rcj1 (05/12/83)
.....that all Thoroughbreds are from only three sires!!!!! There are an estimated 61 million horses(and 250 breeds) in the world. The first record of horse racing was 1400 B.C. in Asia Minor. In 1808 the British decided that thoroughbred had to be decended fron the sires of three great horses-Matchem,Herod, and Eclipse; today 80% are from the line of Eclipse, 15% from Matchem, and 5% from Herod. Trotters and pacers are called standardbreds and can be traced to the English stallion Messenger, a thoroughbred in Eclipse's line. Messengers great-grandson Hambletonian is the patriarch of harness racing, siring more then 1300 foals!!! And they're off...... Ray