Horse racing in the ancient world

   The practice of horse racing is of great antiquity. The Persians were familiar with the saddle. The Numidians rode madly without halter or bridle. The horse and his rider were well known to the Egyptians. Chariot races were held on the plains of Troy. King Solomon bought riding horses in Egypt, paying a small fortune for apiece. Horses were introduced into the Greek games as early as 648 B. C. The horse race was a regular part of the entertainment offered by the Roman circus. In Ben Hur, General Wallace gives a spirited account of a race according to the rules of a Roman circus.