A race track (or 'racetrack'), is a purpose-built facility for the conducting of races. This racing can be of animals (eg. horseracings or greyhound racing), human-operated machines (eg. automobiles or motorcycles), or athletes. A race track may also feature spectating facilities such as grandstands or concourses. Throughout the English-speaking world the term 'racecourse' is also used for horse-racing facilities. Race tracks built for bicycles are known as velodromes.

Horse and dog racing facilities tend to use circular or oval tracks, whereas most automotive and motorcycle racing is performed on irregular and meandering courses, which are sometimes called 'road circuits' (this originates in the fact that the earliest road racing circuits were simply closed-off public roads). A notable exception is most forms of automotive racing in the USA (such as NASCAR) that primarily use oval tracks (known as "speedways").

About the paper and pencil game, see Racetrack

History

There is some evidence of racetracks being developed in the several ancient civilisations, but the most impressive ancient racetracks were certainly the hippodrome of the Ancient Greeks and the circus of the Roman Empire. Both of these structures were designed for horse and chariot racing. The stadium of the Circus Maximus is a well-known example that could hold 200,000 spectators.

Racing facilities existed during the Middle Ages and there are records of a public racecourse being opened at Newmarket in London in 1174. In 1780 the Earl of Derby created a horse-racing course on his estate at Epsom; the English Derby continues to be held there today. In the United States major horse racetracks were built in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., track in 1863 and at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky., opened in 1875.

Modern Racetracks

With the advent of the automobile in the early 20th century, new styles of racetrack came into existence, one designed to suit the nature of powered machines. The earliest dedicated tracks were simply modified horse racing courses, and racing autombiles in these facilities commenced at least as early as 1905. The original Indianapolis Speedway was opened in 1909.

After WWI purpose-built tracks built outside the USA tended to be complicated road circuits, specifically designed to test the limits of both driver and machine.