Project Gutenberg Self-Publishing - eBooks | Read eBooks online

Famous Horses

Speed and Thunder

Black Beauty (by Sewell, Anna)
Famous American Race Horses
Horses (by Pocock, Roger S.)
Black Beauty (by Sewell, Anna)
Among Men and Horses (by Hayes, Matthew Horace)
An Infallible Guide to Discover the Age ... (by Brandt, Louis)
Riding and driving horses : their breedi... (by Gilbey, Walter, Sir)

Humankind thrills in speed and loves nothing better than to harness that speed for a brief immersion in adrenaline-pumping excitement characterized by pounding hearts and the rush of wind. Hence we still found ourselves screaming with delight on rollercoasters, cheering for our favorite drivers in motorized races, and gaping in awe when fighter jets whiz overhead at blinding speed.

From the early Olympic games featuring foot races, people have indulged their need for speed by harnessing the strength and speed of horses. Early breeders recognized a certain equine phenotype lended itself more toward speed than endurance, eventually creating breeds prized for being fleet of foot.

For those unfamiliar with horses, a human runner can manager perhaps 10 to 15 miles per hour (16.09 - 24.14 kph) in short bursts, although Olympic speedster Usain Bolt has been clocked at over 28 mph (45.06 kph). The average light horse of around 1,000 lbs. can reach top speeds of approximately 25 mph (40.23 kph). In contrast, top speeds recorded for race horses hover at 40 mph (64.37 kph). That’s pretty fast for bone and muscle.

Labeled the “sport of kings,” horse racing enjoys a long and storied past. From impromptu jaunts across the desert to the chariot races in Roman arenas to today’s fast tracks, people prize the speediest of equines because there’s gold in those quick legs, deep chests, and big hearts. Winning stallions command exorbitant stud fees that eclipse the prize money won at the track. So valued are these horses that they have been memorialized in stories, paintings, and extensive pedigrees.

Eclipse (1764-1789). This mighty racehorse won every one of his 18 races, covering distances from two to four miles.
West Australian (1850-1870). After losing his first race, this mighty horse became the first racehorse in history to claim the UK Triple Crown, consisting of the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, and St. Leger Stakes. As a 4-year-old he also won the Ascot Gold Cup.
Flying Fox (1896-1911). Notorious for his unpleasant disposition, this horse raced only two years and crushed his competition.
Man O’ War (1917-1947). This famous stallion so dominated the American racing scene that trainers refused to enter or even withdrew their horses from races rather than compete against him.
Phar Lap (1926-1932). This horse brought Australian horse racing to international renown by winning the country’s most prestigious races despite his massive build.
Seabiscuit (1933-1947). Inspiring books and Hollywood movies, this unprepossessing Thoroughbred bloomed under a considerate trainer’s care to eventually defeat the contemporary Triple Crown winner, War Admiral.
Arkle (1957-1970). Hailing from the misty green pastures of Ireland, this steeplechaser boosted Irish national pride with incredible stamina, athleticism, and speed.
Seattle Slew (1974-2002). This American Thoroughbred captured the spotlight for being the only racehorse to have won the Triple Crown after never having lost a single race in his career.
Secretariat (1970-1989). Second only to Man O’ War in popularity, this big red horse set records in each of the U.S. Triple Crown races.

The sport of horse racing has changed considerably over past centuries, with the addition of rules and restrictions and the decrease of distances to accommodate the demands of advanced animal husbandry and greater speed. The love of horse racing echoes in nonfiction, such as Famous Horses: With Portraits, Pedigrees, Principal Performances, Description of Races and Various Interesting Items Extending Over a Period of Nearly Two Centuries by Theophilus William Taunton and Famous American Race Horses.

Wikipedia lists 80 pages of fictional horses, many of them portrayed as winning races. These wonderful equids populate literature--and film--including The Black (and his progeny) from Walter Farley’s The Black Stallion series, My Friend Flicka by Mary O’Hara, Misty of Chincoteague by Maguerite Henry, National Velvet by Enid Bangold, White Saddle by Ethel Hull Miller, Bree Hee Hinny Hoo Hah from C. S. Lewis’ The Horse and His Boy, and Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.

By Karen M. Smith