How Much Do You Know About Thoroughbred Horses?

Both colts and fillies can compete in races, and they can even race against each other. Now, that's gender equality at its best!

Okay, so colts are usually rated as faster runners. But that's not always the case. Even horses deserve girl power.

At top speed, a Thoroughbred can reach a whopping 20-foot stride length! That's making some serious distance.

Yes, colts are rated as having faster speeds, but the fastest Thoroughbred in recorded history was Winning Brew in 2008. She clocked in at just under 44 miles per hour.

Secretariat got just over 40 mph at the 1973 Belmont Stakes. Secretariat is considered one of the fastest horses of all time.

Thoroughbreds are also tremendous jumpers. The record was set by Huaso in 1949, who cleared 2.47 meters. That's over 8 feet.

All Thoroughbreds get a January 1st birthday. This makes the training schedule easier and puts everyone on the same page.

Southern hemisphere Thoroughbreds have a different birthday. They celebrate on August 1st.

A Thoroughbred has to be 2 years old in order to race. Newborn Thoroughbreds are considered foals until they're weaned off their mothers.

Thoroughbreds are known as weanlings after they stop weaning and before their first birthday. They're still not able to race.

Horses that have reached their first birthday are known as yearlings. They've still got a year left before they can race.

Black is the most prized color for Thoroughbreds, but it's not the most common. 90% are brown or bay.

These are very rare colors for Thoroughbreds, but it's still possible. Roan is a mix of red and white, with a tail that is black, chestnut or roan.

Thoroughbreds have that chiseled look, not unlike professional athletes. Sometimes Thoroughbreds are used to improve other breeds of horses.

Thoroughbreds are characterized by their long legs and sleek bodies. That's why they can run so fast.

Both Standardbreds and quarter horses get cross-bred with Thoroughbreds. This improves their chances of being good racehorses.

Thoroughbreds are the most expensive horses in the world. This is because they're used for competitive racing.

Green Monkey was a descendant of Secretariat and Northern Dancer, and he sold for $16 million. He never won a race, but has been used for breeding. There's a lot of money to be had in Thoroughbred breeding.

Stud fees are what a horse gets for breeding with another horse. Thoroughbreds command literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in stud fees. American Pharoah has earned $20 million​ in stud service.

Although Thoroughbreds can be purebreds, this is not always the case. Some purebreds are not Thoroughbreds.

Thoroughbreds were developed in 17th and 18th century England. Native horses were crossbred with Arab and Barb horses.

In North America, a horse with one Thoroughbred parent is a Grade Thoroughbred. In Great Britain, such a horse is called a half-bred.

It's common for Thoroughbreds to become trail horses. They're wonderfully agile, calm and have a good sense of direction.

All Thoroughbreds can be traced back to the Byerly Turk, the Godolphin Arabian, and the Darley Arabian. These horses were named after their owners.

At the age of 5, a colt officially becomes a horse. Similarly, at age 5 a filly becomes a mare.

Thoroughbreds are remarkably sensitive creatures. They're known for their tendency towards anxiousness and restlessness.

Thoroughbreds are remarkably light horses, weighing less than 1,500 pounds. That being said, they eat more than any other horses. They're like Michael Phelps.

It's not uncommon for Thoroughbreds to have heart trouble. They have smaller hearts than other horses, and their lungs can even bleed.

The Jockey Club is responsible for naming all Thoroughbred horses in the U.S. However, owners submit their name of choice for approval.

Names of famous Thoroughbreds cannot be repeated. Names are also evaluated for length, spacing and punctuation.

Thoroughbreds are often described as being hot-blooded. They're very alert and courageous, and rather spirited.

Most Thoroughbreds stand 15-17 hands in height. They also weigh between 1,000-1,200 pounds.

Thoroughbreds were imported into North America in 1730. The first imported to Virginia was Bulle Rock.

There are literally millions of Thoroughbreds in the world today. Each year, about 100,000 foals are registered.

To be considered a Thoroughbred, the horse needs to be conceived by natural means. No artificial insemination (AI) or embryo transfer (ET) are allowed by the Jockey Club.