A look back at the champions of the breed
Mysteries are everywhere. The sciences such as evolution, hereditary genetics and the man made mysteries that provoke us into the why, where and how consistently intrigue us. A good mystery will arouse our curiosity, causing us to speculate, and compels us to seek the truth. There have been volumes of literature, countless reels of films, and an abundance of popular
Read more“Here lies the fleetest runner the American turf has ever known, and one of the gamest and most generous of horses” so says the inscription on the tombstone of the legendary thoroughbred Domino. Although he lived for only six years, Domino left an indelible mark in history as a race horse, and one of the most remarkable legacies as a
Read moreOf all the famous and important classic races around the world, there is only one named after a horse. The Preakness Stakes is the second jewel of the American Triple Crown and has been run every year at Pimlico Racetrack since 1873. The race was named after the first horse to win a stakes race at the old track. Owned
Read moreIn the long and rich history of the Thoroughbred, there are pivotal stallions that became the standard of success by which all others would be judged. These stallions raised the bar so to speak. As generation after generation were born, the names of theses epoch sires were front and centre within the pedigrees of future Thoroughbred champions. St. Simon was
Read moreStockwell A chestnut horse foaled in 1849 by The Baron – Pocahontas by Glencoe, Stockwell had the great sire Waxy three times in the fifth generation of his pedigree. His dam Pocahontas produced two other good stallions (Rataplan and King Tom), but was known as a notorious roarer. Although Stockwell did not have this condition, many of his offspring did.
Read moreLexington Foaled March 17, 1850, Lexington was a bay horse by Boston – Alice Carneal by Sarpedon. He was inbred to Sir Archy 3×4 and his direct male line leads to Herod, through Diomed. Lexington went on to become the leading sire in North America a record sixteen times. However not without some controversy, his popularity with American breeders meant
Read moreAs the popularity of Thoroughbred racing increased in the UK, so too did the commitment of breeders and owners to improving the breed. The establishment of The Derby, The Oaks and other races which we have come to know as the classics, became the most important races on the calendar every year. The General Stud Book became recognized as the
Read moreThrough the influence of the big three founding sires came the next three sires who were to become just as important in perpetuating the breed. These three stallions were Matchem, Herod and Eclipse. Each of these immortal horses was considered the best horses of their generation on the track. All future generations of thoroughbreds thereafter would have these three in
Read moreThe origins of the thoroughbred breed are steeped in mystery and folklore. King Charles II of England was a devoted supporter of horse racing during his reign and institued the first “official” set of rules to govern the sport. There were plenty of stallions from an assortment of breeds used during the infancy of racing, as well as plenty of
Read moreThe place to start is from the widely recognized three founding sires, the Darley Arabian, the Byerley Turk, and the Godolphin Arabian. Every Thoroughbred you see at every track in the world can trace their sire lineage to these stallions. This is common knowledge for all turf enthusiasts. In fact, most other breeds of horses in racing forms beyond flat racing
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