Hello all,

Josefine Stenudd posted a link of her Arabian and Thoroughbred horse racing photos in the classifieds section . I found these photos to be great source of inspiration, and the horses are also very nice.


I think members of this forum would enjoy. Any racing fans out there?

a few more

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Last but not least....ENJOY

They're very nice photos and gorgeous horses; where is she located?

We have had 3 horses sent to the racetrack, all straight Egyptian or Egytpian/Al Khamsa. I have to say, it is addicting! I'm sorry, but after the track the showring seems such a bore! JMHO, of course. Thanks for the photos, hope they inspire others.

Sandy

According to Josefine, most of these horses are from Sweden, I will try to post the link Link to Arabian Horse racing to her collection.

Does anybody know how Arabs compare to Thoroughbreds in a 1 Mile race? I am assuming the TB has an advantage but does this advantage diminish with longer distance? What is the advantage? Is it conformation? Is it years of selected breeding?
Any opinions are appreciated.

Paul

I love the racing photos!!

I would like to have a discussion though, as to the croup structure on Arabian race horses. My post is in no way slamming or bashing anyone, any horse, or anything...I'm learning by asking questions so please do not take any offense.

On most of the Arabian race horse photos that I have seen, the Arabian is of course running and it is hard for me to determine whether their croups are flat or rounded and also where their hip bones are placed....my two mares do not have flat croups and their hips sit a bit farther back than they should, but perhaps what I am looking at is the conformation that "Halter" shows want in the Arabian, and perhaps the conformation for racing can be altered. My two mares have very powerful back ends and I was entertaining the thought that they might be worthy to race.

Would anyone care to comment on these thoughts?

TBs are about 15% faster than Arabians at the typical flat racing distances (700m to 2800mm). Anglo-Arabs (50/50) are about 7.5% faster than purebreds.

The advantages for the TB comes from over two centuries of breeding focused on one thing, racing. The Arabian has never been bred in large numbers across such a long time for racing.

If Arabian racing prospers over the coming generations and breeders focus on racing then I think one will see racing times drop. The TB horse is not becoming any faster as the structural support for speed in the bones, cartlidge and ligaments is not able to sustain more speed. Therefore one would expect the Arabian would gradually close the gap on the TB as the kings of speed.

In regard to distance; Arabians are already the kings of long distance racing. I don't think anyone knows at what distance the Arabian and TB are approximately equal. I would guess somewhere in the 10 miles (16 km) region as the TB advantage for speed begins to shift to the Arabians advanatage for endurance.

Here is a photo of the Polish bred stallion DRUID (Wojslaw X Dalida by Probat). He is regarded as the best Arabian race horse produced in Poland in the last 75 years. He was sold to Turkey for $500,000. His comformation is obviously well suited for racing.

Here you can see the race-mare Tenneh Qahira
by: Maamoon Azeem out of: Gaziyah el Dashour





Breeder: Al Qahira Stud - Austria

Kind regards
Monika Bäter

Thanks for the photograph Dick (and Monika)--I remember the information you have taught me about conformation and about how the horse actually uses that conformation...just in most of the photos they are in race pose and it's hard for me to stretch them out in my mind to imagine what they look like standing straight.

Sorry for the simple question...always learning

Things I see that make DRUID an outstanding racer are.

1) Layed back shoulder
2) Short cannons
3) Strong joints
4) Long hip and powerful quarters
5) Excellent withers
6) Well muscled as seen in the gaskin and forearm.

He also has an "elastic look" through the loin, around the croup and down to the hip. It looks as though he can produce a very long stride. The length of stride is important in a race horse as a horse with a longer stride has to take less strides to cover the distance. Of course there are many famous race horses that were short strided but just made them faster.... All things being equal longer strided is better.