Thoroughbreds
Like most horse breeds, today’s Thoroughbred traces its bloodlines to the Arabian horse. In the sixteen- and early seventeen-hundreds, three foundation studs(breeding males) were introduced to the English breeding stock.
The Byerly Turk, named for Captain Byerley(a typo in the original studbook entered the horse’s name without the last ‘e’), was called ‘turk’ because of where he was from, though many suppose he is also of arab decent. He was said to have been the Captain’s warhorse, and thus very fit, but was not heavily bred. He was the sire-line of Herod, who carried the Byerly’s blood into today’s Thoroughbred.
The Darley Arabian was foaled in 1700 and bought by Thomas Darley in Syria four years later. He was put to stud in Yorkshire, England, and among many others produces Flying Childers and Bartlet's Childers, both out of the mare Betty Leeds. Through this line came Eclipse, an early legend of racing, who gave his name to the most prestigious awards today. (The Eclipse Awards for Horse of the Year, etc)
The most famous, even of the three, was most definitely the Godolphin. He was called by some Arabian, and by others Barb(how they can be confused I do not know). Being the subject of Marguerite Henry’s “King Of The Wind” novel likely is the source of much of his fame today, yet not all, for even in 1850 it had been said “the blood of the Godolphin Arabian is in every stable in England”. He produced Lath and Cade out of the mare Roxana, and by Cade was Matchem to carry the lines through to today.
These three were not the only studs used in early Thoroughbreds, but they were the most influential. As well, all Thoroughbreds today can trace direct male ancestry to one or more of these stallions. Around 200 studs of similar breed were also used, as well as mares of said stock and local mares (Galloways being the most commonly documented).
James Weatherby created the first General Stud Book in 1791, including 387 mares, all of whom could trace their blood to Matchem, Eclipse, or Herod. Many mares are listed by their sires name(Herod mare, etc), and horses of either gender where often referred to by their owners. This can be attributed both to a lack of records and, more so, to an early tendency not to name a horse until it had achieved greatness is some form or other.
Our Thoroughbreds
Thoroughbred Conformation
Thoroughbred Heritage
Kentucky Horse Park & International Museum Of The Horse
The Jockey Club
Thoroughbred Times
Daily Racing Form