would soon to be known as the famous Churchill Downs.

Today, racing’s highest stakes are placed in the Triple Crown, a name that covers the three most important races in American horse racing, the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes. Horse racing continues to go strong and win over new bettors each year, as people are drawn to the spirit and courage it takes to compete in horse racing and the brave horses themselves.