Animals in sport

[1] Racing events are a common way to gamble, with billions[clarification needed] spent worldwide every year.

Elephant polo dates back to the early 20th century when members of the British aristocracy in Nepal began playing the sport.

[2] In the 14th to 16th centuries jousting was a popular one-on-one tournament event involving knights on horseback.

[4] Not all animals are large, however, with cricket fighting being a popular sport in Macau and Hong Kong, although gambling on it is now against the law.

In most parts of medieval Europe, the upper-class (aristocracy and higher clergy) obtained as privilege the sole rights to hunt in certain areas of a feudal territory.

Dangerous hunting, as for lions or wild boars, usually on horseback (or from a chariot, as in Pharaonic Egypt and Mesopotamia) also had function similar to tournaments and manly sports: an honourable, somewhat competitive pastime to help the aristocracy practice skills of war in times of peace.

In ancient Rome the "Venatio" was a form of entertainment that pitted humans against animals in an amphitheater.

In modern times, hunting is usually legal as long as the hunter has a license, though there are some unregulated forms in some countries.

There is a variety of horse riding sports in this category, including show jumping and dressage, both of which are featured at the Olympic Games.

At lower levels, horse shows offer a wide variety of competition both riding and driving as well as In-hand classes that evaluate equine conformation.

of the famous American horse of the same name, while MVP: Most Valuable Primate, a film about a hockey-playing chimpanzee, is unrealistic.

[10] Similarly, several television commercials used the Budweiser Clydesdales and other animals in live-action and CGA roles to appear to be playing American football.

Beast is an American television show that pitches humans against animals in a variety of unusual challenges,[15][16] including competitive eating between world champion Takeru Kobayashi and a brown bear.

Horse racing is a very popular sporting event involving animals.
Greyhounds preparing for a race
Bullfighting is lawful in some countries.
Fox hunting has been a recent controversial issue, particularly in the United Kingdom.
A Jack Russell Terrier competing in a dog agility event