Thoroughbred mare with foal. Photo by Jennifer MacNeill / jmacneillphotography.com (all rights reserved; used by permission).
Official State Horse of Kentucky
The thoroughbred (Equus caballus) was designated the official state horse of Kentucky in 1996. A thoroughbred horse is also featured on the Kentucky Quarter. Only thoroughbreds run in the world-famous Kentucky Derby, called "the greatest two minutes in sports." Maryland also recognizes the thoroughbred as an official state symbol. All State Horses
Thoroughbred Horse Facts
The thoroughbred is a breed of horse celebrated for speed and endurance. Thoroughbreds are best known as racehorses, but are also popular in other equestrian sports such as polo, hunting, and eventing. Thoroughbreds are also used in police work, equine-assisted therapy, and vocational training in correctional facilities.
All thoroughbreds trace their lineage to three stallions brought to Great Britain from the Middle East over three-hundred years ago. Known as the “Foundation Stallions,” they are the Byerly Turk, the Darley Arabian, and the Godolphin Arabian. They were bred to native horses to produce a breed that could sustain speed over an extended distance. The thoroughbred has been selectively bred for these qualities ever since. American thoroughbred pedigrees are documented in the "American Stud Book," first compiled by Colonel Sanders Bruce of Kentucky in 1873.
