Horses were among the first animals to be domesticated. Humans probably used them in Russia and Kazakhstan as early as 3500 BC. Before that, donkeys were used to carry loads and pull carts. When early humans adopted the horse as the main means of work and transport, civilisation was able to advance in leaps and bounds. The adoption of the horse as a worker was the same kind of breakthrough for early societies as the harnessing of fire or the invention of the wheel. Horses have been used for hunting,…

The 2024 Belmont Stakes, a cornerstone of American horse racing, unfolded with high drama and unexpected turns on June 8. Traditionally held at Belmont Park, this year’s event was relocated to Saratoga Race Course due to extensive renovations at Belmont Park. The venue change added a unique flavour to the race, blending the historic ambience of Saratoga with the prestige of the Belmont Stakes. The History & Significance of the Belmont Stakes The Belmont Stakes is the final jewel in the Triple Crown series, following the Kentucky Derby and the…

This sport captures fans’ attention through the combinations of the beauty of the thoroughbred horse, and the spirit of competition. Attending these races increases the excitement; the act requires planning and thought in order to make a bet. To those who are figuring out their strategies in bookie betting and those who are considering and trying their luck in betting, these eight horse racing betting tips can be of great help to add on to your decision making that will help to increase your chances of winning just like those…

In a nail-biting twist, the Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs witnessed an underdog, Mystik Dan, emerging as the unexpected champion today (June 2 2024). The race, featuring fierce competition among fillies and mares, concluded with the long-shot, Mystik Dan defying the odds and securing the victory. Mystik Dan, trained by D. Wayne Lukas and ridden by jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., showcased a powerful finishing kick, surprising both spectators and competitors. This victory marks a significant milestone for the connections of Mystik Dan, as she managed to…

Horse racing in Britain boasts a long and illustrious history, intertwined with the social and cultural fabric of the nation. From its early origins to the present day, the sport has evolved significantly, including the invention of horse racing betting sites, helping it become one of the country’s most popular and well-regarded pastimes. Here, we delve into the rich history of horse racing in Britain, tracing its development through the centuries. Early beginnings The roots of horse racing in Britain can be traced back to the Roman era when soldiers…

There are many races at Royal Ascot that are steeped in history. The Commonwealth Cup is a fairly new addition to the impressive set of races at the Berkshire course in June. This year, it will be held on June 21, and as usual, it’s a very open race. The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 race that was first held in 2015. It’s run over six furlongs and can be entered by both colts and fillies as long as they are three years old. Initially, geldings were also able…

Britain’s largest racing group, Arena Racing Company (ARC) welcomes a new partnership this month with Seat Unique, a trusted premium ticketing provider The partnership welcomes Seat Unique as ARC’s Official Online Premium Ticket and Hospitality Partner, providing unparalleled premium experiences to racing enthusiasts across the UK.  The premium experience economy continues to soar, with spending in the entertainment space growing last year driven primarily by live events and sports. Consumers are placing increasing importance on bigger and more unforgettable days out. Seat Unique has seen an 88% increase in the…

This week’s horse racing spotlight falls on Muth, the recent victor of the Arkansas Derby, positioning him as a frontrunner for the eagerly anticipated 149th Preakness Stakes, slated for May 18 at Pimlico Race Course. With the horse racing world’s eyes fixed on him, along with Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, Muth stands out as a prime contender, especially in the absence of Bob Baffert’s entrants from the Kentucky Derby due to previous sanctions. Trained by the Hall of Famer himself, Muth carries the hopes of Zedan Racing Stables into…

Eleven remain on course for Newbury’s Group One feature race of the Flat season, the £400,000 Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes on Saturday 18th May, 2024. Six-time Group One winner Inspiral, trained by John and Thady Gosden for Cheveley Park Stud, heads the top-quality line up in the first older horse Group One of the season. The superstar mare could make her seasonal re-appearance over the mile at Newbury and have a first tilt at the Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes. The five-year-old daughter of Frankel, last seen when winning the Breeders’ Cup Filly &…

The John and Thady Gosden-trained FRIENDLY SOUL heads seven runners for the Group 3 Tattersalls Musidora Stakes at York this Wednesday, May 15th during the Dante Festival. Owned and bred by George Strawbridge, the daughter of Kingman comes into the race unbeaten in two starts and looked an eye-catching winner on seasonal return earlier this month in the Listed Pretty Polly Stakes at Newmarket, where the first two home drew 12 lengths clear of the third. Ahead of her Tattersalls Musidora engagement, her rider Kieran Shoemark said: “She was very impressive on…

Horse racing is a genre of performance sport, involving well trained horses that are ridden by jockeys, over a certain distance and field. It is a well-known sport all around the globe, being one of the oldest and most common professional sports, even since classical antiquity, some might say. As any other sport, it varies in many formats, and different countries have created their specific way of playing this equestrian performance. Variations go from races with particular breeds of horses, to running over obstacles, or even performing on different track surfaces.…

The Epsom Derby is one of the biggest horse races worldwide, let alone just in the UK. It’s one of the oldest flat races to be in existence, having first been run in 1780. It’s an annual event that attracts a global audience. The short race features the biggest and best eligible horses. 2024 Epsom Derby: All You Need To Know The Epsom Derby is held at the Epsom Downs Racecourse, which is located in Surrey. The race course is left-handed and consists of a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs, and…

Television is one of the most popular things in the world as is sport and these two things go hand in hand, with some of the most watched channels in the world being sports channels. Horse racing is one of the most watched and bet-on sports in the world and as more people want to watch horse racing the more views it gets on TV. When more people watch the sport it invites more money and a better viewing experience for the fans. More viewers means a bigger prize purse…

Aidan O’Brien has joined the QIPCO Hall of Fame, becoming the first induction for 2024. With a career spanning back to 1993, when he saddled winner, Desert King, on his first day as a trainer, to today, he is regarded as one of the most successful racehorse trainers of all time. Born in 1969, O’Brien is one of six children and comes from a farming family in County Wexford where his father also trained racehorses. O’Brien and his wife, Anne-Marie, had four children who have all grown to become jockeys.…

A prominent name on the racetrack, Shishkin, has died following a tragic accident it was reported on Sunday, April 28th 2024. Nicky Henderson announced the racing stable, Seven Barrows, had unexpectedly lost Shishkin after he became cast in his stable and fractured a hind leg. “He was an absolute superstar and his CV is testament to that”, said Henderson on X. “The Supreme Novice Hurdle and the Arkle were his Cheltenham Highlights, but the battle with Energumene in the Clarence House at Ascot was probably his greatest.” he continued. The…

The British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) has launched HorsePWR, a digital hub concentrating on a communications campaign to help build awareness around equine welfare in racing. The new central resource hub puts the Thoroughbred at the forefront of users’ minds and aims to help share data and talk about their purpose, lives, safety and risks of the sport. The hub complements existing resources such as horse racing results, and other news resources, and helps underpin the high welfare and safety standards upon which the industry is built. The hub has…

Tagged as the “most exciting two minutes in sport”, the Kentucky Derby has that quality of transcendence shared by only a handful of sporting events. It is, as such, both a cultural and sporting event, bringing in casual fans and those who have never watched a horse race before. It shares those qualities with the Grand National and Melbourne Cup, both of which are described as races that stop a nation. The 2024 Kentucky Derby will be the 150th running of the iconic race, which is the most-watched and attended…

Horseracing may not be broadcast as loudly on the European stage as football is, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less exciting or significant for its spectators. The excitement of horse racing, alongside its long history attached to Europe’s wealthiest and most powerful people, has led to some horse racing events becoming immense events and attractions. Let’s look at the horse races that have become the biggest across Europe. Grand National (Liverpool, UK) Perhaps the world’s best-known and popular horse race is Liverpool’s Grand National. The race, which you may…

Jockey Stefano Cherchi has tragically died two weeks after falling from a horse at the Canberra Races in Australia, the NSW Jockeys Association said on Wednesday. 23-year-old Cherchi from Sardinia, who had ridden over 100 winners in the UK, fell during a meeting at Canberra. On 20 March 24, his mount Hasime fell in the Affinity Electrical Technologies Plate, and two other riders narrowly avoided serious injury when they became unseated during the incident. After receiving emergency medical treatment at the track, Cherchi was rushed to hospital, where it was discovered he had sustained a…