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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").
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 1780Events January 16 American Revolutionary War: Battle of Cape St. Vincent February, Armed Neutrality of the North alliance formed between Denmark, Sweden, and Russia. March 26 The British Gazette and Sunday Monitor the first Sunday newspaper in Britain May the Earl of DerbyThe Earl of Derby is a title in the peerage of England. The title was first adopted by the Ferrers family under a creation of 1139, until forfeited and held by the family of Henry III under a creation of 1337. It became extinct upon Edward III's accession created a horse-racing course on his estate at Epsom; the English Derby continues to be held there today. In AmericaThe word America has several meanings: Geographical and political The United States of America. America a small town in the Netherlands. Amerika a small town in Saxony, Germany America, Cambridgeshire a place in the United Kingdom America North, Central, major horse racetracks were built in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., track in 1863Events January-March January 1 Abraham Lincoln delivers the Emancipation Proclamation during the second year of the American Civil War. January 1 The first claim under the Homestead Act is made for a farm in Nebraska January 8 Ground is broken in Sacramen and at Churchill Downs, Louisville, Ky., opened in 1875Events January 12 Kwang-su becomes emperor of China. February 27 Newton Booth, 11th Governor of California resigns, having been elected Senator. Lieutenant Governor of California Romualdo Pacheco becomes acting Governor. He is later replaced by elected go.
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 1905Events January-April January 22 Massacre of Russian demonstrators at the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, one of the triggers of the abortive Russian Revolution of 1905. January 26 The Cullinan Diamond is found near Pretoria, South Africa at the Premier. The original Indianapolis SpeedwayIndianapolis Motor Speedway located in Speedway, Indiana (a separate city completely surrounded by Indianapolis), is the oldest surviving auto racing track in the world, having existed since 1908. The original surface was crushed stone and tar, and when t 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.