There are few more popular sports in the United Kingdom than horse racing. The sport attracts capacity crowds to the track throughout the season, with notable events such as the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National typically proving to be among the most popular.
The long-term future of the sport has never looked brighter than it does in this modern day, with a growing number of young fans attending racedays throughout the season.
Horse racing does an excellent job of finding the next wave of fans, with discounts for students looking to attend, and families able to bring their children without a cover charge. However, how has the sport evolved over the last 100 years?
Early History
Horse racing was first staged in the UK during the Roman times, with many of the rules that the sport still follow being in place from the early history. However, the first steps toward the sport as we know it in this modern day were set following the establishment of The Jockey Club in 1750. This organization codified the rules of the sport, and established the Rules of Racing that all jockeys, trainers, and owners must follow.
It was during this period that one of the members, Admiral Rous, laid the foundations for handicapping in the sport. This included the weight-for-age scale, which remains in place in this modern day. The sport endured a lull in popularity during the reign of Elizabeth, but this soon changed in 1605 when James I discovered the little village of Newmarket.
Popularity Increased
The popularity of the sport would continue to increase during the reign of Charles I, with tracks in Epsom and Stamford becoming established. William III continued the success enjoyed by horse racing in the 1700s with the establishment of riding academies. Royal Ascot was founded by Queen Anne in the 18th century, with the opening race of each year named in her honor.
The Golden Age of racing would come during the 18th and 19th centuries, with rural sports being embraced in all walks of life. Handicap races became hugely popular from a fans’ perspective in the 19th century, with huge crowds attending days such as the Cesarewitch, Chester Cup, and Ebor.
Steeplechasing Boom
Jumps racing was first organized by Tom Colman in the early 1830s, with the Grand National officially established by the end of the decade. The race would transcend the sport throughout history, becoming the world’s richest jumps race with a purse of $1 million. It remains the most popular betting event in the United Kingdom, with Aintree playing host to the iconic event annually.
Red Rum would become the most famous winner of the Grand National, capturing the national attention after winning in back-to-back years in 1973 and 1974. However, his most famous win was recorded three years after his second success, as he returned to the course in Liverpool to win the iconic race in a memorable finish.
Major Festivals Highlight Racing Calendar
Given the huge popularity that horse racing has enjoyed throughout history, there have been a number of festivals established that are able to bring together the best runners to compete. On the flat, the first big meeting is the Guineas, which is staged annually at Newmarket in May.
The Classic season continues with the Epsom Derby in June, with Royal Ascot taking place just a few weeks later. July and August are headlined by Glorious Goodwood and the Ebor Festival, before the St Leger rounds off the Classic season at Doncaster in September. However, the most popular events on the racing calendar centre around the jumps season, beginning with the Cheltenham meeting in October.
December is a busy month in National Hunt racing, with the Tingle Creek being staged at Sandown, before the Christmas period sees the King George staged at Kempton Park and the Welsh National held at Chepstow. The two biggest festivals in the calendar are staged across March and April, beginning with the Cheltenham Festival in the prior. Aintree’s Grand National meet is typically the final big jumps meet of the season. The Grand National has the same significance to UK fans as the Kentucky Derby has for USA horse racing enthusiasts, according to experts which you can testify if you click here.
Future
The future of horse racing looks incredibly bright at this stage, with new faces being brought to the sport on a regular basis. The success of the sport in the current era is highlighted by the fact that many of the major festivals sell out long in advance of the opening day of the meet.
However, the sport has done an excellent job to shape the future, with access becoming far easier for fans via social media. Staying up to date with the latest news that could shape betting markets has never been easier, meaning that there are more angles than ever to achieve value when it comes to making wagers. Betting on the sport also remains incredibly popular, with the leading sportsbooks boasting high-quality live streaming options for fans.
By Chris Bates
