Ah, horse racing: the thunder of hooves, the thrill of the chase, and… the music?
Yes, you heard that right. The sport of kings has its very own soundtrack, spanning a variety of genres that might just surprise you.
Each sport has a different music genre that is tied closely to the action. But how does the music genre pick the sport or does it go the other way around?
Well, it all comes down to the type of sport as well as the most common spectators and fans. For example, most NBA fans prefer hip-hop, pop, and R&B music, which is why in most games, these are the type of songs you are most likely to hear.
On the other hand, horse racing is more associated with rock and country music. Maybe because most of the country songs are about being free, about horses, stables, the countryside etc. After a while, the music genre embeds into the sports culture.
The horse racing events are much more special with songs playing in the background. It pumps you full of adrenaline as you prepare to see the horses storm through the gates. It also intensifies the betting factor of horse racing. What is the best background music for placing Kentucky Derby betting and wagers?
From the soulful strains of blues to the energetic beats of punk and the smoothening tunes of country, let’s dive into the eclectic world of music associated with horse racing.
From Folk to Reggae
First off, horse racing isn’t married to one particular genre. If you thought the music scene at the tracks was as straightforward as a sprint race, think again. It’s more like a steeplechase, hurdling across styles and eras with the agility of a champion thoroughbred.
• Rock and Blues with a Side of Betting Blues: Lee Rocker of Stray Cats fame brings a tale of gambling woes in “Race Track Blues,” which cleverly combines rock with blues undertones.
• Folk and Country Celebrations: Chris de Burgh’s “The Ballad of Thunder Gulch” recounts the victory at the Kentucky Derby, wrapping the excitement of horse racing in a folk and country ribbon.
• A Touch of Punk Energy: Rancid’s “GGF” (Golden Gate Fields) injects the punk spirit into horse racing, turning the adrenaline of the race into fast-paced, upbeat melodies.
• Reggae Vibes on the Track: Dillinger brings reggae to the racecourse with “Race Day,” celebrating the joys of a day spent at Caymanas Park in Kingston, Jamaica.
If we had to pick one genre to be the most popular with horse racing, we would go with country music. There is something about these songs that really goes well with horse racing. After all, we are talking about country music, which is a genre that originated in the rural parts of the South and West and shares many connections with the sport.
Songs That Tell a Story
The stories behind these songs are as varied as the genres they represent. From the highs of a win to the lows of a loss, and even the cheeky attempts at race fixing, the narratives weave through the human (and equine) experience of racing:
• Winning and Wishing: “Up On Cripple Creek” by The Band captures a day at the races through the lens of southern rock, complete with a winning ticket and a dose of wishful betting.
• Eulogies and Tributes: “The Angels Took My Racehorse Away” by Richard Thompson provides a folk-rock memorial to a beloved racehorse, blending melancholy with the love of the sport.
• The Thrill of the Fix: Elbow’s “The Fix,” a tale of race fixing with a twist of British rock, showcases the darker, yet undeniably intriguing side of racing culture.
• Country At Its Best: Here we have popular songs like If Heartaches Were Horses by George Strait which is about a lady abandoning her partner as he walks out to rope cattle because she can no longer accept his lifestyle. As he rides away, he considers how things would be different if she still loved him. We also have Ride Me Back Home by Wille Nelson which portrays horses as a symbol of liberty. It honors the 70 horses Nelson spared from slaughter. Nelson has long been a horse enthusiast. The horses he saved now live happily on his 700-acre property in Texas.
The Soundtrack of the Track
Compiling a playlist for your next race day? Look no further than the ultimate horse racing playlist which features a mix of traditional signals like “Call to the Post” by Angela Bartley, and classics like “My Old Kentucky Home” by Bing Crosby, alongside anthems of the track like Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run”.
It seems like country music tells a story, and horse racing is all about the story. On top of that, in country music, we can see a lot of traces of horses where they use them as a symbol of freedom, strength, power, and loyalty.
But horse racing isn’t only about country music, and if you are not the type of person who likes folk songs, there are plenty of options to choose from like rock and reggae.
Photo credits: Photo by Dominik Vanyi on Unsplash
