Does Chariot Racing Still Exist?

Possibly the oldest equine sport, and believed to be the sport that started the ancient Olympic games, chariot racing was made famous in modern times by the 1959 epic film, Ben Hur. But many people would be surprised to learn that chariot racing is alive and well in the West.

Is chariot racing in the modern Olympics?

Horses became part of the Olympic Games in 684 BC, when four-horse chariot races were held in the hippodrome at Olympia. At today's Olympics, horses and riders display their skill in jumping, dressage, and cross-country competitions.

When did chariot racing stop?

The race declined during the seventh century after the war between the Roman Empire and the Arabs. The last chariot race was held in Rome was in the Circus Maximus in 549 AD.