Horse Racing and Betting in Australia

Horse racing has been around in Australia for centuries and has ensured that today Australia is one of the top three countries in the world when it comes to thoroughbred racing. You find different kinds of horse racing in Australia – thoroughbred racing, country racing, and much more. Horse betting is very popular in Australia today, with the total wagering money for the year 2009-2010 standing at a staggering AUD14.3 billion.

The first horses came to Australia in 1788 on the lady Perhyn. The first horse race in Sydney was back in 1810, on 15th October and the first racecourse there was Hyde Park. There have been reports of unofficial races being organized before this race, of course. Australia’s first racing club was the Sydney Turf Club, which was formed in 1825. There were many instances of country racing between 1840 and 1850 across almost 45 districts in New South Wales, and this was the scene across a vast swathe of Australia in those days. Official records show the first country race to have started in Goulburn in 1835, with the first country racing club in the country being the one in Wallabadah, set up in 1852.

More about Horse Racing in Australia

One of the most important aspects of horse racing in Australia is thoroughbred racing. There are two main forms of thoroughbred racing in Australia – flat racing and also racing across obstacles (mostly in South Australia). It is today the third most attended spectator sport in the country after Aussie Rules football and rugby league. There are more than 360 registered racecourses in the country, most of them with automated tote boards, electronic starting gates, and high quality camera equipment for photo-finish scenarios.

The racing authority in Australia today is the Australian Racing Board, to which the Principal Racing Authority of each state report. All races in Australia are conducted under the rules set forth in the Australian Rules of Racing.

Important Horse Races and Racing Personalities in Australia

Australia has seen a lot of popularity for horse racing, and there are a large number of races conducted annually across the country. One of the most well-known and important races in the country is the Melbourne Cup. Other important races in Australia include the VRC Oaks and the Victoria Derby. There are a few other important races as well, Caulfield Cup, W S Cox Plate, and the Golden Slipper being some of them.

Some of the best jockeys in the world come from Australia, and that is a matter of great pride for a nation that takes its horse racing so seriously. They were among the first in the world to try out a new style of riding: the crouched riding style, pioneered by James Barden towards the latter part of the 19th century by Tot Flood. Other famous jockeys include Edgar Britt, Mick Dittman, Nash Rawiller, George T.D. Moore, Neville Sellwood, and Scobie Breasley. Mention must be made also of Wilhelmina Smith, who rode as Bill Smith in the racecourses of North Queensland because women were not allowed to ride professionally as jockeys.

Australian Horse Racing and Betting Resources:

Racing Network - Provides news and other related up to date Australian horse racing information.
Website Address: http://www.racingnetwork.com.au/

RaceNet - Provides news, tips, track information, race dates and other useful Aussie racing info.
Website Address: http://www.racenet.com.au/

The SportsMan - Provides ratings and other info and is a physical publication that can be subscribed to.
Website Address: http://www.thesportsman.com.au/

Online Casinos and Other Gambling In Australia

Aside from wagering on horses in Australia casino type gambling where players can enjoy playing casino type games including pokies, blackjack, video poker, baccarat and other common games can be enjoyed both offline and online. There are several offline casinos that can be found throughout Australia where casino type games and in particular pokies (which are the Aussie game of choice) can be enjoyed. However more often than now Aussie players are engaging in playing at offshore online casino websites in order to get their fix of online casino gaming type entertainment. The options are plentiful and safe as the vast majority of online casinos out there that accept players from Australia are powered by leading online casino software providers Playtech, Microgaming and Net Entertainment.