Darley Arabian, backbone of the modern thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred originated in England from crossings between Arab, Barb and Turkish stallions to Hobby and Galloway mares. Different authorities in Thoroughbred racing and breeding, in particular the Jockey Clubs of both England and America, have set criteria for determining a pure Thoroughbred. In the Stud Book of 1949, the English Jockey Club declared, "Any animal claiming admission to the General Stud Book (which registers all Thoroughbreds) from now on must be able to prove satisfactorily some eight or nine crosses of pure blood, to trace back for at least a century, and to show such performances of its immediate family on the turf as to warrant the belief in the purity of its blood." Montgomery, 43

In 1905, an American writer put this same definition in simpler terms, stating a Thoroughbred must be, "of Oriental extraction and an animal developed through centuries of cultivation by enlightened nations (Merry, 15)."

Breaking these definitions down even further, a Thoroughbred is a horse where his ancestry, the purity of the family tree, are the primary factors which designate him a Thoroughbred. Every modern registered Thoroughbred can trace his roots back to one of three eighteenth century stallions.

Man o'War, one of the most famous Thoroughbred's

Although not unique to the breed, many Thoroughbred's share some physical attributes. Strong, muscular hind quarters, a high withers -- not so physical is the "heart," a combination of competitiveness and determination. However, this is not attributed to Thoroughbred's, alone. Almost all shades of coat color can be found in the Thoroughbred, as well. Because there is no one particular trait or attribute that distinctly places the Thoroughbred apart from others, ancestry is the key determination that allows a horse to be a member of that elite racing breed.

A Scottish breed of pony, the Galloway - a small, heavy breed - had proven itself superior in informal racing, all over England. To compliment the speed of this breed, Andalusian horses - from Spain - were bred to Galloway mares. The Andalusian horses had height, size and agility. Adding more to the mix, stallions imported from Arabia, Turkey, and the Barbary Coast were also used.

young filly for sale out of Timely Holiday

Imported stallions from the East (Arabia, Turkey, and the Barbary Coast) were known for their incredible stamina and strength. Unlike the English horses, the imported Eastern stallions were purebred, each maintaining the same characteristics in each new generation. This purity of breeding would now add genetic stability to the new breed being developed.

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By 1750, the Thoroughbred was recognized as a distinct breed of horse. The original Thoroughbred was bred to be a fast, long distance runner, with plenty of stamina. Sixteen years later, racing introduced shorter "meets" where speed was more important then stamina.

For breeders, the change from long distance racing to sprints meant focusing on new genetic characteristics. The focus was no longer on stamina and power, but quick speed and agility. Cost of breeding was a concern, as well. Most Thoroughbreds were bred with the intention of their racing career beginning at five or six years of age. This meant a long wait for any possible pay-outs on the return of breeding.

Financial resources were stretched too tight for many breeders, so a new focus of training the Thoroughbred to race at two and three years old began. Now, stables could see a profit earlier, with the end result of a horse that could race at an earlier age and matured quickly.

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Today's Thoroughbred has a longer stride and more height - approximately six inches - than its eighteenth century Arabian and English ancestors. For more information on this fascinating breed, or to learn more about horse racing in general, contact:

Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association
or
Racing Museum

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