Throughout the centuries, there has perhaps never been a sport as exciting for people all over the world than horse racing. The locale might have gone from the Norse mythology to Rome’s Circus Maximus, and to modern-day racetracks, but the blood rush that people watching live horse races feel always gives way to an exhilarating feeling that keeps them going back to watch more races. No doubt about it, wherever you are in the world, you cannot find anything that’s more entertaining than horse racing. Wagering in horses even adds more flavor to the excitement of horse racing today. However, even if you do not bet, live horse racing can be exciting.

Horse racing traces its roots down to Greece. These races often involved both mounted horse races and chariot races. Horse breeding and racing in this part of the world died down with the fall of the Roman Empire. Eventually, horse racing was revived in the 1100s when English king Henry I took an interest in breeding and training horses from an Arabian stallion line. Purebred mounts soon raced at the Smithfield Track in London, the first racetrack ever to be built after the fall of the Roman Empire. Horse racing is also a popular feature in most English fairs. Due to its roots, horse racing has been accorded the label the “Sport of Kings.”

In the United States, the first racetrack was built in Long Island, New York. The new racetrack, the Newmarket, was where the earliest North American horse races were held. Not long after, Americans started importing more purebred British horses for breeding, training, and horse racing. The horse racing enthusiasts soon organized themselves and formed clubs to standardize horse breeding, training, and racing practices. The sport of horse racing enjoyed great funding from various sources. Not a few people have also made money betting in the races. The American Jockey Club was formed late in the 19th century in order to standardize the ethics in horse racing. The Club eventually took charge of the American Stud Book containing the governing procedures of horse racing all over the United States. Later on, the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of the United States was established in Chicago.

There is nothing more entertaining for horse racing enthusiasts than watching live horse races. Being one with other fellow horse racing fans standing along the racetracks’ sidelines to feel the horses rush by is a feeling that cannot be equaled. Add betting successfully and you have something that is even more enjoyable. Understanding the game first before you go on betting on your choice of horses could help you plan out your bets.

The types of races that you can bet on vary. Your choice of races and horses to bet on would differ depending on how much money you would like to bet and what kind of odds you are willing to risk. There are also differing horse race gambling rules depending on where you are located. Wagering in horse races involves pari-mutuel betting. This basically entails pooling the bets together and then dividing the money among the winners after the appropriate taxes and racetrack expenses have been deducted from it. Such betting in thoroughbred horse racing made the sport flourish. The most popular US horse races that people bet in are the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes, and the Preakness – otherwise known as the Triple Crown.