The Thoroughbred
All modern Thoroughbreds trace back to three stallions imported into England
from the Middle East in the late 17th and early 18th centuries: the Byerley Turk
(1680s), the Darley Arabian (1704), and the Godolphin Arabian (1729). Other
stallions of oriental breeding were less influential, but still made noteworthy
contributions to the breed. These included the Alcock Arabian, D'Arcy's White
Turk, Leedes Arabian, and Curwen's Bay Barb. Another was the Brownlow Turk,
who, among other attributes, is thought to be largely responsible for the gray coat
color in Thoroughbreds. The addition of Arabian bloodlines to the native English
mares ultimately led to the creation of the General Stud Book (GSB) in 1791 and the
practice of official registration of horses.
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Thoroughbreds are
considered a "hot-blooded" horse, known for their agility, speed and spirit.
The Thoroughbred as it is known today was first developed in 17th and 18th century England,
when native mares were crossbred with imported Arabian stallions. All modern Thoroughbreds can
trace their pedigrees to three stallions originally imported into England in the 1600s and
1700s, and to 74 foundation mares of English and Oriental (Arabian or Barb) blood. During
the 1700s and 1800s, the Thoroughbred breed spread throughout the world; they were
imported into North America starting in 1730
Thoroughbreds are used mainly for racing, they are also commonly cross-bred with other
breeds to improve existing ones, and have been influential in the creation of many important
breeds, such as the Quarter Horse, and various other breeds.
Thoroughbreds ranges between 15.2 to 17.0 hands . They are most often bay, seal
brown, chestnut, black, or gray.
Thoroughbreds have a well-chiseled head on a long neck, high withers, a deep chest, a
short back, good depth of hindquarters, a lean body, and long legs.[
Thoroughbreds are classified among the "hot-blooded" breeds, which are animals bred for
agility and speed and are generally considered spirited and bold.
The Darley Arabian, Recent
research found that in 95% of modern
Thoroughbred racehorses, the
Y-chromosome can be traced back to this
single stallion. This bay Arabian horse was
bought in Aleppo, Syria by Thomas Darley
in 1704 and shipped back to Aldby Park in
England, where he stood at stud, usually
private but sometimes open to outside
mares. By all accounts, the Darley
Arabian stood about 15 hands high and
was of substantial beauty and refinement.
research found that in 95% of modern
Thoroughbred racehorses, the
Y-chromosome can be traced back to this
single stallion. This bay Arabian horse was
bought in Aleppo, Syria by Thomas Darley
in 1704 and shipped back to Aldby Park in
England, where he stood at stud, usually
private but sometimes open to outside
mares. By all accounts, the Darley
Arabian stood about 15 hands high and
was of substantial beauty and refinement.
Godolphin Arabian (c. 1724 – 1754),
also known as the Godolphin BarbThe
veterinary surgeon Osmer, as quoted by
Prior, described him in the following manner:
"There never was a horse (at least, that I
have seen) so well entitled to get racers as the
Godolphin Arabian; for, whoever has seen this
horse must remember that his shoulders were
deeper, and lay farther into his back, than
those of any horse ever yet seen. Behind the
shoulders, there was but a very small space
ere the muscles of his loins rose exceedingly
high, broad, and expanded, which were
inserted into his hindquarters with greater
strength and power than in any horse I
believe ever yet seen of his dimensions, viz
fifteen hands high."He was given his name
for his best-known owner, Francis Godolphin,
2nd Earl of Godolphin.Controversy exists over
the ancestry of the Godolphin Arabian; some
writers referred to him as a Barb, because of
his believed country of origin, Tunisia, on the
Barbary Coast, but portraits, showing a horse
with a high-carried tail and dished profile,
features that differentiate Arabians from
Barbs, lead experts to believe he was more
likely an Arabian.[1] The confusion is
understandable, but while the breeds have
some characteristics in common and are
distantly related, their phenotypes are quite
distinct. There was also an argument raised
that he was actually a Turkoman horse,
merely called an Arabian in order to raise the
stud fee. However, it is most widely believed
that he was an Arabian or had primarily
Arabian lineage.[2]
also known as the Godolphin BarbThe
veterinary surgeon Osmer, as quoted by
Prior, described him in the following manner:
"There never was a horse (at least, that I
have seen) so well entitled to get racers as the
Godolphin Arabian; for, whoever has seen this
horse must remember that his shoulders were
deeper, and lay farther into his back, than
those of any horse ever yet seen. Behind the
shoulders, there was but a very small space
ere the muscles of his loins rose exceedingly
high, broad, and expanded, which were
inserted into his hindquarters with greater
strength and power than in any horse I
believe ever yet seen of his dimensions, viz
fifteen hands high."He was given his name
for his best-known owner, Francis Godolphin,
2nd Earl of Godolphin.Controversy exists over
the ancestry of the Godolphin Arabian; some
writers referred to him as a Barb, because of
his believed country of origin, Tunisia, on the
Barbary Coast, but portraits, showing a horse
with a high-carried tail and dished profile,
features that differentiate Arabians from
Barbs, lead experts to believe he was more
likely an Arabian.[1] The confusion is
understandable, but while the breeds have
some characteristics in common and are
distantly related, their phenotypes are quite
distinct. There was also an argument raised
that he was actually a Turkoman horse,
merely called an Arabian in order to raise the
stud fee. However, it is most widely believed
that he was an Arabian or had primarily
Arabian lineage.[2]
Byerley Turk or Byerly Turk,
(c.1684-1706)Darley Arabian). The stallion is
believed to have been captured by Captain Robert
Byerley at the Battle of Buda (1686), served as
Byerley's war horse when he was dispatched to
Ireland in 1689 during King William's War and saw
further military service in the Battle of the Boyne.
The General Stud Book simply states, without
reference to his origins, that both man and horse
were in Ireland: BYERLY TURK, was Captain
Byerly's charger in Ireland, in King William's wars
(1689, &c.).
The Byerly Turk was reportedly a dark brown horse
with the strong oriental or Arabian features of large
eyes, arched neck and high carriage of the tail. Many
of his offspring were also noted to have been either
bay or black. After Colonel Byerley retired, the
Byerley Turk retired to stud, first at Midridge
Grange, then, from 1697, at Goldsborough Hall, near
Knaresborough. The Byerley Turk died there in 1706
and it is believed he is buried close to the Hall.
Goldsborough Hall is now a private family home that
offers accommodation, which includes the
commemorative Byerley suite.
The Byerly Turk was sire of Jigg, who in turn was
sire of Partner, sire of Tartar who was the sire of the
very good racehorse and influential sire, Herod (1738).
The most famous of his racing offspring was Basto,
but he also sired the Byerley Turk mare, founder of
Thorougbred family 1; Bowes' Byerley Turk mare,
the "Dam of the Two True Blues", the taproot of
family 3; plus the Byerley Turk mare that was the
taproot of family 41. There are 12 Epsom Derby
winners, 10 St. Leger winners, and 14 The Oaks
Stakes winners listed in family 1 as descendents of
the Byerly Turk.
Relatively few modern Thoroughbreds trace their
sire-line back to the Byerly Turk. However, one is
the Hong-Kong-trained gelding, Cape of Good Hope,
who won the 2005 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal
Ascot.
(c.1684-1706)Darley Arabian). The stallion is
believed to have been captured by Captain Robert
Byerley at the Battle of Buda (1686), served as
Byerley's war horse when he was dispatched to
Ireland in 1689 during King William's War and saw
further military service in the Battle of the Boyne.
The General Stud Book simply states, without
reference to his origins, that both man and horse
were in Ireland: BYERLY TURK, was Captain
Byerly's charger in Ireland, in King William's wars
(1689, &c.).
The Byerly Turk was reportedly a dark brown horse
with the strong oriental or Arabian features of large
eyes, arched neck and high carriage of the tail. Many
of his offspring were also noted to have been either
bay or black. After Colonel Byerley retired, the
Byerley Turk retired to stud, first at Midridge
Grange, then, from 1697, at Goldsborough Hall, near
Knaresborough. The Byerley Turk died there in 1706
and it is believed he is buried close to the Hall.
Goldsborough Hall is now a private family home that
offers accommodation, which includes the
commemorative Byerley suite.
The Byerly Turk was sire of Jigg, who in turn was
sire of Partner, sire of Tartar who was the sire of the
very good racehorse and influential sire, Herod (1738).
The most famous of his racing offspring was Basto,
but he also sired the Byerley Turk mare, founder of
Thorougbred family 1; Bowes' Byerley Turk mare,
the "Dam of the Two True Blues", the taproot of
family 3; plus the Byerley Turk mare that was the
taproot of family 41. There are 12 Epsom Derby
winners, 10 St. Leger winners, and 14 The Oaks
Stakes winners listed in family 1 as descendents of
the Byerly Turk.
Relatively few modern Thoroughbreds trace their
sire-line back to the Byerly Turk. However, one is
the Hong-Kong-trained gelding, Cape of Good Hope,
who won the 2005 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal
Ascot.