Horse racing has been a major sport in the USA for hundreds of years now. The earliest landmark for racing in the USA dates back to 1665, when the Newmarket course was set up in Salisbury, New York. North America’s first racing meet was supervised by Richard Nicolls, the colonial governor of New York of that time. There was a ban on horse racing for a while during the beginning of the 20th century, but it was later lifted and horse racing continues to be one of the most popular sports in the country even today, and also the second most attended sport.
There are different kinds of horse racing meets in the USA. These include:
- Thoroughbred racing
- Endurance racing
- Quarter horse racing
The first thoroughbred race in the USA was held in Long Island in 1665, and this is the oldest thoroughbred race in the whole of North America. Organized horse racing in the USA took off in 1868 with the setting up of the American Stud Book that year. The American Jockey Club was established in 1894. Parimutuel betting was introduced in the country in 1908, and that was a turning point for the entire racing industry. Endurance racing in the USA took off in 1955 with the Tevis Cup in California. This was a race where 100 miles were covered in a single day, from Squaw Valley in Placer County to Auburn. The American Endurance Ride Conference, the first national endurance riding association of the country, was established in 1972. Quarter horse racing in the USA has also been around for a long time, with the first instance of such a race dating back to 1674 in Henrico County, Virginia. These races involved two horses racing down the streets and lanes of villages for a quarter mile stretch. This resulted in the coinage of the term Quarter Horse, a horse that was used specifically for these distances, of 400 meters (a quarter mile). These horses were known for their quick-paced starts. United States Horse Racing and Betting Resources: US Racing - Leader in legal horse racing within the United States. Easiest site for betting on horses with live video and OTB track odds for over 200 racetracks.
Website Address: http://www.usracing.com Horse Racing Nation - Horse Racing Nation is a fan-powered horse racing community with horse profiles, race results, video replays, photos, free selections, picks, news and information.
Website Address: http://www.horseracingnation.com Major Racetracks in the USA The popularity of horse racing in the USA has ensured the emergence of a large number of race tracks all over the country. There are a few that are known throughout the world, such as Churchill Downs, which is the home of the Kentucky Derby. Other famous race tracks in the country include Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, Maryland, and Del Mar Race Track in Del Mar, California. Some of the other major racetracks in the country include: - Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York
- Belmont Park in Elmont, New York
- Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Illinois
- Fairmount Park Racetrack in Collinsville, Illinois
- Suffolk Downs in East Boston, Massachusetts
- Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California
These are just a few of the many well-known racetracks in the country. Horse Betting in the American Racetracks When it comes to betting on horse races in the USA, there is divergence across the different states in terms of regulation and administration. The sanctioning and regulation is done by the individual states. There is also simulcast betting across states, and mostly the pari-mutuel betting pattern is seen, where a take (usually 17%) is pulled out of each betting pool and distributed among the different players in a race. People can place their bets by visiting the race track and filling up the required form at the venue. There is also the option of placing bets online nowadays, with a number of online bookies offering their services to enthusiasts from across the world. Online Casinos and Other Gambling In the USAIn the United States since the passing of the UIGEA (Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act) in 2006 the online gambling industry predominantly sports wagering and online poker have been though the ringer. What we're left with today is an industry that lacks regulation, has pushed the reputable operators out from the industry and has left players seeking online gambling entertainment with mostly options that anyone with a shred of decency would never recommend. It's fortunate however for players who look to play casino style games online as there are some reasonable options that are run and managed by operators with scruples. | 
