Facts and Fiction

Can All Arabians Race?

Yes, and No. All Arabian horses registered as Purebred with the Arabian Horse Association or with any registry around the world whose horses are accepted by AHA as purebred are eligible to race in Texas. Learn More...

However this doesn't mean that all Arabian horses have what it takes to win a race. Arabian horses are no doubt the Original Racehorse, which makes them a natural in the racing business. But just as the Thoroughbred has evolved into a special kind of race horse over the last 200 years, we are seeing the benefits of selective breeding for racing within our own pure Arabians. There are still many untested Arabian bloodlines. However many lines have well proven their excellence on the track and should be considered as primary prospects by serious new racing owners.

I thought Arabians were just show horses.

Arabians with strength, speed, durability, stamina, great minds, and soundness make the best racehorses. Many show horses might have what it takes, but not all will be able to do the job. Volumes have been written about the history of the Arabian horse, his spot as the original racehorse, the forefather of the Thoroughbred breed. Bred for centuries for endurance and speed, a major trend in the U.S. since their original importation was to use them for exhibition and show. Following two initial surges of imports to the U.S., especially the importations of the late 50's and early 60's, the Arabian boasted trade value that made exhibition and selling show horses the prime market for breeders. Racing was put on the back burner, and many breeders lost focus on important performance issues. As a result, horses with generations of breeding concentration on "show looks" unfortunately may not possess much racing talent.

Are there specific bloodlines that historically have raced better than others?

Many popular Arabians were initially imported from Poland, where breeding selection was based upon racing ability. The object was not necessarily to win races. The breeders examined a horse's ability to carry weight over distance with speed, and his or her soundness and capacity for quick recovery. Those that passed the tests were retained for breeding on the stud farms. A sustantial number of imports were also made from Russia, where the Arabian testing ground was most frequently the racetrack, and those who failed to measure up in either conformation or ability were ruthlessly culled. Imports also came in great numbers from England, where the Crabbet stud had been famous for years for Arabians of great durability. Many of the Russian horses had roots in the Crabbet program. Egyptian horses were imported to the U.S. and highly valued for their beauty- so notable for their appearance that their excellent racing legacy is often overlooked. The French blood is another primary strain that is noted for racing excellence. Many other countries around the world have produced and continue to produce outstanding racing stock. Learn more...

Should I Breed to Race- or Race to Breed?

These are two separate philosophies every owner must weigh if they are interested in both racing and breeding Arabians.

Breeding to Race comes with better odds of success on the racetrack, since the breeder must only concentrate on one goal-- winning races. These breeders are focused primarily on selecting qualities of speed, durability and endurance in their Arabian stock to aim for the track. These breeders will use proven racing stock as sires and dams of their prospects. Those who Breed to Race generally place importance on a horse's ability to race successfully for long period of time, and to earn as much money on the track as possible.

Racing to Breed is another philosophy adopted from the traditions of Arabian horse breeding in Poland, Russia and other countries. Using racing as a way to evaluate the qualities of speed and endurance are what have put the Arabian horse in the forefront of horse breeding throughout history. Many newcomers to racing are enthused by this philosophy and interested in trying their own homebred stock on the racetrack. There is a much greater risk in giving horses a try on the track if they do not have a direct sire or dam that has successfully raced. However, some have been successful. Those who Race to Breed (use racing as a test to determine their horse's suitability for the breeding shed) may not require their horses to do more than perform in a few races or achieve one win. Their goal is usually not to win as much money as possible, but to prove the athletic prowess of their breeding program in the quest to breed the very best Arabian horses.

I'm concerned about preserving the purebred Arabian horse. How does racing fit in?

We have seen the evolution of the Thoroughbred racehorse breed for the last centuries from roots in Arabian stock. It is possible that we, too, as U.S. Arabian breeders will continue through selective breeding to see developments in our Arabians' athletic capabilities. A prime consideration in this breeding progress is for Arabian owners of various bloodlines to embrace the importance of racing and choose successful racers for their breeding programs even if they choose not to race themselves. If we fail to do that and all Arabian bloodlines are not utilized, Arabian racehorses risk becoming a sub-strain, with characteristics that do not exemplify all the qualities that are held valuable in the breed. Alternately, horses bred purely for appearance risk losing the athletic qualities that are indeed breed "type." Preservation of all Arabian qualities is key for many breeders.

So while the Arabian racing industry is very old, as old as the horse itself, our development of U.S. breeding programs to protect Arabian racing ability is very young. It is an exciting time to enter the Arabian racing world. It is a renewal of vows as responsible Arabian breeders to preserve all qualities that have made the Arabian great. Racing holds promise of a strong future for the Arabian horse.

What is the race breeding trend?

As with all Arabian breeding programs across various disciplines, trends in breeding occur when a particular sire or a dam line proves successful. In Arabian racing, a Polish bloodline trend in the 90s was replaced with a trend for French lines around the beginning of the millenium. While pure French lines are not historically significant in the U.S. Arabian show horse world, it should be noted that many of the Russian bloodlines found in the U.S. contain French Arabian blood. In the most recent years, a Crabbet bred stallion has been leading sire and very popular. Egyptian lines have also been represented in racing. Who knows the next trend of Arabian racehorse breeding-- the next great winners set the examples for breeders to follow. Perhaps it will be a new cross waiting to be discovered.

We encourage all Arabian horse breeders to give racing a try-- you've got nothing to lose but a race, and everything to win by putting your Arabian breeding program on the right track.

What do you do with Arabian racehorses when they are through racing?

Being a professional racehorse doesn't limit the race-bred Arabian- it expands his attractiveness and makes him a great racing breed choice. His versatility makes him a match for many endeavors after his racing career. His aftermarket appeal and abilities mean for a long life of service to his owner- or the ability to find a new owner in a different arena. Versatility means value. And it also means we uphold our humane responsiblity to our horses. Arabian racehorses often move into endurance careers, and can also be found in show rings all over the country.

I've heard Arabian racehorses are hot tempered.

Some are. It would be ridiculous to say otherwise. It is a characteristic of some individual horses in any breed. It would also be ridiculous to group all Arabian racehorses in a catagory labeled "hot."

Plenty of Arabian racehorses have the unwavering mental calmness that marks the best of steady mounts for children. Others are "ready to go" at all times and take an experienced rider. One thing most all great racehorses have in common is a sensability that is quite necessary for their job. A horse with an uncluttered mind loads quietly into clanking starting gates, waits with focus for his start, and is able to perform with confidence among crowds of loud and excited spectators.

Other breeds of racehorses start running at at 2.
We don't break our Arabians until age 3 so how can we compete?

Arabian horses start their racing careers one year later than other breeds. Arabians can begin racing at age 3. They race only against other purebred Arabians. Arabian horses develop at a slower growth rate than other breeds, and racing officials are professional horsemen who are aware of that. Maiden races (races for horses that are just starting or have not won a race) are usually limited to horses under age 5. Arabians are excluded from this age rule, and can begin their first race in their "older" years. The maximum racing age allowed in many states is 12 years.

My friends say that racing horses is cruel.

The bottom line is that unhappy horses do not win races. From a pure business perspective, making sure a racehorse is happy and healthy is a number one priority.

Horse abuse is unacceptable, and Texas Arabian racing participants are first and foremost dedicated to the welfare of their horses. The Texas Racing Commission has very strict standards and laws in place to protect the welfare of horses, and all racetrack activity is highly monitored. Examinations by State Veterinarians are conducted before each race, with no horse allowed to race if he shows any sign of lameness or illness. Horses are also examined after races, and required to provide urine and blood samples. The racetracks are comprised of serious horse professionals who have a genuine love for horses and take pride in the care of the animals. They are backed by licensed veterinarians and licensed farriers that are some of the best in the industry. Racing is a horse sport that takes care to provide utmost professional, qualified and responsible hands for horses.

All racehorse trainers are required to pass a test (a 3 part written exam plus a practical "barn-test") in order to insure their qualification and receive their license. Many owners new to racing are surprised to find out that most techiques of racehorse horse handling and training are very similar, if not the same, as many other horse riding disciplines.

We heard Texas is getting ready to have slot machines at the racetracks.

Yes, horsemen in Texas are excited about the future propect of having "slots" in the state because it would mean a tremendous boost to racehorse purses. These machines are now referred to as Video Lottery Terminals, or VLTs. Legislation efforts are underway to make this economic dream for our racing businesses a reality. Learn more...

Which horse is faster- Arabian or Thoroughbred?

Time will tell. All Thoroughbred horses decended from three Arabian foundation stallions. Arabians are smaller horses than Thoroughbreds and do not cover as much ground in one stride. Today's Thoroughbreds run faster than Arabians on a standard oval track race. A Thoroughbred will generally outrun an Arabian at a distance of a six furlong by 5-6 seconds. On long distances requiring ultimate endurance, the Arabian generally overtakes all breeds. Where that exact distance mark stands for an Arabian to overtake the great Thoroughbred racehorse is not determined by any official timing figures. Thoroughbreds race only against Thoroughbreds at paramutual tracks, and Arabians run only against Arabians.

My friends have bet me that Arabians can beat Quarter Horses. Who will win?

This depends upon the distance. The Quarter Horse is the king of short distance racing. The Quarter Horse owes much of his speed and agility to breed foundation roots in Arabian stock. A Quarter Horse will generally outrun all breeds on a short track of 1/4 mile or less. On long distances requiring ultimate endurance, the Arabian overtakes all breeds. Where does that exact distance mark stand for an Arabian to overtake a Quarter Horse? It is unknown since there have been no offcial Arabian vs. Quarter Horse races with neutral distance tests. At paramutual racetracks, horses run only within their breed category. Arabians run only against Arabians.

Are Arabian racehorses are expensive to buy?

That depends upon your frame of reference- Arabian racehorses are a great option for anyone considering racehorse ownership for the first time, and for racing pros who want a quick trip to the top. Right now it is possible to pick up a very top notch prospect for less than $10,000 at an auction and have a very good chance to see yourself in the winner's circle at the richest races. This has happened right here in Texas with horses from the previous TABA sales- for example Royal Fanfare purchased for $7,250 earned over $168,000. Of course, some prospects are much higher priced, and some proven racehorses for stud and export have pricetags that may rival Thoroughbreds. Do your shopping- there are incredible horses available and most won't require a bank loan! Learn more...

I am into Arabian show horses, and I've heard all Arabian racehorses
are ugly and lack type.

The type of Arabians bred for racing are the type that win. Not only do they win on the track, but many go on to stellar careers in show. Don't forget, most of the overseas programs from which all U.S. Arabian stock has come relied on racing for breeding selection. Today, many Arabian enthusiasts are eager to get back to basics- using racing as the determining factor of genuine quality and power behind the beauty of the Arabian breed.

Sure Arabian horses can walk or trot for miles,
but what are they doing racing short distances on a racetrack?

For thousands of years in the inner desert of the Arabian Peninsula, the Bedouins, a nomadic and war-like people, bred a strong and versatile horse. That horse not only had to carry its rider over long, harsh distances, but also be swift and fleet-footed for quick forays into an enemy's camp. Learn more...

Racing is the Sport of Kings- so does training a racehorse take a king's ransome?

Day rates for professional Arabian racehorse trainers range from $25 to $45 in Texas. For folks from the show world, that translates to $750 to $1,300 per month. It doesn't cost anything to enter regular ("overnight") races. Some owners use non-race trainers to break their horses and do pre-race conditioning. Other owners are complete do-it-yourselfers, and have been quite successful. Learn more...