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There are up to 20 or more horse breeds, and a variety of cross breeds, that can be used for
racing as arranged in contests of the same breed against each other, or in races matching different breeds against each other. However, in the legislated, licenced and ‘policed’ racing jurisdictions, the horse breeds most commonly used are the
Thoroughbred, the Arabian and the American Quarter Horse. Breeds used for trots or harness racing include the
French Trotter or Orlov Trotter, while the
Arabian, the
US Standardbred and the
Appalloosa are commonly used for Endurance races.Modern horse breeds are a culmination of hundreds of years of selective breeding. This has given us unique and powerful breeds that have dominated race tracks around the globe.
The Thoroughbred is used for racing in most flat racing jurisdictions in the world, and for racing over hurdles and jumps. Thoroughbreds are born to race due to their extremely fast speeds, agile nature, and high spirits. These breeds are highly athletic and intelligent, which makes them the top choices for race tracks all around the world. Thoroughbreds are famed for their stamina and speed and as a result are naturals on the racecourse.
A misconception about the Thoroughbred is that they are a series of breeds that are pure-bred, such as is the case with dogs, where in actual fact the Thoroughbred is an entire breed of its own. They are most often bay, dark bay or brown, chestnut, black, or grey. They have a deep chest, short back, strong shoulders, a lean body, and long legs with powerful hindquarters and hocks that drive the ‘engine’. – propel their bodies forward. Thoroughbreds include many of the greatest racers of modern horse racing. They’re versatile too. Mostly, once they finish their track careers and are retired, they can make desirable companions for horse lovers, top showjumpers, and good riding horses.
The Arabian is the breed that defined what it meant to be a true racing breed. Among the oldest breeds in the world, the Arabian hails from the Arabian Peninsula, and first came to recognition in the 18th century, when breeders realised their potential on the track. They are one of the most distinct breeds in the world. An Arabian's most identifiable characteristics are its finely chiseled head, dished face, long arching neck and high tail carriage. Its entire appearance exudes energy, intelligence, courage and nobility. They are hugely popular in the Middle East where they are raced against each other for big prize monies. The Arabians are not as fast as their thoroughbred counterparts, but considered tougher.
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The American Quarter Horse is one of North America's most popular and oldest horse breeds. The popularity of this breed comes from its gentle nature, versatility, beauty, speed, agility, and loyalty. Quarter horses are suitable for all levels of riders and owners, as they tend to be friendly with people and they’re a pleasure to train. The sport of quarter horse racing—which is more of a sprint than the thoroughbred racing many people are familiar with—has tracks across North America. The races are short and intense and speeds of up to 55 miles per hour have been recorded. Quarter horses can be used on cattle ranches as working horses and make good family pets. They have a sturdy build and come in many colours among which sorrel (brownish red) is the most common.
The Trotter is the standardbred most casual observers will be familiar with. The essence of a trot is when the horse moves its diagonal legs in tandem with one another. Trotters are used as light harness horses for working in agricultural sectors, but their primary use is in harness racing and equestrian sports. Harness racing is especially popular in Scandinavia and Australia.
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