As one of history’s oldest sports and participated in across the globe, horse racing possesses all the criteria required to become an Olympic sport of the future and should be considered for 2020.
At present, minor roadblocks exist which prevent horse racing to be sanctioned an Olympic event for Rio 2016 but all of these can be overcome by 2020.
Participated in on every continent barring Antarctica, horse racing is more closely followed than many existing Olympic events such as archery, judo or shooting, which are all longstanding Olympic events.
A number of non-Olympic sports such as chess, korfball, polo and wushu are recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) but not allocated as one of the 28 summer Olympic sports.
The first step horse racing must take if it were to be considered for an Olympic event would be to have an international governing body.
At the present moment, the International Federation of Horse Racing Authorities (IFHA) is the closest thing to a global governing body with 59 member countries but their influence on global operations is minimal.
Instead, countries which host horse racing essentially do their own thing and coordinate bilaterally without the cooperation of IFHA.
The majority of work is done with Europe as a central hub and key links to Australia, the United States, Hong Kong and Dubai.
Since 1912, there have been at least five different equestrian events each Olympics formed by a combination of dressage, eventing and jumping.
Throughout the years, there have been suggestions that equestrian does not deserve its place in the Olympics due to the non-human factor of a horse contributing so much to the result.
The Olympics has traditionally been a test of speed and strength of humans and those unfamiliar with the art of horse riding are the first to declare dressage as the most undeserving event of Olympic status.
Like equestrian, horse racing is strongly dictated by the ride horses of given by their jockeys, who would ultimately be the medal winners.
Good rides win races and bad rides are very costly. Chemistry between a horse and its jockey are often overlooked by seasonal supporters for the sport.
One of my favourite jockey performances was the 2009 Caulfield Cup when Brad Rawiller risked everything to weave the narrowest gaps along the rail and steal victory aboard Viewed.
Had a ride like that been produced by a jockey with the hopes of a nation behind him, it would do wonders for the promotion of sport globally.
It also would have showcased the strength required by jockeys to succeed in the world’s most dangerous sport.
Such global exposure has the potential to turn seasonal supporters into much more.
Logically, timings would be tight but there is certainly enough time for there to be a competitive horse racing carnival at the Olympics which would be tightly contested, where even minnow racing countries would have a chance of winning.
For a competitive competition, a minimum of two races must be contested to ensure there was some sort of qualification process.
Normally spanning three weeks of competition, horses could compete early in the carnival for a final field of their event later in the carnival.
To make the event fair and in line with Olympic spirit, events would have to strictly weight-for-age to ensure the best horse wins.
At present, International Day at Sha Tin in Hong Kong is held each December where horses from all over the world compete under weight-for-age conditions over 1200m, 1600m, 2000m and 2400m.
If replicated identically, this would create four Olympic medal events.
The Breeders Cup in the US gathers most of the best talent from the northern hemisphere each year but due to its timing clash with the Australian spring, it fails to attract any talent from the southern hemisphere.
While an Olympic carnival ideally creates an answer to the ever-lingering questions surrounding the world’s fastest horse, it may be presumptuous to assume racing powerhouses will always send their fastest horses.
In a sport driven by prize money, there would need to be a significant purse on offer for the winners who may not value gold medals as much as winning historical races.
It’s an issue which has clouded the value of winning Olympic tennis events where grand slams are much more valuable than Olympic gold.
Winning gold for your nation is all fine and dandy but competing sending a horse to the Olympics will derail most in-country campaigns and trainers are always wary of sending good horses overseas.
This however is the question mark over most good horses – would they have succeeded overseas?
Horse racing is an international event which possesses more Olympic traits than several existing Olympic events as well as existing rivalries between countries.
Down the track, it would be great to see jockeys competing in the national silks of their nation on the global stage.
Roger
Guest
The concept could work if it was based around the riders instead of the horses. A lot changes in four years so it would be difficult to have each country's horses at their peak at the same time (eg Frankel would have been around for the last Olympics, but a year or two either side and he wouldn't have been). You could have a set number of races over a set period of time, and each country has a representative jockey. The jockeys accumulate points over the races and the jockey with the most points is determined the winner. Each jockey would have their horses selected randomly, so that none of them are unfairly given preferential rides. The concept has been regularly proven in Australia with apprentices, so why not at the Olympics?
sheek
Roar Guru
Yeah Tristan, I know - sometimes damn the logic!!! ;-)
Toby
Guest
Unfortunately horse is racing has been tainted with too many betting scandals. Gambling and horse racing are tied together, and that image would not work in the Olympics. Feel free to disagree!
Cugel
Roar Rookie
What is weight-for-age?
Bondy
I like it, can you imagine little J Cassidy with a gold medal drapped aroung he's neck. The problem I see is theres no commercial worth for stallions and mares out of it,the summer olympics is just that racing in summer heat "night an option". Also if racing became an Olympic sport wouldn't that take the gloss of those amatuer sports ? If racing became an Olympic sport it would be my favourite sport there . Just watch'n tvn, all horses will weigh in out the front and not go out the back on the weekend for Doncaster Day .
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Oh alright, Captain Sensible ;)
Allanthus
Guest
Alfred, Tristan, Andrew and Cam, (otherwise sane gentlemen that you are) I'd love to be having this conversation/argument over a few beers. It's a great idea in an imaginary world, I especially love the idea of seeing the jockeys in national colours, but ... it has zero prospect of getting off the ground for any number of reasons. Just to pick two - there are many others 1. the IOC has been moving to limit the cost of the games. As Sheek suggests, the logistics and cost of bringing in another 100 odd thoroughbreds and their support teams would be horrendous. Not to mention some of the host venues needing to build a racecourse which may never be used again. 2. Olympic sports invariably have international bodies which administer them, determine who qualifies, what the rules are and so on. Racing would need to get it's own international house in order first, just to give the IOC an entity to deal with. And Alfred, this wouldn't be the Equestrian federation. I expect they would be horrified to have racing considered as under its umbrella.That would be like telling the International Wresting federation that WWE is now in the Olympics and we expect you to make it all work. It's a hell of a dream, but unfortunately way too much of a stretch in reality.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Thanks Cam. As Dubai shows, money can convince anyone regardless of the inconvenience for Europeans to go to Dubai in March. Due to the niche market of racing fans, I'm not sure it will even gather enough momentum but then again, if fans voted for events, I would have fishing as an Olympic sport too.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
C'mon Sheek. Forget the logistics and realism. It's a nice idea! :)
Alfred Chan
Expert
It would probably fall into the same trap as the sports you mentioned due to the strength of national competitions but there would still be plenty of prestige behind winning a gold medal for your country.
Alfred Chan
Expert
It wouldn't need to be its own sport. Nothing needs to be taken out because it would be an event under the broader sport of Equestrian.
Alfred Chan
Expert
Cheers, Hawk. Great idea with a non-official race day connected with the Olympics. Perhaps we could look at a World Cup race day which happens every four years and rotates venues. As Cam mentions below, it would require every racing jurisdiction providing a lot of money for a relevant purse.
Kev
Guest
No. There are already too many silly sports in the Olympics that have no business being there and this would just be adding more when they need to be culled. Outside of athletics, swimming and cycling I struggle to find a sport that is synonymous with the Olympics. When someone says Sydney 2000 I think of Ian Thorpe hauling in Garry Haul Jr in the 4 x 100m relay and when someone says Beijing 2008, I think of Usain Bolt utterly and totally destroying the field in the 100m final. I don't think "hmmm if only Garry Kasparov and Black Caviar could win gold in their respective events".
Cameron Rose
Expert
I think it's a great idea, and I wish it would be taken more seriously. Get the racing bodies from around the world to combine to put up prizemoney so connections see it as a realistic option. Trainer and jockey would get the medals.
sheek
Roar Guru
Alfred, I DO think you have lost your otherwise sensible head! Honestly, it's not even worth discussing. The logisitcs involved would be frightening.
Andrew Hawkins
Expert
Unlike others, I don't think you are crazy Alfred. I don't know if it would work for the Olympics, but I must admit I've considered it in the past. Even a non-official raceday, connected with the Olympics, would be a smart idea IMO.
Dustin
Guest
Rather than horse racing becoming a sport, equestrian should be taken out and wrestling should be back in. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Milz
Guest
Same could be asked of Equestrian!
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Alfred, whatever you're smoking mate, share some of it around... Great topic for a (very) late night lad's session, but not for the real world sorry.
Tlux
Guest
I think that the olympic gold medal needs to be the highest prize in any given sport. This is the case with marathon, hockey and judo. Bit it is not the case for tennis(Wimbledon), football(world cup) and golf(masters). Horse racing already has massive events, Melbourne Cup, Kentucky Derby, Grand National. They would overshadow the gold medal. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].