Podracing

Podracing was a dangerous, sometimes lethal, racing sport performed by repulsorcrafts known as podracers, which were small, one-man crafts propelled by large engines. Popular on planets such as Malastare, Kergans, Theron, Cantonica, and Tatooine, individuals who competed in these games were also known as podracers. Racers would perform multiple laps on a particular race track, moving at dangerous and, at times, deadly speeds. Races could then be projected in entertainment establishments throughout the galaxy.

Podracers needed to have extremely fast reaction times to compete. It was a sport generally partaken in by aliens. The human slave Anakin Skywalker believed himself to be the only human capable of podracing. In 32 BBY, he was the only member of the species who participated in podraces around the Mos Espa region. During the Galactic Civil War, by the time of the skirmish on Hradreek, rumors of humans winning podraces were heard of in the Outer Rim systems.

During the Trade Federation Invasion of Naboo, Anakin Skywalker won the Boonta Eve Classic on Tatooine, upsetting the heavy favorite, Sebulba, and securing his freedom from a life of slavery. Betting on the races was a popular pastime with many of the watchers on Tatooine, and it was through Qui-Gon Jinn's bet with Watto, a bet that Skywalker would win the race, that Skywalker was freed.

The planet Ankhural formerly had a podracing track, but it was abandoned. Shortly after the Battle of Hoth, the 61st Mobile Infantry hid from the Galactic Empire there. In the Anoat sector, during the Iron Blockade, the Ivax Syndicate oversaw podracing and other activities. Podracing was outlawed by the New Republic due to its dangerous nature a long time before 9 ABY. Despite this, the sport was still practiced on certain remote worlds such as Batuu and Vespaara.

Text and facts from the “Podracing” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.