Horse racing, also called “Sports of Kings” is a well-known sport in the world. Horse racing has now become more than a hobby, it is played and enjoyed all over the world. It is an aspect of tradition, having roots reaching back thousands of years ago. Millions of fans from all over the world watch horse racing every year.
If you are a fan or if you are curious about SA horse racing, here is all that you need to know.
History
Horse racing’s history is not formally documented, however, there is some evidence that states it began in Middle Asia around 4500 BC. During the 1750s in the Roman empire, horse racing gained popularity and expanded to other civilizations, where it eventually became a most played sport. It was accessible to all social classes. However, women were not permitted to compete as jockeys or as horse trainers.
Evolution
It is obvious that horse racing has existed for many decades and has changed in many forms. It has developed from the most popular flat racing to jump racing. Steeple-chasing is popular in the UK and Ireland. In endurance racing, horses travel long distances, frequently up to 160 km on country tracks.
Accessibility
Horse racing is far more accessible than it was in the past. Participation in this sport is now open to people of all social classes. The sport has expanded to include men as well as women. Only men could participate in horse racing when it first began as a sport. It remained that way until in 1969, a woman named Diane Crump competed professionally in a pari-mutuel race hosted in the United States.
Now a large number of female trainers and jockeys participate in horse racing from all over the world. compared to the past, racehorses travel more across different nations for competitions
Horse Breeding
With the advancement of science and technology, people discovered that the breed of horse determines how competitively viable it can be for a certain race. Horses are now subjected to expertly controlled breeding procedures to get a healthy breed.
Modern racehorses are fed better with premium quality food, they are now raced on aluminum plated instead of steel. Steel plates posed a serious risk to both the horse’s and jockey’s safety. The right equipment is used to lessen the chance of animal harm.
Safe Veterinary Practices
The development of veterinary procedures made it possible to maintain the horses’ health and let them compete in more races. Better veterinary care has decreased many risks and it also helped many horses by enabling them to get the treatment they need, particularly for breathing issues that are now treatable with surgery.
Takeaway
Being one of the most well-liked and played sports, horse racing continues to draw millions of fans today. It made a big influence on the sports business for many years. There were significant improvements made to horse racing, and as might be expected, a variety of things had an impact. Horse racing events evolved as a result of accessibility, technology, safety regulations, and sports betting.
