What kinds of races took place in the Circus Maximus?

The primary form of racing held at the Circus Maximus was chariot racing. These contests served as the main events of the Roman public games, known as ludi publici.12

In these races, small, two-wheeled vehicles were drawn by teams of two, four, or six horses. A typical race consisted of seven laps around the arena, which featured a low wall called a spina that divided the course. Competitions were highly organized, with charioteers belonging to four principal factions—distinguished by the colors red, white, blue, and green—that commanded intense loyalty from spectators.132

While the Circus Maximus was specifically designed as a hippodrome for these equestrian spectacles, it is important to note that other Roman venues, such as the Colosseum, were used for different types of contests, including gladiatorial combat and venationes (animal hunts).2