Introduction.

This breed easily claims the number one position world-wide in several categories:

• It is the fastest breed.
• It is the primary breed used to improve other breeds.
• It is the most financially valuable breed.

History

The ancestry of all thoroughbred horses is generally traced to three stallions. These stallions were brought to England around the turn of the 17th century and were bred to Native mares. The end result was a breed that displayed a remarkable ability to carry a rider at sustained speeds over extended distances. These qualities were intriguing to those who were already interested in the sport of horse racing.
Thoroughbred racing, known as the “sport of kings” is nicknamed because it became the favorite sport of England’s King Charles the Second. Our English ancestors brought the sport to America as records of horse racing date back as far as 1665. Horseracing began in Long Island and later spread to Maryland where the first English style race was held.

The most famous thoroughbred imported into America in the early years was a horse named Diomed. He became the greatest sire of the 19th century topping the Americans Sire List an unmatched 16 times.

Foundation.

The English crossed their Running Horses with Oriental Stallions in the 17th and 18th centuries. The foundation was the Byerly Turk, the Darley Arabian, and the Godolphin Arabian. These horses were named after their owners Robert Byerly, Thomas Darley and Lord Godolphin. Each of these three lines is traced through a single descendant: the Byerly Turk through a horse called Herod, the Darley Arabian through a horse named Eclipse, and the Godolphin Arabian through one called Matchem.

Type.

Thoroughbreds are generally tall, rangy, have long legs, a long sloping shoulder and a longneck. They must have low efficient strides, stamina and tremendous ability. They are used for hunting and jumping, three-day eventing and cross-country riding. There are also considered to be the finest racehorses in the world. Thoroughbreds are the so-called Hunter Type. Type is determined by the conformation of a given horse, which makes him suitable for a specific purpose.

A typical thoroughbred weighs from 1000 to 1,200 lbs, and measures between 15.2 and 16.1 hands high. The age of a thoroughbred racehorse is figured as if its birthday were January 1st rather than actual month and day of its birth. A newborn is a foal only until January 1st of the year after it is born, then it becomes a yearling. A male horse is known as a colt until he turns five when he is called a horse. A female is called a filly until the age of five, when she becomes known as a mare.

Registration of thoroughbreds has been conducted since 1857 by the Jockey Club. The Jockey Club has pursued its goal as an organization dedicated to the improvement of thoroughbred breeding and racing earning recognition as an industry leader through its competence and in recent years technological expertise.

Colors. History

Acceptable colors for this breed include: black, bay, gray, roan, chestnut, and brown.