Horses and horse racing have had a substantial impact on the history of America and continue to be a large part of American culture today. It is easy to see how horse racing has evolved by going back in time and identifying how it all began. First off, Thoroughbred: Born to Run, A PBS documentary produced and directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Paul Wagner, discusses the origins of horse racing, “The first steeplechase race in Ireland in the 1600s was a race between two steeple churches” (Thoroughbred). This was the first historically recognized “horse race,” although it is very possible that horses were raced previously. Two men decided to race their horses in order to prove the basic principle of whose horse was faster than the other's. It was much later in the 1750s that a group was established to define the standards and regulations of breeding, racing, and racecourses. This regulatory group was known as the Jockey Club and is still overlooking racetracks today. Secondly, the movement of horse racing across the America is identified by PBS’s timeline of horse racing in the United States:
“in the 1840’s westward-moving settlers take horse racing with them, establishing the sport in Illinois, Missouri, Texas, and Louisiana...and in the 1850’s prospectors heading to the Gold Rush bring Thoroughbreds to California" (“Timeline”).
Settlers during the Westward movement spread and established horse racing throughout Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Louisiana, and eventually California. Not only did horses help settlers to work the land and travel, but they also provided a means of entertainment and pleasure at the track. However, horse racing experienced an abrupt halt during the Civil War in the 1860s when Thoroughbreds were u...
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... claiming races, selling races, maiden races, and apprentice races (“Types"). Each of these races provides a challenge for the horses that partake in them. When many Americans think of horse racing the Kentucky Derby comes to mind, there is nothing more thrilling then watching the ‘two most exciting minutes in sports.’ Since the Kentucky Derby was established in 1875, it has become a nationally recognized event, occurring the first Saturday of May, and attracting over 16 million viewers annually. Whether jumping over hurdles, or racing on the flat, horse racing is a physically demanding sport on both horse and jockey. Horse racing will continue to be a controversial sport, and hopefully one day will overcome the flaws within it, but horses will not cease to impress their audience with their compassion to run and seemingly limitless abilities on and off the track.
A prominent theme in the book Seabiscuit is the existence of generational rivals. During The Great Depression many people focused their attention on the horse racing business. With this booming trend making many rich during a time of immense poverty, I find it no surprise that there is a father son rivalry. Often in competition there will always be a struggle between the older, more experienced competitor and the young up and coming superstars, this is brought on by a constant need for dominance which is created by human nature.
To urban middle-class Americans of the late 19th century, nothing symbolized the progress of the American civilization quite as much as the railroad. Not only had the great surge in railroad construction after the Civil War helped to create a modern market economy, but the iron horse itself seemed to embody the energy, force, and technology of the new order. In fact, the fanning out of railroads from urban centers was an integral part of the modernizing process, tying the natural and human resources of rural areas to the industrializing core.
Once you get them to settle down and get there mind focused on just walking and the rider then you know the bond with the rider and horse are strong. When it is time for the second run of the night you want to warm them up again but not as hard this time because he or she has already been warmed up once before this, so just a little warming up won’t hurt. When it is that time for the second run the rider will bring the horse him a set him or her up for their first barrel and make the most of the race. If you see the rider smiling then everyone knows she has done her job with this horse. The rider can make an automatic barrel horse where that horse know his job and she barely has to ask the horse for a turn or touch his face to go around that barrel. When the rider gets a horse to be like that everyone can tell they spent hours and days together. The rider worked with that horse but never made him sour or hate coming into the arena. They spent time working on flexing the horse and making sure he knew when to tuck his nose and leave it for an extra second. They will all see when they are running home how much they spend time they spend together if they are fast and smooth through the pattern and don’t have any blow ups before or after coming in and out of the arena. After the race is over and the announcer say who
Through the period of 1865-1900, America’s agriculture underwent a series of changes. Changes that were a product of the influential role that technology, government policy and economic conditions played. To extend on this idea, changes included the increase in exported goods, the availability of products as well as the improved traveling system of rail roads. In the primate stages of these developing changes, farmers were able to benefit from the product, yet as time passed by, dissatisfaction grew within them. They no longer benefited from the changes (economy went bad), and therefore they no longer supported railroads.
...hich the higher class dominated society with their ability to obtain just about anything they could win over. This is a fair judgement on how to perceive the gentry of Virginia to be at the time because of the many traits and activities that they went through. The activities conducted throughout each day served as a symbolic function among the people and reflected many many personal traits that each of them possessed. The horse racing and many other forms of gambling “legitimized the cultural values which racing symbolized- materialism, individualism, and competitiveness”. The people of Virginia began a new form of colony in which sought the independence they believed they deserved and they went on to take advantage of the situation they had. Resulting in a inequality among the people and wealth, and also the continuation of greed for more goods through the colony.
Even though any breed is allow to participate in barrel racing, the American Quarter horse is the most predominate breed in the sport mainly because it is the most versatile of all breeds and has the speed and agility to bend around the barrels. When it comes to types or bloodlines of the horse it is more of a personal opinion. A competitor can choose a horse that is more for racing in order to provide a faster horse or a cutting horse that is will provide more maneuverability and a smaller bend around the barrels. One good ideal is to pair racing and cutting bloodlines in order to produce a horse with the ideal combination of speed and agility.
Ophem, Marieke Van. "The Iron Horse: the impact of the railroads on 19th century American society."
One of my earliest memories of Grandpa begins with us driving to the Monmouth Park Racetrack. We sure did love to go to the track and root for Julie Krone or one of our other favorite jockeys. He loved challenges, and he especially loved the challenge of picking the ponies. He would read the race programs in the Asbury Park Press and usually pre-pick most of the day's favorite horses before ever leaving the house. Still, on arrival, we always bought the program and maybe a race sheet or two before entering the track grandstand. After picking up a couple of seats right around the finish line or maybe a little past it, back to figuring he'd go. As he went, grandpa would always point out the horses that had won recently or looked like they were due. "I have a feeling about this one" he'd say.
Railroads first appeared around the 1830’s, and helped the ideas of Manifest Destiny and Westward expansion; however, these were weak and didn’t connect as far as people needed, thus causing them to be forced to take more dangerous routes. On January 17th, 1848, a proposal was sent to Congress by Asa Whitney to approve and provide federal funding...
The most exciting two minutes in sports. The Kentucky Derby attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators from all over the country. They fill the stands of the Churchill Downs racetrack to watch priceless thoroughbreds race 1.25 miles in a blistering time of only two minutes. Well known traditions were born since the beginning of the derby in the late nineteenth century that have become symbols of the Kentucky Derby. The history of the Kentucky Derby has an unexpected connection to the Lewis and Clark expedition that many people are unaware of. If a horse wins the Kentucky Derby they have the chance to win the most prestigious title in horse racing, the Triple Crown. The Kentucky Derby is one of three races that makes up the Triple Crown. Behind the scenes of all the glory, workers, owners, and jockeys of color had a bigger part in the Kentucky Derby than one would expect. Although the Kentucky Derby began centuries behind the first ever horse race, the history of the race is full of events that began horse racing’s road to fame in the United States. For the last one hundred forty three years, famous horses and riders have graced the Churchill
The Kentucky Derby has over 160,000 people come from around the world to attend the Kentucky Derby annually, and tens of millions watch on television. The Kentucky Derby is our state’s signature event, filled with traditions, legends, and celebrities. On May 2nd, of every year, is the Kentucky Derby and my birthday. The Kentucky Derby is an athletic event, because you get to understand the roles of the jockey and thoroughbred as athletes, as well as the scientific basis for their performance, it helps provide insights and comparisons into human training, nutrition, and health. “The Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved” was hailed as a triumph and brought rabid attention to Scanlan’s. (McKeen 149) The Kentucky Derby is a horse race that
Young, Rhoria Lee, and Maggie Bracher. "Horsemastership part 2: Physical, psychological, educational and social benefits." International Journal of Therapy & Rehabilitation 12.3 (2005): 120-125. Web. 8 Mar. 2011.
precautions taken before each race. The horses and the drivers were both checked to ensure
One of the most famed horse races in the world, fans flock to Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky on the first Saturday in May to watch the most exciting two minutes in sports. The first racecourse was laid out in 1789 in Lexington, Kentucky. 100 years later, in 1875, Churchill Downs became the official home of the Kentucky Derby. The first Kentucky Derby race was run at one and a half miles in front of a 10,000 person crowd. Of the fifteen horses that competed in this race, the first winner was a horse named Aristides (Kentucky Derby History).
Thoroughbred Horse Racing Jockeys and Workers: Examining On-Track Injury Insurance and Other Health and Welfare Issues : Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, One Hundred Ninth Congress, First Session, October 18, 2005. Washington: U.S. G.P.O, 2005. Print.