While the history of many sports has been carefully documented, it’s almost impossible to look far back enough to the conception of horse racing as a competitive sport.
Yet organized events, taking part on designated dates and at specific locations, also date further back than you may think. Many of them are historically important, often founded by royalty, and even influenced local culture. Below, we discuss three of the oldest racecourses in Europe that are of historical importance.
Royal Ascot
Few racecourses in the world can claim to have been founded by royalty. Yet Queen Anne established England’s Ascot racecourse during the reign of the Stuarts. Being situated close to London, it has become one of the premier tracks in the country. In mid-June, it hosts a famous five-day festival, where the best horses and best-dressed celebrities descend for a feast of flat racing.
Ascot has some of the best horses in the world and the races to support them. Aside from the main meeting, British Champions Day and the Clarence House Chase are also worth noting in your diary, with the latter coming up soon. Horse racing betting has likewise boosted the popularity of the sport, especially at Ascot, where many bets can be placed on this Grade 1 National Hunt race, which takes place in January. Run over two miles and one furlong, last year’s winner Shishkin was ridden by Nico de Boinville. This is truly a race with a deep history that’s definitely one to watch.
The Curragh
The Curragh is one of the oldest tracks in Ireland, a country culturally and socially intertwined with horse racing. The track itself has been a site of legend for thousands of years, where figures of Gaelic legend were said to meet. It has also been the site of many historical battles.
At the racecourse itself, you can find Ireland’s most important flat racing course. It is home to all the important races in the Irish calendar. These include St Leger, 1,000 and 2,000 Guineas, Irish Derby Stakes, and Irish Oaks. Its name is derived from the local word Cuirreach, which means the running of the horse. The earliest recorded derby took place there in 1866.
Chester Racecourse
Chester, situated in the Northwest of England, has the oldest racecourse that is still in operation today. Established in 1539, the course even incorporates elements of ancient Roman ruins from the time when this ancient town was a port city.
Of course, the Romans were avid gamblers themselves, though the sport has evolved a lot since then. While it is always an experience to bet at the track itself, many reliable bookmakers allow you to watch the changes in betting to see who may be favored or who is dropping out of the ranking in the lead-up to a race.
None of this would have been possible without the contributions Chester has made to racing history. It had the first recorded prize given to the winner of a horse race, which was a painted wooden bowl. The second involved the mayor of Chester from the period of 1539. He introduced the first annual horse race at the track. Known as Henry Gee, his name would become so synonymous with the sport, with ‘Gee-Gees’ being a term still used today in UK slang for horse racing.
There are many courses across the world of historical importance. If you are planning a trip, make sure you check race days in advance and book any hospitality packages you need. With some preparation, you are sure to have a fantastic day out.