A Horseracing Edge.........

Thoroughbred Racing In America

British settlers brought horseracing to America, with the first racetrack built in New York in the late 1600's The sport became a popular pastime, but the development of racing did not start until after the Civil War. With the start of the industrial revolution, the sport grew rapidly.

Growth of the sport without controls over gambling led to a take over by organized crime. In 1894 the nation's track and horse stable owners met and formed the American Jockey Club, that started controlling racing with an iron fist and eliminated most of the corruption.

Development of pari-mutuel betting for the Kentucky Derby was a turnaround for the sport. More tracks opened as states agreed to legalize pari-mutuel betting to take a share of the money wagered.

When World War I ended, great thoroughbred horses like Man o' War brought spectators to racetracks. The sport did very well until World War II, then lost it's popularity during the 1950's and 1960's. The 1970s revived the sport with the popularity of the great horses, led by Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Alydar and Affirmed.

Thoroughbred tracks exist in about half the states. Public interest in the sport focuses on major races such as the American Triple Crown and the Breeder's Cup races that offer winner purses in the millions. State racing commissions have sole authority to license participants and grant racing dates, while sharing the supervision of horseracing with the Jockey Club. The Jockey Club has the authority over the breeding of Thoroughbreds.

Modern technology has opened great new horizons for both the horserace handicapper and people that breed and train the animals. There is now a data base covering every aspect of horseracing.

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