4 of the Fastest Horse Breeds Worth Betting On

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Take a look at four of the most spectacular horse breeds in the world.

Thoroughbred

This breed is able to race mid-length distances. The Thoroughbred is a combination of Barb, Arabian and Turkoman bloodlines. It’s one of the most popular breeds worldwide, especially for racing.

Their overall build is what gives thoroughbreds impressive speed. They are athletic, tall and slim with incredibly powerful legs and hindquarters. Their fierce and hot-tempered nature is what makes them perfect for racing, but is also the main reason why they must go through regular health checks.

Appaloosa

The Appaloosa’s gorgeous, unique and colorful coat is why many people know the breed. But it is also one of the fastest in the world. It has been through a huge preservation effort. Other bloodlines are now let into the breed to keep improving it. To a large extent, the speed of the Appaloosa is due to the gait, which is consistent, strong and has the perfect length.

Quarter Horse

The Quarter Horse is the ultimate sprinting breed in the world. The name was chosen to reflect the fact that the horse is incredibly fast even over the quarter-mile distance. Some reach 55 miles per hour. This is the most popular breed, with over 3 million registered horses. Their robust build and compact size are the features that allow them to excel at racing. They are also able to perform fast maneuvers impeccably.

Andalusian

The Andalusian is also known as the Pure Spanish Horse. These horses are incredibly strong and intelligent. Besides amazing speed, this breed also has a lot of resistance and agility. That is why you can find them in both racing and obstacle events. The main reasons for the speed are the defined withers and an impressive chest. The agility comes from the long neck that allows for extended and elevated movements.

Other amazingly fast breeds include the Standardbred, the Akhal-Teke and the Black Forest.

A Brief History of Horse Racing in the USA

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Horse racing in the US began in the 17th century when British settlers brought their horses and built the first racetrack in the country. It took quite a long time for the popularity of the sport to spread across the entire nation, but nowadays horse racing and horse race betting thrive in America.

History of Thoroughbred racing

Not only in the US but all over the world, Thoroughbred racing is undoubtedly the most famous type of horse racing. In fact, it was the discipline that immediately started gaining popularity from the moment the Brits brought the sport to America.

Over 200 years later, in 1868, the official breed registry for American Thoroughbreds was created. It was the main contributor to the sport to finally kick off nationwide. Towards the end of the 19th century, there were more than 300 operating racetracks in the USA.

A few years after that, though, allegations of corruption and a widespread anti-gambling movement led to a drastic drop in interest. In the first years of the 20th century, only 25 tracks remained in operation. But just as quick, horse racing began to flourish yet again. In 1908, pari-mutuel betting was allowed in several states, which revitalized the sport. Despite some declines during the war times, the sport never fell back to the low point it reached during the turn of the century, and by the 1970s it was unstoppable.

From that decade onwards, the Thoroughbred has been getting better and better.

History of endurance racing

Endurance horse racing originated in the United States in the middle of the 19th century. It was primarily an activity organized to help train both horses and riders. In 1955, endurance racing began as a sport. The inaugural race was a competitive ride across 100 miles of the Sierra Nevada Range.

This particular race still takes place every year and is known as the Tevis Cup. Many other endurance races are also very popular nowadays. In 1972, the American Endurance Ride Conference was founded. It is the body that oversees long distance endurance riding.

Today, in America, various types of horse racing attract a huge number of viewers and bettors.