Horse Racing was introduced in the 12th century. The nomadic tribesmen of Central Asia have raced horses since early domestication. It became a professional sport in the United Kingdom when the English knights returned from the Crusades with Arab horses. These horses were later bred with English horses to produce the Thoroughbred horse that is the breed of horse that is used in the UK today.

Six centuries later the first race courses were established and along came the great races such as The Derby (1780), and the 2,000 Guineas (1814).

The UK Jockey Club was the first governing body for the horse racing and it was founded in the 1750's. The British Horse Racing Board became the governing body in 1993, though the Jockey Club still plays an important role in English racing.

The Jockey Club wrote an in-depth set of rules for horse racing and sanctioned racecourses to conduct horse racing meetings under their rules.

During the reign of Charles II, the King held races between two horses on private courses or open fields. Prizes were only awarded to the winners. It soon became more popular and by the time Queen Anne took over in 1702-1714, horse races involved several horses on which spectators took bets. Horse racing then turned into a professional sport with racecourses founded throughout England, including Ascot which was founded by Queen Anne in 1711.

Horse racing is one of the most popular sports in the UK and millions of pounds are won and lost every day.