The history of horse racing started when the Nomadic Tribesmen in Central Asia domesticated horses. The Greek Olympics and the Roman Empire are early examples of chariot racing. When the English knights brought back the speedy Arabian horses on their return from the Crusades they laid the groundwork for modern racing. It became a professional sport during the reign of Queen Anne in the early 1700's.

There are different types of racing including Thoroughbred, Quarter horse and harness. Thoroughbred racing or flat racing is one of the most popular races. In this race the horses are running on an oval shaped track for distances from a little more than half a mile to a mile and a half. There are no obstacles on this type of track. Horses competing in this race are bred for speed and stamina.

The Thoroughbred originated in England when Arabian and Turkish horses were bred with English lines. They are known for their speed and stamina running at speeds up to 40 miles per hour. Most thoroughbreds can follow their heritage to one of three founding sires.

The Quarter Horse race is a straight course for a quarter mile. That is how they came about their name. These horses can start quick but only run for short distances. Early colonists could not afford to create the oval tracks like England so they just craved out a course on any piece of land for the races. They could not afford to travel far distances for races so they allowed them to be able to enjoy the sport without too much expense.

This breed is a mixture of the English Thoroughbred and the horses the Native Americans used that were brought over from Spain. Because of their size and agility they are useful for herding cattle, roping and barrel racing in rodeos and racing. They are the favorite breed in the United States today.

In harness racing the driver is pulled in a two wheeled cart by a Standardbred. These horses are bred for harness racing. In this type of race the horses are only allowed to trot or pace. They are more muscular than the Thoroughbred and have a much nicer disposition.

The Standardbred horses has many breed contributing to its bloodlines, but two of the more recognized ones are the Thoroughbred and the Morgan. These horses were bred to be able to trot a mile in 2 minutes and 30 seconds originally. Today many run much faster than that original standard. As we have learned the history of horse racing dates back many, many years and it is still a thriving sport attracting millions of people every year enjoying the competition and legal gambling.

When you look into horse racing tips, you can use the Net, because there based from prospective of all around the world. Many ideas from different countries and many famous horse back riders. Australian horse races can be entered at certain times of the year.