Thoroughbred Racehorse History
Every thoroughbred racehorse can be traced back to the sires from the 17th century, with just three stallions responsible for the foundation of the entire breed.
These are The Godolphin Arabian, The Byerley Turk, and The Darley Arabian.
The last of the three shares DNA with 95% of today’s modern thoroughbreds, including the undefeated and world-famous Eclipse.
Interestingly, there is also an unidentified mare from the same period whose ‘speed gene’ can be found in 85% of today’s sprinters.
A thoroughbred is the most common breed of horse used in racing, and there are a lot of terminologies to describe them.
Thoroughbred Terminology
- Colt – a young male horse up to the age of four
- Filly – a young female horse up to the age of four
- Mare – a female horse aged five or older
- Horse – a colt is referred to as a ‘horse’ after the age of five
- Sire – the father of a horse
- Dam – the mother of a horse
- Stallion – a male horse used for breeding
- Broodmare – a female horse used for breeding
- Broodmare dam – a female horse whose offspring are also broodmares
- Broodmare sire – a male horse whose daughters have become successful broodmares
- Foal – newborn horse up to one-year-old
- Yearling – a one-year-old horse
- Gelding – a male horse usually castrated to make it more even-tempered
- Maiden – a horse that has yet to win a race
Raceday Terminology
- Progressive – a horse whose performance and ability is improving
- Backward – a horse that is physically immature for its age
- Sprinter – a horse that is best over shorter distances
- Miler – a horse that prefers races over the distance of a mile
- Stayer – a horse that prefers to race over distances of a mile and six furlongs or longer
- Off the bit/Off the bridle – a description used for a horse being encouraged along by his jockey
- On the bit/On the bridle – a horse that is going well and still full of running, with a firm hold on the bit