Trivia: What 1776 event is considered the first organized modern horse race?
St. Leger Stakes
Epsom Oaks
Grand Prix de Paris
Epsom Derby
The correct answer is St. Leger Stakes
So why is this answer correct? : Though chariot racing stems as far back as the ancient Olympic Games, and horse betting was popular during the reign of Louis XIV, the first modern organized horse race is considered to be the St. Leger Stakes in the U.K. in 1776. Organized horse racing then spread to France with the first running of the Prix du Jockey Club in 1836, and ultimately made its way to the United States with the inaugural Belmont Stakes in 1867.