Roman Chariot Races were known as ‘Ludi Circenses’.

Chariot Races were known as ‘Ludi Circenses’ and were held in the Circus Maximus in Rome, or in similar Hippodromes around the Roman Empire.
In the Roman Circus, usually only 4 teams of Charioteers competed, unlike the Greek Hippodromes which had 10 or more teams. Other events, however, could see up to 12 teams competing. This would produce great pile-ups at the tight bends.

The Circus Maximus was the largest of all of the Circuses in the Roman Empire. The site is today a Public Park.
Entry was free, and through multiple entrances. Unlike the Colosseum, men, women, children and slaves were all permitted.
It had a seating capacity for of up to 250,000 spectators, according to Pliny the Elder.
The Track length was 2,037ft (621m) and its width was 387 ft (118m). It was semi-circular at one end.
At street level there were multiple arches all around the Circus, which held all sorts of shops, bars and eating places.

The four teams were known by their colours:
- The Blue Team
- The Red Team
- The Green Team
- The White Team.
The fans of each team wore their team’s colours.
The teams were sponsored by wealthy businesses who invested heavily in training drivers, chariots and equipment, horses and stables.
Each team had two to four horses, occasionally there were races with 3 or 6 horse chariots

There could be up to 20 chariot races a day.
Each Race consisted of 7 circuits which was a distance of around 2.5 miles (4,000 m).
There would be 12 Chariots racing in four teams.
There were 12 starting boxes behind the start gate, with the starter sat above. Drivers cast lots to be given their starting positions. The starter released all 12 spring loaded gates simultaneously.
The Charioteers raced at great speeds and fatal accidents were frequent. Simply being thrown from the chariot could kill the driver. Because the reins were wound around the charioteers hands, if his chariot was overturned, he would be dragged along the ground by the team of horses.
A 10ft (3m) high central barrier called the ‘Spina’ divided the track.
At both ends of the ‘Spina’ were posts around which the Chariots turned, and this is where the majority of accidents occurred.
In 33 BCE, large bronze dolphins were introduced as lap counters, positioned for greatest visibility high above the central dividing barrier.
The winning charioteer could win up to 60,000 sesterces for a single race (a Legionary’s annual pay was 1,200 sesterces) and be presented by the Emperor with a Laurel Wreath.
There were prizes for being First, Second and Third.

Gaius Appuleius Diocles - Roman Charioteer
- The most famous Roman Charioteer.
Pompeius Musclosus
- He won the most races at 3,599.
Gutta Calpurnianus
- A Freedman who also had a funerary monument in his honour.
Crescens
- A Moor, who raced for the Greens and also had a monument in his honour.

‘Acta Diurna’ meaning ‘Daily Acts’ or ‘Daily Public Records’ were daily news sheets posted in the Forum Romanum in Rome.
They contained news of Political Events, New Legislation, Trials, Scandals, Military Campaigns, Trials and Executions.
They also had a Sports Section, the ‘Compositus Ludus’, which showed the results of Gladiatorial Contests and the Chariot Races.

In 10 BCE, Augustus placed the Egyptian Flaminio Obelisk on the central dividing barrier, The Spina.
He also placed, high up behind the seating, a Pulvinar, which was a platform on which various Gods were placed to watch over the Races.
In 64 CE, Great Fire of Rome started when a fire broke out in the stands and shops of the semi-circular end and then spread into City.
In 357 CE, Constantius II placed the Lateran Obelisk on the Spina.

IMDb Ben Hur 1959
- with Charlton Heston. The film is noted for its 10 minute Chariot Race scene, filmed in a reconstruction of a Roman Circus.
IMDb Ben Hur 2016
- with Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell and Rodrigo Santoro.

Circus Maximus, Rome