horse racing is an age-old sport, and is commonly referred to as the sport of kings. historical evidence has shown that horse racing took place in ancient egypt, syria, and greece, although it is known that central asian tribesmen often competed in the earliest forms of horse racing.

chariot racing was very popular in ancient rome, mostly due to the fact that chariots were extremely dangerous to compete with - watching a race was often thrilling for the audience as many participants were hurt or killed during the race.

the 12th century is marked as the beginning of modern horse racing when knights from the crusades would return home with arabian horses, which are known for their speed and agility.