The Thoroughbred is one of the best known and most loved racing horses of all time. Many claim it is the fastest of all racehorse breeds, past and present. It is no surprise that its popularity has endured for centuries.

The Thoroughbred is considered by some to be the most valuable of all horse breeds. Its stunning speed and unrivaled mental and physical stamina are incredible. The Thoroughbred can only be described as courageous. They are known to continue when other horse breeds will give up. They have an incredible amount of energy and have a tendency to be high strung. Their dispositions can also be sensitive and nervous. Some even characterize them as having difficult temperaments. Others, however, claim that they are not temperamental and have nice dispositions. The Thoroughbred continues to amaze, as it charges ahead at 35-40 miles an hour, carrying over 1,000 pounds of body weight. He is capable of covering more than 20 feet in a single stride! The essential characteristics of this horse can be summed up in three words: will, courage and determination. It is no surprise that the Thoroughbred is one of the main breeds used for English jumping and hunting competitions.

The Thoroughbred is larger than some other horse breeds, standing between 15.2 and 18.2 hands. It must be noted that this is the average size and other variations in size from smaller to larger are commonly seen. The Thoroughbred is a handsome horse with wide-set intelligent eyes, set below a flat forehead. His large eyes should show alertness. His head should be carried low and sit well on his long, elegant, light neck. The nostrils of the Thoroughbred are large. His profile should be straight. The body of the Thoroughbred screams the word "speed". They must have good length of proportion with depth through the girth, allowing for lung expansion. The Thoroughbred will also exhibit strong loins, quarters and back. The Thoroughbred is accepted in a wide range of colors but the most popular are chestnut, brown and bay.

The Thoroughbred's history begins with the breeding of three foundation sires; the Darley Arabian, the Byerly Turk and the Godolphin Arabian. These striking stallions were important from the Middle East, at the end of the 17th century, to England. The purpose was to create a stronger horse. The result was an incredible horse that could run extended distances at sustained speeds. Surprisingly he could do all this while also carrying weight! This was the beginning of the selective breeding process that has produced today's Thoroughbreds. This process began over 250 years ago. The racing of Thoroughbred horses has been popular for centuries. It is said that the term "The Sport of Kings", which refers to Thoroughbred racing, originates with King Charles II. Apparently he had a great love of the sport. Racing dates back in the Americas as early as 1665. Today, Thoroughbred racing is more popular in the United States than in any other country in the world.

It has been reported that Thoroughbreds are more susceptible to illness than the average horse breed.

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