Tag Archive: bear baiting

If you were a betting man during the 1600s in the capital of England, then you probably attended the exciting bear-baiting events that took place every week in London. These bloody fights to the death were extremely popular with everyone, from the ordinary working folk right up to the monarchs of the time. Though all forms of gambling were completely illegal, nevertheless, wagers could still be placed on these blood sports as the competitions took place outside London's municipal city limits.

As humans, two of the qualities of animals that appeal to us are speed and fighting spirit. To that end, it's no surprise that certain animals were then red to enhance these qualities. And we all know how much people love to make a bet. So combining the two activities seems only natural. Hence today we have such sports as horse and greyhound racing. but around the world, you can find weird and wonderful animals being bet on. Either through a contest of speed or by choosing the winner of a fight.