The Kentucky Derby, first run in 1875, is the oldest Thoroughbred horse race in America. Each year in early May thousands of spectators, the ladies donning enormous colorful hats, arrive at Churchill Downs to experience the excitement, glamour and brilliance of the Derby. The Thoroughbred horses charge out of the starting gate, blaze by the grandstands, and storm towards the finish line. Fame, fortune and the flash of cameras await the winner of the "Race for the Roses". The thrill of this famous race is represented in this horse, "Winning Streak".
The thoroughbred horse is the premier racing horse of the world, known for its incredible speed, heart and agility. All thoroughbreds are descended from three Middle Eastern stallions - the Byerley Turk, the Darley Arabian and the Godolphin Arabian - that were imported to England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries and used to improve native racing breeds. Today the thoroughbred is most commonly used for track racing, but is also excellent in other competitive equine sports, such as dressage, jumping and polo. |