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It’s often said that there is no such thing as a dead certainty in the world of horse racing, but every so often a horse comes along of such high pedigree and performance that it has the bookmakers regularly wishing they’d taken the day off. These extraordinary thoroughbred racehorses possess the optimum combination of breeding, physical fitness, stamina and physiology that make them the ultimate running machine.  Paired with the right jockey and a modicum of good fortune, such horses are capable of legendary feats and become favourites not only of bookies and punters, but are taken to the hearts of the general public too. Here are five of the world’s greatest racehorses. Red Rum Few racehorses have captured a nation’s emotions in the way that Red Rum did. Of Irish stock, Red Rum’s ascent to glory began with his purchase by Ginger McCain and subsequent training on the twenty-two mile stretch of beach at Southport, Merseyside. Despite suffering from an incurable bone disease, pe

Britain's Best Sporting Arenas to Visit Britain has long boasted some of the finest sporting arenas anywhere on the planet and with the construction of a host of new state-of-the-art facilities for the 2012 Olympics that is truer than ever. With a summer of football, the 2012 Games and other sporting spectacles ahead there are plenty of sports-mad men out there who will find plenty to do this year, largely sitting in front of the telly watching the action.  But if you’re looking for a special gift for that special sport-loving man in your life then treating him to a visit to some of the best stadiums in the country is a winning idea. With behind-the-scenes tours or taster sessions available at many sports venues, you don’t even have to be lucky enough to bag tickets to the big events to enjoy a taste of sporting greatness.  For sports gifts with a difference, here are three of Britain’s best stadiums to visit:  Old Trafford Home to England’s most successful football

You Know You Are a Sports Addict When She accuses you of spending too much time glued to the TV, watching sports. If you're not watching a game, you're surfing through sports sites, watching reruns online, or leafing through sports magazines.  free image via http://www.sxc.hu/. Credits to MJimages .   She also nags you that you're no longer taking her out on dates, helping around the house, or that your sports addiction is already affecting your relationship. You argue saying you're not a sports addict but a sports fan. At the back of your mind though, you think you probably are. Here are some ways to tell if you're a sports addict. Your vacation is already being affected. Planning a short vacation with your family or your girlfriend became much more complicated. No more spontaneity and "let's go out of town for a couple of days" plans. Instead, there's more of, "Wait! I have to check the sports dates first." You'll alway

Hockey Workouts for Kids So, you want to play one of the most exciting and fastest team sports? Hockey is not only one of the greatest games we know of, it is one that requires the most skill to play, considering that it is played on the ice, and with full-body contact in the professional and semi-professional leagues. In order to play, you must be prepared, and that involves not just exercise, but a full-blown hockey workout. What is a Hockey Workout? Speed is crucial to the game, which has become faster than ever before. In order to keep up, a player must increase his personal speed. That will involve both on and off ice exercises, as below. Build stamina by jogging Build strength in legs and increase agility by sprinting, with sudden starts and stops Build speed on the ice by skating at maximum speed, from the red or blue line to the end zone, with a sudden stop, then back again. Intensive training for kids should be avoided, however, as it could cause developmental iss

As a major international sporting event, it stands to reason that the Olympic Games will not always run smoothly. We looked at scandals from the last 10 Games, including this year's London Games, which faces controversy even before they have begun. olympics 2012: Where is the Security? By far the biggest mess of 2012, so far, hopefully at all, has been the failure of G4S to provide adequate security. Surely alarm bells should have rung when G4S asked to be able to deliver their staff quota at the last minute when they tendered their bid? 2008: What Human Rights? olympics China’s questionable human rights record was raised by many people in the run up to Beijing 2008, with many asking why they had even been awarded the Games in the first place. 2004: Are We Done Yet? In retrospect, this was perhaps an eerie look at what was to come during the economic crisis later in the decade. The planning for Athens 2004 was a mess, with many venues finished only weeks before th

Bending it like Beckham 10 Million Footballs in Circulation Across the World Mathematicians versed in geometry refer to them as truncated icosahedrons There are an estimated 10 million in circulation around the world. Eight out of ten are made in Pakistan. And tyre manufacturer Charles Goodyear made one of the first vulcanised rubber examples, which is still in existence after more than 150 years. The highest-quality footballs today are all stitched by hand, with the industry standard consisting of 32 panels. Altogether, 642 stitches hold together 20 hexagonal panels and 12 pentagonal ones, all coming together to form part of a tough outer casing containing an internal lining and rubber bladder. Balls with fewer panels – think the 2010 world cup’s controversial Jabulani - can be curved more easily when kicked; for the technically-minded, it’s all down to decreased aerodynamic stability. Perhaps that’s one of the secrets of bending it like Beckham… Inflated Pigs’ Blad

Richie Berrington of Scotland Richie Berrington of Scotland has hit first TON by an associate player in an International T20 match vs Bangladesh. Opener Berrington's 100 off just 58 balls sealed a crunching victory for Scotland against Bangladesh in the only T20I. He was the 'Hero of the match'. Richie Berrington of Scotland

David Beckham's Sports Car Collection Over the last ten years David Beckham has become a sporting icon and a real asset to the English game, with many describing him as a true professional, role model and real family man. During his time as a footballer in the UK, Spain, Italy and now over in the US one thing has always remained - his love for cars and flashy motors. David has built up a nice portfolio of high-powered vehicles over the years and on moving to Spain and America he has had a number of vehicles transported overseas. His collection includes a Bentley Continental worth £110,000, a Bentley Continental GT worth £145,000, a Range Rover Sport which brand new cost £80,000 including full leather initialled interior, and not to mention his Lamborghini Gallardo which was worth £170,000 when new.  David's most prized asset and his all-time favourite car was his limited edition black Rolls-Royce Phantom Drop Head Coupe that he bought back in 2008, costing him £350,000. He

Chris Gayle Will Play For West Indies In The Newzealand Tests Chris Gayle is set to play his first Test in more than 18 months after being named in the West Indies squad for the first Test against New Zealand. Darren Bravo out of 13 man squad for maintaining poor form. Assad Fuddadin and Sunil Narine called up,Fidel Edwards out. West Indies squad: Gayle, Barath, Kieran Powell, Assad Fudadin, Shiv Paul, Samuels, Deonarine, Ramdin , Sammy , Best, Roach, Rampaul, Narine...(J.C)

Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi Signed up For Big Bash League Gayle, Afridi sign with Sydney Thunder "I am really happy to have re-signed with the Thunder," Gayle said. Chris Gayle, Shahid Afridi I am looking forward to playing in Sydney for the Thunder and helping them earn the bragging rights in the city over the Sixers," Afridi said.  .. Big Bash league will start from 7 December 2012....

How Tracking Technology Is Affecting Major Sports Today When it comes to most of the sports we play across the world today, the ways that we play have pretty much settled down and become constant in the last hundred years or so. With that in mind, is the evolution of sports like American Football, hockey, or even soccer over? Not at all, in fact a new era might be on its way sooner than any of us could imagine, thanks to technological changes around us. Technology and sports . Some of us think that sports should be free and natural of technological changes and aspects, but let's face it- our culture is one that is deeply rooted in technological progress, and that will bleed into all aspects of life, including our sports culture. So how can technology change a sport? Let's take a look at Soccer as an example. Recently, a brand new technology was officially put in place to help combat horrible referee calls. With FIFA approval, the new technology will help determine jus

Golf In New Zealand - 5 Top Golf Courses. New Zealand is an excellent holiday choice for golf fans. With world-ranked high quality golf courses that offer stunning landscapes and first class facilities, the most difficult part of planning a trip to New Zealand will be how to choose from the list of so many brilliant courses.  Here are five of the top choices to help you make that all-important decision. Carrington Resort, Northland The Carrington Resort golf course is located on Northland's Karikari peninsula, offering beautiful views of the ocean and hillside vineyards. The clubhouse itself is situated on a high ridge in the middle of the course, making it an ideal place to relax and enjoy the landscape in-between games. For those who wish to use their holiday to improve their golfing skills, private tuition can be arranged on request with a local instructor who is a former Professional Golfers' Association pro. Jack's Point, Queenstown Jack's Point golf co

Trophies have taken many guises over the years - indeed they have come a long way from the trophies that used to be picked up in battle, human parts of the conquests! In Ancient Greece the winner would receive a wreath of some sort to depict victory and in Ancient Rome it would typically be in the form of tangible gifts like money or land. The commonality however is that it tends to be a tangible object that has been given as a reward for completion of a successful task or accomplishment. In more recent times, trophies have taken the form of physical metal trophies, medals, rosettes, tankards, plaques and plates. Quite often, where a team wins a trophy to be kept by the collective, participants also receive smaller medals to be kept individually. With the widespread media coverage of sports in the 1900s and 2000s we all now contain very strong images of Bobby Moore holding the Jules Rimet Trophy in 1966, players of Manchester United, Liverpool and more recently, Chelsea, holding al

Every weekend, sports fans all over the world tune in to their TVs to enjoy the drama and the passion of major sporting events. Whether we’re watching the planet’s greatest golfers holing putts from long distance or cheering on eleven of the finest soccer players on the globe, no-one can be in any doubt about the excitement we all feel. But when you’re watching certain events, have you ever wondered where exactly they’re being contested?  Here are details of some of the most famous venues. Roland Garros ROLAND GARROS Home to the French Open tennis tournament, Stade de Roland Garros is named after a French flight pioneer who served as a fighter pilot in World War One. The tennis centre that bears his name is located in the west of the city, close to the Bois de Boulogne. The French Open is the only one of the Grand Slam tournaments - the others are in the USA, Great Britain and Australia - to be played on red clay. Wembley Wembley has played host to a number of sports over