There has been an explosion in the quantity of sports history literature published in recent years, making it increasingly difficult to keep abreast of developments. The annual number of publications has increased from around 250 to 1,000 a year over the last decade. This is due in part to the fact that during the late 1980s and 90s, many clubs, leagues and governing bodies of sport have celebrated their centenaries and produced histories to mark this occasion and commemorate their achievements. It is also the result of the growing popularity and realisation of the importance of sport history...

An encyclopaedia of one of Britain's oldest sports, this reference considers the traditional themes of gambling and breeding, and contains biographies of human personalities and equine stars. It also covers controversial issues and an eclectic mix of entries on such diverse themes as alcohol and racing inns, the church, weather and superstition.