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What
is a Standardbred
The
origins of the Standardbred trace back to Messenger,
an English Thoroughbred foaled in 1780, and later exported
to the United States. Messenger was the great-grandsire
of Hambletonian 10, to whom every Standardbred can trace
its heritage. Standardbreds are a relatively new breed,
dating back just over 200 years, but it is a true American
breed.
The
name "Standardbred" originated because the
early trotters (pacers would not come into the picture
until much later) were required to reach a certain standard
for the mile distance in order to be registered as part
of the new breed. The mile is still the standard distance
covered in nearly every harness race.
While Thoroughbred racing has long been known as the
sport of kings, the dependable, athletic Standardbred
brought racing to the common man, first between neighbors
on community roads, and later at state-of-the-art racetracks.
Standardbred racing has long been known as the sport
of the people, and both the sport and the breed are
as much a part of our American landscape as cowboys
and apple pie. As it evolved it gave the United States
some of its first "sports heroes," including
the great Dan Patch, the legendary Adios and the great
gray ghost, Greyhound.
 
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Copyright 2007 Ocean Downs and The United States Trotting
Association. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten
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