heart of ancient Constantinople. This scene, made in 390 AD
shows what 4th century horse races would have looked it.
"'What's wrong, after all, with watching horses race?' Because, if you are really prepared to honestly study all that goes on
there, you will find everything shot through with a satanic inspiration. I mean, it's not simply a matter of watching horses race,
but listening to shouting and swearing and all sorts of improper speech, and watching whores parading around in the open
and young fellows behaving in women's ways. Do these things strike you as having little influence for ensnaring your soul?...
So don't say further to me: 'What harm, after all, comes from passing the time there?' Because that single factor of a horse
race is sufficient to cause the ruin of your soul."
St. John Chrysostom 4th. Century
Homilies on Genesis. Homily 6.6-7.