Horse racing is the second biggest spectator sport in Britain after football, with around 6 million people heading to the track every year. "People used to focus on the day out, rather than the race," said Simon Bazalgette, chief executive of The Jockey Club.
Crowd pleaser —
Horse racing is the second biggest spectator sport in Britain after football, with around 6 million people heading to the track every year. "People used to focus on the day out, rather than the race," said Simon Bazalgette, chief executive of The Jockey Club.
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A growing number of people are becoming involved in the sporting side of racing. A record 130,000 punters attended the Epsom Derby, which launched Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Crowds also flocked to her commemorative race at Ascot (pictured).
Bumper year —
A growing number of people are becoming involved in the sporting side of racing. A record 130,000 punters attended the Epsom Derby, which launched Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Crowds also flocked to her commemorative race at Ascot (pictured).
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Part of the jump in numbers was down to a rise in celebrity horses, such as Frankel. The British colt retired this year after winning an astonishing 14 consecutive races.
Fabulous Frankel —
Part of the jump in numbers was down to a rise in celebrity horses, such as Frankel. The British colt retired this year after winning an astonishing 14 consecutive races.
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The four-year-old thoroughbred captured the public's imagination, making front page news rather than being relegated to the back sports pages.
Media frenzy —
The four-year-old thoroughbred captured the public's imagination, making front page news rather than being relegated to the back sports pages.
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Australian horse Black Caviar also hit headlines after winning her 22nd consecutive race. These were champions of a caliber rarely seen in one generation, let alone competing at the peaks of their careers in the same year.
Enter Black Caviar —
Australian horse Black Caviar also hit headlines after winning her 22nd consecutive race. These were champions of a caliber rarely seen in one generation, let alone competing at the peaks of their careers in the same year.
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A small army of Black Caviar fans -- draped in the horse's native Australian flag or salmon pink silks -- cheered on the mare to victory at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Stakes in June.
Aussie pride —
A small army of Black Caviar fans -- draped in the horse's native Australian flag or salmon pink silks -- cheered on the mare to victory at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Stakes in June.
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In a new digital age the horses' fame was carefully cultivated. Marketing teams set up Twitter accounts, Facebook profiles, and pedaled merchandise online.
Marketing mare —
In a new digital age the horses' fame was carefully cultivated. Marketing teams set up Twitter accounts, Facebook profiles, and pedaled merchandise online.
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But it wasn't just a two-horse race. British thoroughbred Camelot came close to fulfilling his mythical promise, winning this year's 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby but failing to complete the English Triple Crown after finishing second at the St. Leger Stakes.
Myth of Camelot —
But it wasn't just a two-horse race. British thoroughbred Camelot came close to fulfilling his mythical promise, winning this year's 2,000 Guineas and Epsom Derby but failing to complete the English Triple Crown after finishing second at the St. Leger Stakes.
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A media scrum surrounds Frankel's trainer, Henry Cecil. The celebrity racing figure is "hugely loved" by the public, according Bazalgette.
Sir Henry Cecil —
A media scrum surrounds Frankel's trainer, Henry Cecil. The celebrity racing figure is "hugely loved" by the public, according Bazalgette.
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The crowd is a sea of camera phones as the Queen arrives at Ascot for the Jubilee Stakes. Celebrity horse owners such as the royal family, entertainers Ant and Dec and actress Judi Dench have helped raise the profile of the sport.
Royal reception —
The crowd is a sea of camera phones as the Queen arrives at Ascot for the Jubilee Stakes. Celebrity horse owners such as the royal family, entertainers Ant and Dec and actress Judi Dench have helped raise the profile of the sport.
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Audience numbers are on the rise, but it wasn't a flawless year for racing. The sport's poster boy, Italian jockey Frankie Dettori, was given a six-month ban earlier this month after failing a drugs test in France.
Dettori's shame —
Audience numbers are on the rise, but it wasn't a flawless year for racing. The sport's poster boy, Italian jockey Frankie Dettori, was given a six-month ban earlier this month after failing a drugs test in France.
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Canadian jockey and model Chantal Sutherland made history in March after becoming the first woman to compete in the world's richest horse race, the $10 million Dubai World Cup.
Female jockeys —
Canadian jockey and model Chantal Sutherland made history in March after becoming the first woman to compete in the world's richest horse race, the $10 million Dubai World Cup.
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Jockeys are under enormous pressure to stick to miniature weights. But some relief is in sight, after the British Horseracing Authority raised the minimum weight by two pounds to 8 stone (50 kg).
A weighty issue —
Jockeys are under enormous pressure to stick to miniature weights. But some relief is in sight, after the British Horseracing Authority raised the minimum weight by two pounds to 8 stone (50 kg).
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The biggest challenge for the British racing industry this year was the weather -- 119 races across the UK were canceled up to the start of December.
Weather weary —
The biggest challenge for the British racing industry this year was the weather -- 119 races across the UK were canceled up to the start of December.
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