Where in Olympia were horse races held?

Answer 1

They were held in the Hippodrome, a wide, level open space with two pillars at hte ends. One marking the start and the finish and the other marking the turning post. The course itself was divided along it's axis by a partition of stone or wood called the embolon, in which the horses and chariots ran. A distances of 4 stades (769 meters) was covered on each circuit.

The horse races were held included the following:

• Keles (648 B.C.E. onward), a race for fully grown horses with a ride;

• Kalpe (Trot) or race for mares (496 B.C.E. onwards) ;

• and a race for foals was also held (256 (BC onwards).

The following is a list of Chariot races, in chronological order, that were also held:

• Tethrippon (four-horse chariot, 680 B.C.E. onwards);

• Apene, a chariot a chariot pulled by two mules (500 B.C.E. onwards);

• Synoris, a chariot pulled by a pair of horses (408 B.C.E. onwards);

• Tethrippon for foals (384 B.C.E. onwards); and the

• Synoris for foals (268 B.C.E. onwards)