A look at horse racing tracks in different parts of the globe will reveal how they have evolved to meet the cultural and social ethos of the regions. In order to overcome the negative connotations that gambling often has, horse racing, one of the oldest forms of gambling known to man, needs to have the support of the residents of the region and this is why horse racing tracks are far more than places where horses run against each other.Horse racing began when primitive man domesticated the animals and tried to see whose was faster and this developed into modern horse racing which has its roots in Europe. In Britain horse racing is seen as part of the national culture and horse racing tracks like Ascot are known for the members of the jet set who throng important races. Royal support for horse racing has given it a stamp of “class” and many of the older horse racing tracks in the country are occasions for royalty and commoners to gather at the same venue to support their favorite horses, even if they do not place bets.
In America however, horse racing is not just an adult pastime – it s a big business that earns vast amounts from the crowds that gather at races. While serious gamblers flock to the races, they are also places for a family outing and most horse racing tracks in the country have almost carnival like atmospheres with a range of entertainment to keep children and adults who are not interested in the races occupied. Large video screens for instant replays of close finishes, slot machines, arcade games and a range of eating options and even picnic grounds all come together to make American horse racing tracks multidimensional entertainment venues.
While the U.S. and Europe are the traditional homes of horse racing, new venues like Dubai have made a splash over the last few years. The sheer luxury of the tracks in these new racing venues has taken horse racing to a completely different level – while the volume and size of the bets are huge by any standards, these races are now being seen as more of social gatherings where the international who’s who can get together. Dubai and other such newer venues may not have the long racing traditions that American and European horse racing tracks do, but they make up for this by the state of the art facilities and huge purses which ensure that the best jockeys and horses in the world race there.
Singapore, Hong Kong and other Asian racing venues have also made an effort to keep up with this new trend and has sought to brand themselves as having the best stables, training facilities and synthetic horse racing tracks that are not affected by rain and other climatic factors. But no amount of money and technology can make a great horse racing track unless the racing conditions – the length of the straights, the number and nature of the bends and the track surface etc. are such that they encourage good racing.
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