Standardbred Horse

The English Thoroughbred Messenger, foaled in 1780, was the foundation sire for all Standardbred horses, even though he only raced at a gallop. In May 1788 he was exported to Philadelphia, USA where he stood at stud for twenty years. Another important influence to the breed was the Morgan Horse and the Clays, a descendant of a Barb stallion imported from Tripoli in 1820. Over the years the characteristic gait developed and most Standardbreds prefer the trot or pace over the gallop. The appearance of the breed is not as refined as the Thoroughbred. During the last two centuries harness racing became very popular and many countries imported Standardbred Horses to improve their own trotters and pacers. In 1871 the first register for trotters as published and eight years later the term Standardbred was introduced. Horses to be registered had to measure up to a "standard", being able to run 1 mile in 2 minutes and 30 seconds. As the breed became faster the time was reduced. Standardbreds race either at a trot which is a diagonal pace or at a pace which is a lateral gait and slightly faster than the trot.