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It’s all relative
in horse racing
A new study by veterinary researchers at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland shows that 95 percent of thoroughbreds share the same parental lineage, and that half of the genetic makeup of the raring breed can be attributed to just 10 foundation horses.
Researchers compiled the study of nearly 1,000,000 registered thoroughbreds dating back more than 300 years.
Of the three acknowledged “foundation stallions” of the breed, the Darley Arabian accounts for more than 95 percent of modem sire lines today. In human terms, researchers explain, this is analogous- to saying that 95 percent of thoroughbreds “have the same last name.”
The superiority of the Darley Arabian has eclipsed the contributions of the other two foundation stallions, the Byerley Turk and the Godolphin Barb.
On the foundation mares’ side, too, researchers found that a surprisingly small number of mares were key in developing today’s female lines. A full 94 percent of thoroughbreds today trace to just 30 foundation broodmamares.
In total, the Darley Arabian contributes about 14 percent of all genes found in today’s average thoroughbred.
Amazingly, though, the relative contribution of foundation horses has changed little since .the late 1700s.
— By Betsy Parker
89.6%