Australia Horse Racing

Horse racing has become an integral part of the culture of Australia. In fact, horse racing has provided some of Australia's great sporting figures like Tulloch, Bernborough, Phar Lap, Kingston Town and Makybe Diva.

Australia is acknowledged as the source of one of the major developments in horse race wagering - the totalisator or tote - an analogue computer which allowed the automatic calculation of race odds given betting patterns.

The Australian public's interest in horse racing is especially highlighted during the main Spring and Autumn racing carnivals. Among the major horse racing attractions in Australia are the following:

• Melbourne Cup
• VRC Oaks
• Caulfield Cup
• W S Cox Plate

Horse racing in Australia is administered by the Australian Racing Board, with each state's Principal Racing Authority agreeing to abide by, and to enforce, the Australian Rules of Racing. This body supersedes the power of the principal clubs, which were once the sovereign body of racing in every state until government reforms introduced separate governing bodies for the industry.

Horse Racing Betting in Australia

The main avenues for horse race betting in Australia are:

Harness racing in Australia is administered by Harness Racing Australia (HRA) (formerly known as the Australian Harness Racing Council), with each State's Principal Racing Authority agreeing to abide by, and to enforce the Australian Harness Racing Rules & Regulations.

Some of the major harness racing events in Australia are the following:

• Miracle Mile
• A G Hunter Cup
• Victoria Cup
• Inter Dominion

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