Chris Woods, Chris Woods Jockey, Christopher J. Woods, Jockey and owner, Carducci Interiors, USA

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First, About Horse Racing:

Horse racing technically originated back in the days of the Roman Empires and ancient Greece with the chariot races, which took a high spot on the early Olympic games.

However, organized racing as we know it, spawned from Ireland. The fable tells us that two farmers once challenged each other to see who had the fastest horse. They would race from the steeple of this church to the steeple of the next church - hence the name Steeplechasing, which now refers to the form of racing over jumps.

The Sport of Kings is a popular and prominent sport in the UK, with 60 tracks in England, Scotland and Wales, the latest holding its first meeting in April of 2008. There are a further 28 tracks in Ireland. The winter of each year is dominated by the steeple chasing season. The whole of the jump meet builds up to the much anticipated Cheltenham Festival, annually held in March, and is considered to host the best of the best of jump racing. Each of the four days has a feature race - The Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother champion Chase, The world Hurdle and The Gold Cup. Three weeks later comes the Grand National meeting, the highlight being, of course the Grand National. This marathon race of 4 miles tests stamina and jumping ability, over the 30 fences. The National now limits its field to 40 runners, but in past years has seen as many as 66 horses compete. Other important meetings during the National Hunt season, are the King George VI chase at Kempton, Bet365 Gold Cup (formerly the Whitbred Gold Cup), the Scottish and Welsh Nationals, the Tingle Creek at Sandown, among many other notable races. The Irish have their Grand National, as well as the Punchestown Festival.

Also in Britain is Point to Point racing. This is similar to National hunt and is only over jumps. It is however for amateur riders or the hunting scene.

Some well known, much loved National hunt racehorses include, Desert Orchid, Redrum, Best Mate, Istabraq, Arkle, and Dawn Run among many others!

During the summer months, the majority of the National Hunt scene take a break and the flat racing begins. Both England and Ireland have five classic races - the 2000 and 1000 Guineas, the Oaks and the Derby, and the St Leger. Royal Ascot is also a world famous meet. Five days of top class racing, of which Queen Elizabeth of England goes to see. Glorious Goodwood is a high class meet held in August. Other important flat races include the Cambridgeshire Stakes, The Nunthorpe Stakes, the Dante Stakes and the Eclipse.

Throughout summer, Newmarket, one of the UK's most famous tracks, hosts a lot of racing on it's July course'. Other racing at Newmarket during the year is held on the Rowley mile' course. The town of Newmarket is home to the Jockey Club headquarters, National Horse Racing Museum, numerous Stud farms, and training operations. Newmarket heath is a public gallop where a lot of trainers take their horses to exercise each morning, including Godolphin Stables - the horses owned mainly by the Sheiks of Dubai.

Some famous flat horses from Britain include, Hyperion, Nijinsky, Mill Reef (although born un the US, raced mainly in the UK), Dubai Millennium, The Minstrel and Sadlers Wells among many others!

Over the pond, and in 1665, a new racecourse was established - another Newmarket - on the Salisbury plains that is now known as Hempstead plains on Long Island, New York. From here on, more race tracks were built and hosted horse racing. Today there are some 90 thoroughbred race tracks across North America and Canada, excluding separate tracks for harness racing, Quarter horse racing and Arabian racing. The USA provides some of the most important and high class racing in the world, such as the prestigious and yet elusive Triple Crown. Earned by only 11 horses, the Triple Crown title comes with a win in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes. This was last won in 1978 by Affirmed.

The Breeders Cup is an annual meet of the crme de la crme of American and International horses. It is usually held on the Friday and Saturday closest to the end of October / beginning of November, and 2008 will see the introduction of 3 more races added to the card, bringing the total to 14 races. The races amount to a whooping $25.5 million in purses, with the Breeders Cup Classic offering the most at $5 Million. Each year, the Breeders Cup is held at a different track, elected by a lottery.

Other notable races in America include the Haskell, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Santa Anita Handicap, Arlington Million, Florida Derby along with many, many more. Although betting with bookmakers is illegal, race tracks do have Pari-mutual wagering.

Some memorable horses in American racing history are Man O'War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Alydar, Barbaro and hundreds more!

Other, not as prominent, but still very popular forms of horse racing in America are harness racing - for Standardbreds, who compete in either trotting or pacing. Quarter horseracing - which are very fast, short races, usually no more than 2 furlongs. Arabian racing is the same as horse racing, but yes - on Arabians! There are only select tracks which host this.

Steeplechasing does exist in America, although it is not as popular. However it still involves some large purses and there are even races such as the Breeder's Cup steeplechase. Saratoga holds steeplechase races during a regular days card, as does Keeneland. However, this is more popular with the hunt crowds of the East coast in states such as Virginia and Maryland. Here, during the latter months of the year, certain tracks host only jump races.

Horse Racing exists in many European countries beside the UK. France has sixteen race tracks, including the well known Longchamps, Chantilly, Auteuil, Deauville and Saint-Cloud. The Prix De l'Arc de Triomphe, France's most prestigious race, attracts a lot of International interest, especially from England and Ireland. The French Derby, named Prix Du Jockey Club and the Prix de Diane are both Classic races and are held at Chantilly race course. They also have 1000 and 2000 Guineas in their Classic races.

France also holds steeplechases, most notably the Grand Steeple-chase de Paris over 3 miles 5 furlongs. It offers a purse of 820,000 Euros, the equivalent of the English Grand National race.

Italy holds its most famous race, Palio di Siena, twice a year in July and in August. In this race, each horse represents a contrade. These are districts within a city, each named after animals or mythical creatures. 17 of these race in the Palio di Siena. Think of them like a team' representative. Italy also has the Guineas races, a Derby Italiano, Oaks d'Italia and Gran Premio del Jockey Club to name but the most well known.

Germany only holds flat racing. It has it's classics like most other countries - the Deutsches Derby, Preis der Diana (Oaks), Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen (2000 guineas), and other note worthy races such as Preis von Europa, Deutschland Preis and Bayerisches Zuchtrennen.

Of the three Scandinavian countries - Sweden, Denmark and Norway, Sweden hosts the premier track - Taby Galopp (Taby Racecourse). They hold flat racing on the dirt in winter and flat and jump races during the summer.

In Switzerland, they race on the ice in winter. In February on the frozen lake of St. Moritz, they host the White Turf' a series of flat horse races on the snow and ice. On the third Sunday of the month, the overall winner is presented with the prize fund and a trophy, and are crowned "King of the Engadine"! The horses shoes are studded for better, safer traction. Switzerland also has the same 5 Classics as Britain - the 2 Guineas races, Oaks, Derby and St Leger.

In Asia, Hong Kong is recognized for its high class racing at Happy Valley Race Course and Sha Tin. Inspired by British racing, they established the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club in 1884, a non-profit entity.

However Japan has some of the most appealing international horse racing in the world. The Japan Cup alone, held at the Tokyo race course in Fuchu, offers a purse of 533,500,000 Yen Which is about $4.6 million. This is an invitational race only and is offered to outstanding horses who have competed and/or been successful in certain select races such as the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Breeders Cup Classic and more. They also offer bonuses to the purse if the winner has won in certain races around the world.

Dubai is the center of horse racing in the middle east. At the Nad Al Sheba track they host the Dubai world cup series including the world's richest horse race of the same name, for a purse of $6 Million. There is no betting what so ever on the races in the country (betting is some international countries is available) but the prizes and the prestige are what its all about. The Sheiks, Godolphin, and the Maktoum Family have experienced great success in the UAE races, along with primary jockey Frankie Dettori.

India, Pakistan, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia and Mongolia among many other countries in Asia have primarily flat racing. Each have adopted their own Turf Club or Jockey Club. However, much of the racing is not as widely known of.

South Africa is also keen on it's horse racing traditions, which date as far back as 1797. The main track is Turffontein in Johannesburg along with Kenilworth in Cape Town. Its most notable race is the Durban July Handicap, which attracts huge crowds to the Greyville course and of which there are hundreds of millions of dollars bet on the race worldwide. Other major races are the Summer Cup and the J & B Met.

Austrailia and New Zealand compete in flat racing also. The world known Melbourne Cup is Australia's major race, which often attracts foreign competitors. Phar Lap is the most famous horse to have come out of Australia. His 37 win race record proved him to be one of the best of his time, and to the present day. Makybe Diva is the only horse ever to have won the Melbourne Cup three times, and in particular, she did in in consecutive years. Both countries are also involved in harness racing, like America. In New Zealand, there are 59 race tracks and 379 racetracks in Australia! Steeplechase racing is held, but only in Victoria and South Australia these days.

South America, in particular Argentina, participates in horse racing and also has a lot of thoroughbred breeding establishments. Russia also conducts racing, although they usually keep themselves to themselves, as they do not offer much for an international interest. In 2005 the first British horse ran in the President's Cup. Russia does have a Tsarist Triple Crown' consisting of the Moscow, St Petersburg and Warwick derbies.

So as you can see, horse racing is a world wide sport and keeps a common ground between a lot of countries, particularly ones who transport their horses for certain races. There are many types of racing, and much in the way of betting in plenty of countries! It is a growing industry, as well as a very exciting sport, and provides millions of jobs in hundreds of positions all over the world. These horses are athletes and they will always need caring for!

Horse Racing Links:


Horse Racing - Wikipedia Page
About.com Horse Racing Site
Famous Race Horses
Yahoo UK & Ireland list of Jockeys
Horse Racing: Famous Horse Races in Modern History
Horse Racing Glossary
Hong Kong Jockey Club
Hong Kong Racing Journal
Horse Racing Venues in Hong Kong
Singapore Turf Club
Australia / New Zealand Horse Racing / About.com
Google Directory of Famous Racehorses