The English thoroughbred
- the fastest horse breed in the world over distances of 1000-4000 meters,
- ready to race at the age of 2, running classic races at the age of 3, when foals of other breeds are just beginning to be saddled,
- its breeding and racing is a global “industry,”
- All of the more than 80,000 foals born worldwide each year can be traced back to one of the 237 mares and 169 stallions listed in the breed's first stud book, the General Stud Book, published in 1793.
- The breed's athletic abilities, quick reactions, and intelligence formed the basis for the breeding of noble half-breeds and modern sport horse breeding, as well as world breeds such as the American trotter and the quarter horse.
- It continues to play a significant role in the breeding and maintenance of Hungarian horse breeds (Kisbéri, Gidrán, Furioso-North Star, Nóniusz).
- They are not only unique racehorses, but also high-performance sport horses, primarily in show jumping and eventing.
- Their breeding and racing is carried out under a uniform system throughout the world, in which the use of modern biotechnological procedures (artificial insemination, zygote transfer, cloning, genetic manipulation, doping) is not permitted.
Breeders had already brought the English thoroughbred horse breed to the peak of its biological performance when the science of genetics had not yet been discovered by mankind.
The origins of the English Thoroughbred horse breed
In England, based on horse racing traditions dating back to the 12th century, the horse breed known today as the English Thoroughbred began to be bred in the 17th and 18th centuries. During this period, mares found on the island that had already been tried in racing were crossed with imported Arabian, Berber, and Turkish stallions. All modern thoroughbreds can be traced back to three stallions originally imported to England in the 17th and 18th centuries: Byerley Turk (1680s), Darley Arabian (1704), Godolphin Arabian (1729), and a larger number of mares, mostly bred in England. A genetic study shows that 95% of all thoroughbred stallions alive today trace their paternal lineage (via the Y chromosome) back to Darley Arabian, and the number of mare families does not significantly exceed 70. The first stud book, the General Stud Book, was compiled by James Weatherby in 1791, with the first volume published in 1793. Only horses descended from one of the 237 mares and 169 stallions listed in this stud book can be considered English thoroughbreds. There have been exceptions to this rule in individual cases since 1949.
By the end of the 18th century, a classic race system had been established, which still forms the framework for today's races. These are the St. Leger Stakes (1776), The Oaks (1779), The Derby (1780), 2000 Guineas Stakes (1809), and 1000 Guineas Stakes (1814). Centuries of consistent breeding work over distances of 1000-4000 meters have made the English thoroughbred the fastest horse in the world.
The breeding of English thoroughbreds in Hungary
In Hungary, Count István Széchenyi recognized the social and economic importance of horse racing and racehorse breeding. In 1822, he and his friend Baron Miklós Wesselényi imported the first thoroughbreds. Count István Széchenyi launched horse racing in Hungary in 1827 with the aim of creating national unity and developing domestic horse breeding. At the same time, he founded the Animal Breeding Society, the predecessor of the Hungarian Horse Breeding Association. The first stud book of English thoroughbreds bred in Hungary was published by Count Tamás Nádasdy in 1832, and further stud books were published jointly with the Austrian Jockey Club until 1918. After World War I, in 1921, volume I of the Hungarian Stud Book was published again, and today volume XXXII is in preparation. Thanks to the work of Count István Széchenyi, interest in the breed grew due to horse racing, the English thoroughbred and its importance in public breeding. The military stud farm established in Kisbér in 1853 was tasked with breeding thoroughbreds and half-breeds. This remained its task even after it became the property of the Hungarian state following the Compromise. Its operation brought about the golden age of thoroughbred breeding in Hungary at the end of the 19th century. As a result of continuous, professional imports, we became one of the leading thoroughbred breeders in Europe. The capital invested in valuable imports paid off, and its impact enabled smaller breeders to also engage in world-class breeding work. This is how Kincsem, the miracle mare who remained undefeated in 54 races, competing in 12 cities in 6 countries, was born in 1874. Kisbért, winner of the Epsom Derby and the Paris Grand Prix, was also bred here. Thanks to the influence of excellent stud horses from thoroughbred breeding, by the end of the 19th century, Hungarian half-breed breeding had also risen to international standards. Thanks to the well-organized, interesting, and high-quality races, betting was very popular, and thus the Hungarian Horse Racing Association, which organized the horse races, had no financial problems. In 1890, it purchased the Alag puszta as a central racehorse training facility, where it built one of the most modern training centers in the world and also supported the village. On May 9, 1925, it opened one of Europe's most beautiful racecourses, Kincsem Park, built offices and apartment buildings in the city center, and provided financial support for human sports!
After the war, in 1946, racing and breeding began with a few remaining thoroughbreds and half-breeds. Ten years later, Roppant and Imi, followed by Imperial, achieved international success, and races reminiscent of the successes of old were held at Kincsem Park. The crises and difficult years also affected our thoroughbred breeding. A revival and a new golden age can be expected when horse racing and the closely related organisation of horse racing betting are renewed and put on a path to development. After two decades of neglect, there is now a clear intention to develop this area. The operation of the racecourses (Kincsem Park, Alagi training facility) and the organization and staging of horse races are the responsibility of Kincsem Nemzeti Kft.
The Hungarian Thoroughbred Breeders' Association is responsible for the breeding of English thoroughbreds in Hungary. The aim and task of the Association is to improve the quality of English thoroughbred breeding in Hungary, working in cooperation with organizations involved in the organization and staging of races and the running of racehorses.
