What is the 2nd oldest professional sport?

Answer 1

The second oldest professional sport is often considered to be horse racing, which has roots dating back to ancient civilizations. While various forms of racing have been conducted for centuries, organized professional horse racing began to take shape in the 16th century. Following closely behind is cricket, which became more formalized as a professional sport in the 18th century. Thus, horse racing holds the title as the second oldest when considering the establishment of professional leagues and events.