“ Standardbred The official name of the famous American trotting and pacing (q.v.) horses, bred with extreme care and scientific efficiency. The Breed, athough developed in the USA, is of great interest to Britain, as it traces back to the Godolphin Arabian, the Byerley Turk, and the Darley Arabian. Messenger stood at stud in America for twenty years, and a grandson of his, Hamboltonian ( by Abdallah out of a mare with Norfolk Trotter blood ), became the true founding father of the Standardbreds. Ninety-nine percent of todays standardbreds trace back to him. Characteristics of the breed are similar to those of the Thoroughbred, but with modifications due to differences in gait and work. The Standardbred is heavier-limbed and more robust than most Thoroughbreds, with a longer body, shorter legs and with great courage and endurance. The height is between 14hh and 16hh (142.2-162.6 cm). The gaits of trotting or pacing are inherited, with the pacer being slightly the faster of the two. The horses must be able to cover a mile (1.6km) in not less than 2 mins. 20 secs, which is known as the ‘standard’ , from which the breed takes its name. Modern Standardbreds travel considerably faster, in the region of 1min. 52 secs over a mile. “
taken from Summerhays’ ENCYCLOPEDIA for HORSEMEN-The Completely Revised Edition published in Great Britain by Kenilworth Press Ltd 1988. Reprinted 1991 and in paperback 1993. ISBN 1 872082 40 8 .
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