From the whims and passions of royalty to the baser pleasures of the heaving masses, from the days of deep and unswerving devotion to onrushing modernity and existential doubts, horseracing has charted a turbulent course through history.
In the modern era, Pattern races and the Classics stand tall in a changing topography, where big business dominates the world of bloodstock and the big money comes from the ruling classes of other lands.
What remains constant is the sport, the horses pitted against each other, whether for the improvement of the breed, bragging rights among owners or the entertainment of the betting public. Even this, however, has undergone many changes, in form and context, in the 400-plus years of racing in its organised form in Britain and Ireland.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in