Throughout the centuries, there has perhaps never been a sport as exciting for people all over the world than horse racing. All through historical accounts from Norse Mythology down to the Circus Maximus in Rome and finally to today’s modern-day racetracks, horse racing enthusiasts have felt the exhilaration and excitement of watching live horse races enough to keep them coming back for more. 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, Betfair horse racing can be exciting.

The earliest race horses were held in Greece. These races often involved both mounted horse races and chariot races. When the Roman Empire fell, horse breeding and horse racing in the West likewise died with it. 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 Newmarket, as this racetrack was named, was the site of the earliest horse races in the Northern American region. More and more purebred British mares and stallions were sought after by Americans for breeding and training horseracing steeds. The horse racing enthusiasts soon organized themselves and formed clubs to standardize horse breeding, training, and racing practices. Huge amounts of money were poured into the sport. Not a few people have also made money betting in the races. The need for ethical standards in horse racing to be standardized gave rise to the formation of the American Jockey Club in the late 19th century. 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. Knowing how to bet adds to the fun of it all – why wouldn’t it if it could make you lots of money doing something you really enjoy. Before you start placing your bets, you have to understand the sport of horseracing first so that you can plan your bets properly.

There are different types of races you can bet on. 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. Horse race gambling rules are also varied from state to state. Wagering in horse races involves pari-mutuel betting. This kind of betting pools together all the bets placed on a race, deducts the amount of taxes and racetrack expenses, and then divides the money among the winners. Such betting in thoroughbred horse racing made the sport flourish. In the United States, horse racing enthusiasts get all fired up in betting in the Triple Crown races composed of the three top horse races – the Kentucky Derby, the Belmont Stakes, and the Preakness.