Sport history is chock full of fascinating facts. Take the time that a steeplechase race was won by a dead jockey. Or when Emperor Nero decided to compete in the Olympics. He was crowned victor in more events than any other competitor in the history of the Olympics. Below are twenty five things about those and other fascinating sport facts from history.
“The Sport of Kings” is Hard Work for Both Horse and Rider
Horse racing is one of humanity’s most ancient sport competitions. It has often been referred to as “the sport of kings”, even though history records precious few kings who dominated that sport. Perhaps it got the nickname because royalty liked to watch? The basic idea, to decide which of various horses is the swiftest over a set distance or specific course, has not changed in thousands of years. The sport, whose popularity has suffered a steep decline in recent decades, can be as thrilling as thrilling gets.
Naturally and deservedly, the horse gets the top billing in a horse race. However, the rider is a key factor in whether a horse realizes its full potential. Jockeys need to minimize their horses’ inertial loss. They have to ride in a manner that reduces the energy expended by the horse as it bounces its rider up and down and forward and backwards with each stride. That makes it easier for a horse to carry a jockey than an equal deadweight attached to its saddle. It is hard work. So hard, that jockeys have suffered heart attacks, and even died, from the exertion. One such, as seen below, expired mid-race, but still won despite the fact that he was dead by the time he crossed the finish line.
