Racing is a fun and entertaining way of making money, and earning fame, in Lomeelas. Animals who've one races earn titles, studding rites, pedigrees, and so on. People who own animals who've won races earn money, fame, status, and so much more. So, undoubtubly, racing is popular in Lomeelas.
Of course, not all animals are of racing quality. Afterall, no one in thier right mind would race frogs! It'd be near impossible to train the buggers to go the right way and to keep moving. Not to mention that frogs aren't the fastest of critters either.
The animals that are of racing quality are; Dogs, Cheetahs, Horses, Antelope, Raptors, and Draisae.
The easiest of the above animals to train for racing is, obviously, dogs and horses. They're generally the most domesticated and have a larger capacity for human-bonds and understanding. Next would be cheetahs and antelope. It takes more time and effort to get these timid creatures used to human company, and then much more patience in training them for racing. Undoubtubly the hardest two to train would be raptors and draisae, though they are extremely intelligent they are also aggressive and very dangerous.
Training an animal for racing, in itself, is not to hard a task...as long as the trainer has the skill points needed.
Skill points needed for Race-Track Training:
Animal Knowledge - 6/12
Animal Recognization - 3/12
Animal Care - 8/12
Riding - 9/12**
** Needed for horses and Draisae only
After aquairing those skill points it is just a simple process of setting up your own 'mini racetrack' and guiding the animal through it on a regular bases. If the circumstances arise that one does not have the skill points needed to train an animal for racing, they may hire someone else to do so.
Races are held in large colluseum like 'buildings'. The track is usually just a large, oval-shaped area that the animals must lap around two or three times.
Bets are often placed on the animals, this contributes to the winning animal's prize money. Those fortunate enough to win a bet on a race will recieve double or triple thier betting money as a prize.
Also take note that an animal that places in a race also is given the rite of stud-fees, if the owner wishes to later breed the animal.