Horse racing has been around, in one form or another, almost from the time horses were first domesticated in 4,500 B.C. by prehistoric nomads in Central Asia. At first, horse riding and racing were the sport of the nobility, but it soon showed a mass appeal. The ancient Greeks were avid competitors in horse racing events, as were the Romans.

Modern racing was started in England as an indirect result of the Crusades, which sparked the importation of swift Arab horses into England. The descendants of these horses were bred and refined, and were superior racers, which fueled the popularity of horse racing. However, as the sport grew, the lack of order became a problem.

Queen Anne oversaw some reforms in the early 18th century, but it was not until the Jockey Club came into being in the 1750s that things really began to change as horse racing rules were developed. Recognizing the need for a central authority, the elite of the horse racing world met at Newmarket in 1756 and created the Jockey Club, which standardized many aspects of horse racing rules.

Beyond making horse racing rules more modern and uniform, the Jockey Club also served a function to promote the sport and to settle disputes. The confidence and transparency that the Jockey Club created have been instrumental in the survival and spread of horse racing. As a result of their work, it is now possible to wager with confidence on horse racing today, at such places as VIPhorses.com. When you wager at VIPhorses.com, you can count on great odds as well as accuracy and security, so sign up today.