Famous Horse Racing Tracks
Introduction to Horse Racing Track
A horse race track is a purpose-built facility for conducting horse racings. The horse race tracks usually tend to be circular or oval in shape. The ancient forms of horse race tracks date back to the Greek and Roman civilizations. Greeks had race-tracks called hippodromes and Roman Empire comprised of circus tracks, both of which were meant for horse and chariot racing. The Circus Maximus stadium in Rome could accommodate upto 20,000 spectators for the event. The similar horse racing facilities existed during the Middle Ages dating as old as 1174 in London.
Famous horse racing tracks
The famous racing track of Epsom created by the Earl of Derby is still the venue of the English Derby. In United States, horse racing tracks gained a major boost by the setting up of the course called Newmarket on the Salisbury Plains of Long Island in New York. Some other horse racing tracks were built in Saragota Springs in 1863, Churchill Downs in 1875, Belmont Park in 1905. Belmont Park in Elmont comprises of a mile and half track as one of the largest dirt thorough-bred race track in the world.
- Aqueduct Race track: This track is known as the ‘Big A’ and is located in the vicinity of Ozone Park in New York City. The race track was constructed in 1894 and was subjected to renovations in 1959, 2001 and 2006. Wood Memorial Stakes, Cigar Mile Handicap and Carter Handicap are the major races played at this venue.
- Arlington Park Race track: It is a horse race course in Chicago suburb of the Arlington Hills in Illinois. Arlington Million, Beverly D. Stakes, Secretariat Stakes and American Derby are the major races held at this venue.
- Belmont Park: This race track is a renowned thorough-bred track located in Elmont in New York. The length of the track is 2.4 kms and has been operational since 1905. Belmont Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup and Metropolitan Handicap are the major races held.
- Newcastle Racecourse: It is the horse-racing track located at Gosforth Park in England. The examples of pioneering races held include Beeswing Stakes, Chipchase Stakes and Northumberland Plate.
- Wetherby Racecourse: This race track is situated in Wetherby in West Yorkshire in England. Castleford Chase and Charlie Hall Chase are the notable races held here.
- Curragh Racecourse: This track is Ireland’s acclaimed Thorough-bred race track situated on the Curragh Plain in County Kildare in Ireland. The track is marked by Irish Derby, Irish Guineas, Irish Oaks and Irish St. Leger.
- Kentucky Downs: This Thoroughbred race track is located on Kentucky-Tennessee border. This track is unique owing to its European styled structure comprising of a grass turf and the shape is also not in an oval orientation.
- Brighton Racecourse: This track is located at Brighton in East Sussex in England. The track is U-shaped, sloping and has a final uphill extent. During the ongoing horse racing, the grass turf has to be laid over the tarmac at the top of the road called Wilson Avenue.