A horse race is a competition between horseback riders. Riders are required to follow a set course, jump hurdles and cross the finish line on a horse. Prize money is usually awarded to the top three finishers. Each participant must ride safely and in the correct direction. The winning horse may be one of several horses in the race. There are usually several thousand pistoles up for grabs. Listed below are the best horse races for beginners.
2,500 pistoles
In the early days of horse racing, the winner of a Kentucky Derby horse race would be awarded over 2,500 pistoles, roughly the equivalent of a dozen slaves and a mansion today. Although pistoles are not as common as they were then, the race had significant symbolic value as the battles between Maryland and Virginia fought over the Chesapeake Bay. In the 1750s, the first horse to cross the Atlantic earned 2,500 pistoles, which was equivalent to a dozen slaves and a large home.
2,000 pistoles
The North German pistole was standardized at 35 to Cologne Marks of gold 130/144 fine, or 6.032 g fine gold. It was minted from 1741 to 1855. This is about half the value of today’s circulating gold. It is also a relatively rare coin in today’s world. Historically, these coins have been used for horse races. A 2,000 pistole bet on a horse would yield approximately 30 pistoles for a win.
3,000 pistoles
If there was ever a time when a horse race was worth 3,000 pistoles, it was William Byrd’s. In 1752, he imported a horse named Tryal from Spain and issued a challenge for a race with it. He put up 500 Spanish pistoles for the race, a crazy amount at the time. It was enough to pay for a mansion and a dozen slaves. It was a great way to demonstrate that a man’s faith in a horse was as sound as his own. Selima, a bay mare with a white star on her forehead and a white splash on her left hind ankle, had been a remarkable horse. At age seven, she had been bred for the race, but by 1760, she had already reached her peak of racing prowess
1,000 pistoles
Several centuries ago, a horse race was held in Maryland and the winner earned up to 1,000 pistoles. Normally, one horse won the race. But in Virginia, the race was worth two hundred and fifty pistoles, and a horse that finished last won only thirty pistoles. That’s not much, so the owners paid thousands of pistoles to the winner. This was a far cry from today’s world, where most races are held for pennies or cents.
3000 pistoles
In the late 1750s, a man named William Byrd imported a thoroughbred named Tryal from Spain and issued a challenge for it to run in the New York City horse race. He put up a purse of 500 Spanish pistoles as a wager, which was a huge amount of money for its day. The prize money, however, was more than enough to buy a mansion and a dozen slaves. The winning horse in the race was Selima, a bay mare with a white star on her forehead and a splash on her left hind ankle. It was the first horse to cross the Atlantic, and by the end of the race, she had taken her place in history.
15,000 pistoles
When William Byrd imported the first Tryal to America, he made a daring bet. He would bet 500 Spanish pistoles on the horse, a ridiculously large amount in 1752. If he won, he’d receive the entire purse. This sum was worth millions of dollars today, and a single pistole would be enough to buy a mansion and several dozen slaves. Byrd’s bet was a success, and the winner took home the entire purse.
35,000 pistoles
In 1752, William Byrd imported the horse Tryal and issued a challenge to race it. To raise the prize money, Byrd offered to put up 500 Spanish pistoles, a staggering amount in those days. The winner would walk away with the entire purse. The prize money was Spanish, the backbone of the shipping trade, and could buy a mansion or dozen slaves. The winning horse, named Selima, was a bay mare with a white star on her forehead and a splash of white on her left hind ankle. The race would take place at BelairMansion, which is still in the same place.