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only surpassed by football in terms of
spectatorship. With over six million
attendees passing through the turnstiles
at racecourses around the country every
year, the sport’s popularity is
widespread. is £17,744.28, compared to £11,072.49 in
Jump racing. Some of the most
prestigious races in the sport are on the
Flat, including the Investec Derby at
Epsom Downs and the QIPCO 1000 and
2000 Guineas Stakes at Newmarket.
2. It wasn’t invented in the UK
While the modern-day sport did
originate in Britain, horses have been
racing for as long as they have been
domesticated. Nomadic tribesmen raced
horses in Central Asia as far back as 4500
BC, while the first horseback
tournaments on British soil took place
around 200 AD. 5. Racing is ‘The Sport of Kings’
King James I took such a deep interest in
racing that in 1605, he was urged by
parliament to refocus his attentions on
running the country. It was King James
himself who established Newmarket as a
royal resort and began racing horses in
the town, but it was his son Charles II
who made Newmarket into what is now
commonly known as the headquarters of
British racing.
3. Racing contributes billions to the UK
economy
The British horseracing industry is a
world-leader, generating more than £3.7
billion for the country’s economy thanks
in part to iconic events like The Randox
Health Grand National and the
Cheltenham Festival, which are watched
by millions around the world.
4. Flat racing yields the biggest prizes
The average prize money in Flat racing
6. Horseracing is better live than on TV
Despite its popularity, less than five per
cent of UK races are televised on
terrestrial televis