Worldwide

There are few more historic sports in the world than horse racing, with the roots of the equine sport dating back thousands of years.

Its popularity remains as high as ever in this modern day, with a staggering 19.6 million people watching the 2026 Kentucky Derby on NBC.

That popularity is likely to continue for the Middle Leg of the Triple Crown, as the Preakness Stakes will be a prominent betting event at TwinSpires in mid-May. But, how has horse racing evolved throughout history?

Early history

Horse racing’s history dates back to earlier than the 12th century, with areas in Ancient Greece and Egypt seeing racing staged long before anywhere in any of the major modern day power nations.

In fact, horse racing’s first major inclusion on the global calendar can be found after chariot racing was staged as part of the Olympics in 648 BC.

Some of the main changes in the sport were influenced by Romans. During this time, bigger purses were added to races, indicating the beginning of high-stakes races, which would become prominent to the international calendar in this modern day.

Development of modern racing

Sweeping changes to the sport came in the 12th century, which led to the development of the sport to somewhat near to what it is in this modern day. During this period, English knights brought Arab stallions, which were used for breeding with local horses to improve stamina and speed.

Royal Ascot is one of the most significant British sporting events in this modern day, and the first evidence of royal involvement came during the 1660s, as King Charles II would establish Newmarket to be the hub for racing.

However, one of the most important developments in racing would come in the late 17th and early 18th century as major sires such as Byerley Turf, Godolphin Arabian, and Darley Arabian were imported to the United Kingdom. This would form the basis for all modern thoroughbreds.

Formation of governing bodies

Steps toward making horse racing a professional operation were made during the 18th and 19th century, beginning with the foundation of The Jockey Club in 1750.

As it does in this modern day, the Jockey Club are tasked with governing the sport and forming rules to ensure that there is a level playing field.

During this period, some of the most important races on the British calendar would also be formed. Two of the most famous were established in the late 1770s, with the St. Leger first run in 1776.

However, jumps racing is the most popular form of racing in the United Kingdom, and steeplechasing was first contested on British turf in 1830. The iconic Grand National was added for the first time in 1839.

Global growth

Horse racing’s popularity would reach huge heights during the 1900s, with events such as the Cheltenham Festival, Epsom Derby, and Royal Ascot welcoming capacity crowds.

The interest in the sport would see a major shift in the product, with media coverage increasing rapidly. Television coverage would be prominent during the 1950s and 60s, while major British racing events would be broadcast to global audiences.

This has continued into the modern day, with the Grand National being broadcast in over 130 countries every year. The sport continues to thrive in this modern day, with the United Kingdom now being home to over 60 active racecourses.

Major boom during festive period

Horse racing has continued to maintain a high level of popularity in the modern era. That was evident during the busy festive period in 2025, with a Boxing Day Boom seeing record crowds attracted to tracks such as Kempton and Aintree.

The latter saw a 36% increase on their attendance from the same meet 12 months earlier. The success continued across the nation, with the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow seeing an 11% increase. Newbury’s Challow Novices’ Hurdle Day also welcomed its second-highest attendance in 35 years.

A busy period rounded off with Cheltenham’s New Year’s Day meeting selling out for the first time, as the Cotswolds track welcomed 44,151 fans through the gates.

Future

As well as flat and jumps, there is also action on the all-weather. Courses like Kempton, Wolverhampton, and Newcastle allow races to take place under floodlights, and they have all been key to the continued effort to reach a new demographic.

The introduction of Friday Night Live events in the United Kingdom is aimed toward attracting younger fans to the sport, with each event tailored toward visitors aged between 18 and 25.

While racing will be of high-quality, there will also be other events such as a live DJ, speed dating, and food stalls to appeal to the audience. The early signs of the program have been promising, with betting seeing a 60% up turn on the opening meeting of the Racing League meeting in 2025.

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