Editing Horse racing in Great Britain (section)

===Roman era to Middle Ages===
Horses were used as beasts of burden in pre-Roman times, but it is thought that the first horse races to take place in Britain were organised by soldiers of the [[Roman Empire]] in [[Yorkshire]] around 200 AD,{{sfn|Whyte|1840|p=19}} although whether the Romans actually introduced the sport is a matter of conjecture.{{sfn|Cawthorne|Herod|1902|p=2}} It is believed that Romans at the encampment at [[Wetherby]] matched horses against Arabian horses brought to England by Emperor [[Septimius Severus]].{{sfn|Barrett|1995|p=8}} Traces of racecourses dating to the Roman occupation exist, but records are scarce.{{sfn|Cawthorne|Herod|1902|p=2}}

The [[Venerable Bede]] reports that the English began to saddle their horses about the year 631.
<ref name=SpMag179210>{{cite magazine |title=Origin and Progress of Horses and Horse-racing in this island |magazine=[[The Sporting Magazine]]; Or Monthly Calendar of the transactions of the Turf, the Chace, And every other Diversion Interesting to The Man of Pleasure and Enterprize |location=[[London]] |date=October 1792 }}</ref>

The earliest written mention of "running-horses" is a record of Hugh, from the French [[House of Capet]], gifting some as a present to [[King Athelstan]] of England in the 9th/10th century.{{sfn|Whyte|1840|p=19}} During Athelstan's reign a ban was placed on the export of English horses, such was supposed to be their superiority to continental ones. Continental ones were still permitted for import, and many were brought to England by [[William the Conqueror]]. [[Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury]] introduced Spanish stallions to the country.<ref name=SpMag179210/>

The first recorded race meetings were during the reign of [[Henry II of England|Henry II]] at [[Smithfield, London]], during the annual St Bartholomew's [[fair|horse fair]]. The event is attested by [[William Fitzstephen]] writing at some time after 1174 and the poet [[Michael Drayton|Drayton]].{{sfn|Whyte|1840|p=19}} 
 
During the [[Crusades]], horse-breeding improved and horseback contests were popular, but in the form of tournaments, rather than races.{{sfn|Cawthorne|Herod|1902|p=2}} [[John, King of England|King John]] established a stud at [[Eltham]], Kent{{sfn|Cawthorne|Herod|1902|p=2}} and the [[Middle English]] romance [[Beves of Hamtoun (poem)|Sir Bevis of Hampton]] has couplets which refer to races taking place in the time of [[Richard I]].{{sfn|Whyte|1840|pp=21–22}}

For the next three centuries there are numerous records of Kings of England keeping 'running horses'. [[Edward III]] bought horses at £13 6s 8d each, and was also gifted two by the [[King of Navarre]].  The royal stud continued to grow throughout the reign of [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]].{{sfn|Whyte|1840|p=22}}

[[File:Kiplingcotes Junction, South Dalton - geograph.org.uk - 183331.jpg|thumb|right|[[Kiplingcotes]], Yorkshire, home of the world's oldest horse race]]