Horse racing was introduced to Thailand in the late nineteenth century and continues to take place at several locations throughout the country. Betting on horse races is one of the few legal forms of gambling in Thailand, and the sport became highly popular during the mid-twentieth century but has largely declined since. Today, people from lower income groups form the majority of spectators, while the races serve as a networking venue for elite members of society, who own most of the stables.
The first horse race took place in Thailand (then known as Siam) in 1897, following King Chulalongkorn's visit to Europe. Racecourses were soon after established in exclusive sports clubs, most notably the Royal Bangkok Sports Club (RBSC), founded in 1901. The Royal Turf Club followed in 1916. [1]
Horse racing originally catered to Western expatriates and Thai aristocrats. It was seen as a civilized activity, and betting was allowed even when other traditional forms of gambling were becoming outlawed. The sport spread to other societal groups in the 1920s, and rapidly gained in popularity. [2] As a result, it began to be viewed as a form of immorality. In 1949, the government ordered that races take place no more than once a week in Bangkok. [3]
Toward the end of the twentieth century, horse racing experienced a gradual decline as races became more restricted and other forms of (illegal) gambling gained popularity. Several racecourses underwent restructuring and/or change of ownership in the 1990s. The Royal Turf Club in Bangkok shut down in 2018. [4] Today, six of eight racecourses throughout the country remain operational. In addition to the one left in Bangkok, there are racecourses in Nakhon Ratchasima, Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, Roi Et and Chiang Mai provinces. (The one in Maha Sarakham has since closed down.) [1]
Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic premise – to identify which of two or more horses is the fastest over a set course or distance – has been mostly unchanged since at least classical antiquity.
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In the United States, a sportsbook or a race and sports book is a place where a gambler can wager on various sports competitions, including golf, football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, soccer, horse racing, greyhound racing, boxing, and mixed martial arts. The method of betting varies with the sport and the type of game. In the US, the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 allowed only Nevada, Oregon, Montana, and Delaware to legally wager on sports other than horse racing, greyhound racing, and jai alai; the law was ruled unconstitutional on May 14, 2018, freeing states to legalize sports betting at their discretion.
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A starting gate, also called a starting barrier or starting stalls, is a machine used to ensure a fair start to in horse racing and dog racing.
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Royal Western India Turf Club Ltd. (RWITC) is an exclusive Indian sports club for horse racing, established in 1800. Which runs the Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Mumbai and the Pune Race Course.
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The Royal Calcutta Turf Club (RCTC) is a horse racing organisation which was founded in 1847 in Calcutta, British India. Horse events and sports were initially organised for the British cavalry at Akra before they were moved to the Maidan. The RCTC became the foremost horse-racing organization in India during the British Raj. At one time it was the governing body for nearly all racecourses in the subcontinent, defining and applying the rules governing the sport. During its heyday, RCTC-organised races were among the most important social events of the bigwigs' calendar and were opened by the Viceroy of India. Still a private club, the RCTC operates Kolkata Race Course in the Maidan.
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The Royal Bangkok Sports Club is an exclusive sports club in Bangkok, Thailand, best known to the public for its horse racing venue. Founded in 1901, it was the first racecourse in the country and one of the oldest golf courses. Originally serving Western expatriates and Thai aristocrats, the club was at the centre of development in the introduction of modern sport to the country during the early 20th century. The club has since maintained its exclusivity, and has a reputation as a domain of high society.
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The Royal Turf Club of Thailand under Royal Patronage is a sports club in Thailand, formerly located at its historic horse racing venue in Bangkok, which was commonly known as the Nang Loeng Racecourse (สนามม้านางเลิ้ง). It was founded in 1916 by a group of aristocrats as an alternative to the Royal Bangkok Sports Club, and became highly popular during the first half of the twentieth century. Horse racing in Thailand declined in popularity towards the end of the twentieth century, and the Royal Turf Club likewise saw large falls in spectator numbers. Nevertheless, it continued to hold races every other Sunday, until its land lease was terminated by the Crown Property Bureau in 2018 and the site redeveloped into King Rama IX Memorial Park. The club was long known as a site of business and political networking among the elite, especially senior military figures.
The history of gambling in the United Kingdom goes back centuries, as do efforts to deplore it, and regulate it.