Thoroughbred

History
 The Thoroughbred was originally developed as a racehorse in England in the 17th century. Oriental stallions, the most influential being Darley Arabians, Godolphin Barbs, and Byerly Turks, were bred with native English mares. One of the most important early Thoroughbred stallions was Eclipse, from the Darley Arabian line. As an undefeated early racehorse, he had a huge influence on the Thoroughbreds of today. In fact, about 90% of Thoroughbreds can trace their line back to Eclipse and the Darley Arabian.

By the 18th century, horse racing had become very popular, and was considered the "sport of kings" because it was watched mostly by royalty. Thoroughbreds were selectively bred both as flat racers and steeplechasers in the England. Originally, races were much longer than they are today---about four miles---but this later changed to the shorter, mile long races that are now seen. With this change came an increased need for faster, younger horses rather than those better suited for longer distances.

Thoroughbreds, particularly the ex-racers, are commonly used in eventing.
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 The first Thoroughbred arrived in America in 1730, and before long horse racing became popular in the United States as well. Today, Kentucky is the hub of Thoroughbred breeding, though California and New York breed a lot of them as well.

Breed Description and Uses
 Thoroughbreds are a tall breed, averaging around 16 hands high or taller, with long legs that give them ground-covering strides. They have sloping shoulders and prominent withers. Their neck is long and thin and their face has a straight profile. All in all, centuries of selective breeding has made the Thoroughbred into a runner. Chestnut, black, grey, and various shades of bay are the colors Thoroughbreds come in.

 Other than racing, Thoroughbreds are used for show jumping, dressage, and eventing, the latter of which is common in OTTBs.

Omaha: Four-Year-Old Season

 Once Omaha arrived in England, he impressed racing fans with his large size and good looks. He spent several months conditioning before he made his debut in England, which was in the Victor Wild Stakes on May 9th, 1936. He won the mile and a half race by a length and a half. Next he won the two mile long Queen's Plate carrying 130 pounds, and began to gain popularity.

 After that came the most remembered race of his English career: the Ascot Gold Cup. He battled it out with Quashed, England finest long distance runner, up the tracks uphill homestretch, losing only by a nose. In the Prince of Wales Stakes, he similarly lost to Taj Akbar by a neck. What makes the race even more incredible is that he had been weighted 138 pounds, and Taj Akbar only 120 pounds. The British loved Omaha's courage.

When Omaha severed the left tendon on his foreleg while trainer, he was sent back to America to retire on Claiborne Farm. He sired seven stake winners. In 1943, he was sent to the Jockey Club's Lookover Stallion Station in Avon, New York, but was later relocated to a midwestern farm near Omaha, Nebraska. He passed away in 1959. Today, his grave can found at the Ak-Sar-Ben racetrack in his namesake, the city of Omaha.

 In remembering Omaha, one man said, "In action he was a glorious sight; few thoroughbreds have exhibited such a magnificent, sweeping, space-annihilating stride, or carried it with such strength and precision. His place is among the Titans of American turf."

 I agree whole-heartedly with this statement. Omaha was a great, courageous horse, and the races he has lost are few. That says something about him. Most of his losses were by a neck or even a nose, which further shows how great he really was.