There are few more historic sports in the world than horse racing, with the action on track dating back to ancient times. However, the sport’s popularity has increased and been maintained across recent generations, seeing it become the second-most attended sport in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Major events on the calendar, such as the Cheltenham Festival, Breeders’ Cup, and Kentucky Derby attract massive numbers in terms of visitors, while they also entice those who wouldn’t normally bet on the racing action to get involved.
It is the longevity of the sport that captures the attention of those who aren’t familiar with racing, but the modern-day product offered by racing looks much different from how the sporting action would have looked on track 100 years ago.
UK Horse Racing Early History
The popularity of racing reached new heights in 1750 when the Jockey Club was officially formed to help create and maintain the rules of racing. It was during this period that big events on the schedule would begin to be born, with Newmarket and York largely leading the way in the United Kingdom.
However, it wasn’t until the end of the 18th century that some of the most famous events on the calendar were officially recognized, with the Epsom Derby and Oaks added to the schedule, with the Guineas later added in the following century to create the Triple Crown.
Handicaps would gain prominence in the 19th century, with horses given weights determined by their form, meaning that theoretically, every runner in the race would stand an even chance of winning.
The first handicap was run in Ascot in 1791, but common big betting events in the modern era such as the Lincoln and Ebor were established in 1853 and 1843, respectively. Steeplechasing would become more common in the 1830s, with the Grand National born before the end of the decade.
The betting strategies also evolved, as you can read about here:
https://www.twinspires.com/edge/mucciolo-s-top-5-betting-strategies-for-2024/
20th Century Advancements
One of the first big moments of the 20th century came in 1947 when Hamilton hosted the first-ever evening race in the United Kingdom. However, evening racing would become more synonymous with Wolverhampton in modern history, as the course hosts nearly 50 meets throughout the season. Evening racing on the all-weather remains popular in this modern day, but it doesn’t hold the same standing as jumps or flat racing.
Changes at the top of the sport also occurred in the early 90s, with the governance role within racing switched from the Jockey Club to the British Horse Racing Board, which was formed in 1993. As part of the changes, the BHB would overlook the strategic planning within the sport, as well as setting race dates and putting together marketing plans to maintain its popularity.
Biggest Races on the Schedule
For the most part, the biggest races on the schedule have remained over the last 100 years, with the British Classics retaining their place on the flat schedule. However, the biggest change in recent history saw the addition of British Champions Day, which is held annually at Ascot to bring the curtain down on the flat season.
However, jumps racing remains the most popular form of horse racing within the United Kingdom and Ireland, with the Cheltenham Festival being the standout event on the schedule in March. Record numbers typically attend the meeting for the four-day event, which is highlighted by the Gold Cup. The Grand National takes place a month later, with global audiences for both events seeing over 600 million viewers.
Improved Safety Measures
One of the biggest changes within the sport over the last 100 years has been the adoptions of improved safety measures to ensure horse welfare is maintained. Fatality rates are now at an all-time low, with courses taking measures to ensure that their track is as safe as possible to host racing throughout the season.
The biggest changes in recent memory were made to the Grand National in 2024, with organizers taking the brave steps to reduce the number of runners involved, and altering the distance between the start line and the first fence on the course.
For the most part, the changes were widely appreciated within the racing community, but some argued that racing shouldn’t be bowing to the demands of modern-day society in order to survive.
What Does The Future Look Like?
The future of horse racing within the United Kingdom and Ireland looks incredibly bright, with courses across the nations doing excellent work in order to attract new fans to the sport.
The racing demographic has never been younger than it is in this modern era, with fans going to the tracks younger than ever before to see the biggest races in person. That only promises to enhance racing’s reputation and ensure that it will continue to rank as the second-most attended sport in the UK and Ireland.