Racing, in all its forms, is undoubtedly one of the most broadly adored and relished forms of sport all over the world. Whether or not your interest is with horse racing, car racing or even motor cross; racing is a type of sport that exudes drama, excitement, exhilaration and an electric ambiance - regardless of whether you like partaking in the sport or simply just as a spectator.

Though sometimes overlooked, custom flags play a crucial role within racing sports, serving as a form of communication to both the drivers/jockeys as well as the spectators. Whether you choose to watch a racing sport live on TV in the comfort of your home or live at the stadium, there's no denying that there is an abundance of brightly colored custom flags on display, which possess their own purpose. Even if you are somewhat of a beginner when it comes to racing events, it is extremely likely that you are aware of one flag particularly the checkered flag. Composed of small white and black squares, the checkered flag is amongst the most significant flags employed within racing because it indicates the finish of the race. Though basic in design, the checkered flag holds a lot of importance to drivers and spectators alike. A race will center around who passes this waved flag first, identifying who the winner of the race is. From a spectator's perspective, it is the climax in the race, and we can see our winner being crowned.

There can often be the false impression that because of the simplicity of the checkered flag, that it doesn't hold a great deal of history that explain why it looks how it does currently. However, this isn't absolutely correct. The roots of the checkered flag are considered to date back to the 1800's, after the date of Louisiana Purchase. One of the earliest pastimes inside America during this time period was horse racing that was perceived as more of a sociable event than a competition. When the race was completed, all those involved would then gather together to enjoy an evening meal. It's believed that in order to signify the food was ready; a tablecloth would be waved in the air which would notify those racing that the race must come to a conclusion. During this period, it just so happened that the popular pattern of tablecloths at this time was checkered. Soon after this, the waving of a checkered tablecloth become a recognized symbol that a race had come to an end which, after some time, caused several checkered flags to be created to satisfy this specific purpose.

Alas, this is merely a theory which is often ignored by many. Another opinion regarding the origin of checkered flags is that they were adopted as the pairing of colors is easily identifiable to drivers shooting past in their cars. As speed can cause dust and so, reduce visibility, it is believed the striking design of checkered flags would be quickly recognizable to the drivers. Whichever hypothesis you choose to believe, there is absolutely no denying that the checkered flag is a strong symbol for racing and is one that is guaranteed to remain intact for some time to come.