Roman Horse Racing

[Nathan Ross]

Suetonius and Cassius Dio

Although Dio (59) does make clear that Incitatus was a chariot horse!

"[Caligula also poisoned] the horses and charioteers of the rival factions; for he was strongly attached to the party that wore the frog-green, which from this colour was called also the Party of the Leek. Hence even to‑day the place where he used to practise driving the chariots is called the Gaianum after him. One of the horses, which he named Incitatus, he used to invite to dinner, where he would offer him golden barley and drink his health in wine from golden goblets; he swore by the animal's life and fortune and even promised to appoint him consul, a promise that he would certainly have carried out if he had lived longer"

It does seem that chariot racing was the only form of equestrian sport practised in Rome. Most named horses on mosaics are in chariot teams - like the famous Compressore from Trier (It amuses me to imagine that Mercedes named their car engine after him!):



There was also the lusus Troiae, which was more of a mounted display intended to show off the skills of young men of the equestrian order (many of whom went on to be military officers). More drill or dressage than actual races, but Virgil describes what purports to be the origin of it:

The column split apart
As files in the three squadrons all in line
Turned away, cantering left and right; recalled
They wheeled and dipped their lances for a charge.
They entered then on parades and counter-parades,
The two detachments, matched in the arena,
Winding in and out of one another,
And whipped into sham cavalry skirmishes
By baring backs in flight, then whirling round
With leveled points, then patching up a truce
And riding side by side. (Aenied 5.545–603)