Horse racing is one of the most popular sports across the United States, with a growing number of interesting younger demographics getting involved in the sport.
In the U.S., the biggest racing events on the schedule revolve around the Triple Crown, which gets underway in early May with the prestigious Kentucky Derby being staged annually at Churchill Downs.
This event is one of the most popular in the U.S., with millions opting to place their wagers on the action. The huge events on the racing schedule continue with the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, before all the attention turns toward the season-ending Breeders’ Cup. You can find a list of major horse races here: twinspires.com/major-horse-races/
However, is horse racing popular in Georgia, and are there any racetracks that can be found in the state?
Is There Horse Racing in Georgia?
Unfortunately for fans of horse racing that live in Georgia, there are no racing venues in the state. Despite having a deep history of racing, it has been a difficult state for the sport to break into in recent memory due to the changes in law.
Horse racing in the region came close in the late 2010s, but a bill to legalise betting on the sport was defeated. A number of reasons can be placed when it comes to examining why the sport isn’t in operation within the state, including arguments that centre around gambling and those that state that they are against it due to ethical grounds. Despite not boasting a racetrack, the sport remains very popular in Georgia.
Many opt to travel to watch the best races in the U.S., and those that believe that there should be a racing venue in Georgia believe that it could bring huge economical perks to the state.
However, at this point, it appears incredibly unlikely that there will ever be a racing venue opened in the state. Building a racecourse takes years of planning, and despite Atalanta boasting the space that can be utilised, there will also be major issues that will need to be overcome, such as establishing a governing body that could oversee racing within the state.
Popularity of Horses in Georgia
Despite not having horse racing in the state, there is a major love of horses within the state. The stats from the University of Georgia College estimates that there are over 74,000 horses living in the state, with the sector generating an economic wealth of $750 million annually.
Despite not ranking among the top ten horse producing states in the U.S., the state typically gains favorable responses from breeders when it comes to the facilities that are on offer.
Therefore, Georgia plays a huge role in the success that the horse industry achieves across the nation. It is believed that the sector employs 4.6 million Americans, and the sector has an economic impact of $39 billion annually.
Georgia International Horse Park
One of the most famous horse locations in the state can be found in Conyers, as the Georgia International Horse Park is found 30 miles east of Atlanta. The location was established as one of the state’s key areas for horses after Atalanta was awarded the 1996 Olympic Games.
The city council changed plans regarding the location, and it was later opened to host the equestrian events at the multi-sport event. It is also famous for filming outdoor scenes in Netflix hit ‘Stranger Things’.
Georgia International Horse Park continues to host major outdoor events in this modern day, which includes horse and dog shows, as well as trade shows. As well as hosting horse events, the location has also been used to host events such as BattleFrog, Down and Dirty Obstacle Course Race, and the Muddy Princess.
Augusta National
Augusta National is one of the most iconic sporting venues in the world, with the golf course playing host to the prestigious Masters annually. However, the course also has links to horse racing, as historical records show that events were staged throughout much of the 1800s. Events were scheduled by the Richmond Jockey Club, and they would typically run from the middle of December.
Races were lucrative events during the period, with the winners in races staged in 1803 winning around $350, which is the equivalent of $9,000 in today’s money. Racing in the region changed locations regularly, before it found its home at Lafayette Race Course.
It was located in between Marbury Street and Wrightsboro Road. One of the standout races staged in the region came in January 1954, as Grif Edmondson took on filly Glencoe, with the female horse eventually coming out on top.
But, the popularity of racing in the region was halted by local government, as the began to restrict the release of the Atlanta Chronicle, due to the betting pools that could be found inside of the publication.
