The history of horse racing tracks is a long and storied one, covering hundreds of years and spanning different parts of the world. In that time, people have constructed magnificent homes for horse racing. One of the most spectacular of all time was created in ancient Rome. Other important horse racing tracks exist in England and the United States.

To call it a horse racing track may be somewhat misleading, but horse racing is certainly one of the activities that took place at the monumental Circus Maximus. The Circus Maximus was built in 200 B.C. and expanded 150 years later, giving it a capacity of over 200,000 spectators. Dramatic chariot races took place on a 2,000 yard track.

Perhaps the most famous horse racing track in the United States is Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. It was opened in 1875, and has undergone a series of restorations, the most important of which took place from 2001 to 2005 and cost over $150 million. During the Derby, as many as 140,000 people flood the stands and cover the infield, sipping mint juleps and drinking in the historic atmosphere.

Modern horse racing tracks owe a debt of gratitude to the Earl of Derby, who created one of the first modern tracks in England on his estate in Epsom. Far from a small affair intended for home use, it was grand and innovative, and to this day is still the site for the running of the English Derby. To find out more about horse racing tracks and to wager in races at modern ones, be sure to visit VIPhorses.com and sign up today. With VIPhorses.com, you can take part in the action and history of horse racing.