Fast horses : the racehorse in health, disease and afterlife, 1800-1920
Sports historians have identified the 19th century as a period of significant change in the sport of horseracing, during which it evolved from a sporting pastime of the landed gentry into an industry, and came under increased regulatory control from the Jockey Club. Although racehorses were the animals around which the sport developed and was practiced, they have rarely featured as historical actors in histories of horse racing. My research aims to rectify the situation by positioning the racehorse at the centre of the historical narrative. In this thesis, I examine how racehorses influenced horse racing in England between 1800-1920, and how humans interacted with and acted upon racehorses. This thesis shows that a Thoroughbred horse was not automatically a racehorse, however. Rather, it was an equine athlete that was artificially created and maintained by humans, and entered into a variety of unique relationships with them. Prized as equine athletes, financial assets, and as individuals with differing behavioural characteristics, collectively, racehorses were expected to demonstrate that they participated willingly in the sport. The racehorseâs body was a vital indicator of health, condition and likely
Harper, Esther Fiona
Fast horses : the racehorse in health, disease and afterlife, 1800-1920. Sports historians have identified the 19th century as a period of significant change in the sport of horseracing, during which it evolved from a sporting pastime of the landed gentry into an industry, and came under increased regulatory control from the Jockey Club. Although racehorses were the animals around which the sport developed and was practiced, they have rarely featured as historical actors in histories of horse racing. My research aims to rectify the situation by positioning the racehorse at the centre of the historical narrative. In this thesis, I examine how racehorses influenced horse racing in England between 1800-1920, and how humans interacted with and acted upon racehorses. This thesis shows that a Thoroughbred horse was not automatically a racehorse, however. Rather, it was an equine athlete that was artificially created and maintained by humans, and entered into a variety of unique relationships with them. Prized as equine athletes, financial assets, and as individuals with differing behavioural characteristics, collectively, racehorses were expected to demonstrate that they participated willingly in the sport. The racehorseâs body was a vital indicator of health, condition and likely
fast horse health disease afterlife historian identified period significant_change sport evolve land gentry industry come increased regulatory control club although animal around sport develop practice rarely historical actor history horse aim rectify situation position centre historical_narrative examine influence horse race england human interact acted upon show horse automatically however rather artificially create_maintain human enter variety unique relationship_them financial asset individual differ behavioural characteristic collectively expect participated willingly sport body vital indicator health condition likely