The thoroughbred is by far the most famous type of race horse in the United States and across the world. The first race horse to be imported to the United States, Bulle Rock, arrived from England in the year 1730, and the legacy of Bulle Rock and other leading thoroughbred horses has continued to live on in the racing world. In order to understand why thoroughbred racing is so popular, it is helpful to learn about the thoroughbred breed itself.

The Thoroughbred

The thoroughbred is truly a horse that has been bred to run. Even people who are not familiar with horses and the different breeds of the animals can determine the unique look of the thoroughbred horse. First, it is important to understand that the thoroughbred is an actual breed –not a type—of horse. An example of a type of horse would be a hunt horse. This type of horse is characterized by having the characteristics that would make him a safe, quick, and able mount for the hunt field in which the pace is often quick and the horse may be expected to take his rider over jumps. While thoroughbreds often do excel in the hunt field, other breeds can be hunt horses as well.

Now that the difference has been clarified, it is necessary to study the characteristics of the thoroughbred race horse. The horse has been bred from English imports dating back to the 17th century, where it was bred in Europe from carefully selected sires, including two Arab sires and a Turk sire. Both of these breeds are two of the oldest breeds in history. The horse was bred to be able to carry a certain amount of weight at a high sustained speed over long distances. The General Stud Book was created and each breeding was recorded, using only the best stallions bred to the best mares available.

In this way, the thoroughbred horse evolved into a greatly refined, intelligent looking horse capable of sprinting long distances. The thoroughbred often averages around 16 hands at the withers, the point where the shoulder blades meet. One hand is equal to four inches, so a 16 hand horse is almost 5 feet, 4 inches tall at the shoulder blades alone. The horse has a refined head and widely spaced eyes, along with a deep chest to allow plenty of room for a strong heart and lungs. Colors include bay (a rich brown with black points), chestnut, black, gray, and white.

Thoroughbreds, not surprisingly, can be too much horse for a beginner rider, but they make outstanding racehorses and continue to be carefully bred today.