Happy (out of the gate) Monday from the Daily Racing Blog. Here are a few morsels of equine trivia to help you along to Post Time on Friday.
Average height of a racehorse: 16.1 hands at withers (1 hand = 4 inches)
Average weight of a racehorse: 1,000 pounds
Average speed of a racehorse: 40 mph
Colors of horses recognized by The Jockey Club:
- Bay
- Dark Bay/Brown
- Black
- Chestnut
- Gray/Roan
- White
First Kentucky Derby Winner: ARISTIDES (colt), 1875
First Preakness Stakes Winner: SURVIVOR (colt), 1873
First Belmont Stakes Winner: RUTHLESS (filly), 1867
First Triple Crown Winner: SIR BARTON (colt), 1919
Most Recent Triple Crown winner: AMERICAN PHAROAH, 2015
All Thoroughbreds in North America celebrate their birthday on January 1st, regardless of the month they were born in that calendar year.
The favorite Wins approximately 33% of all races.
More than $12 billion is wagered on Thoroughbred racing in North America annually, and that ain’t hay.
