Matriarchs of Thoroughbred racehorses unmasked

Thoroughbred racehorses have typically been associated with the highly-prized breeds of the Arabian Peninsula; but according to new research, their origins may be far more cosmopolitan than previously thought. In a new set of findings published today, a University of Cambridge-led team of academics reveal how modern racehorses, as well as the Thoroughbreds used for other sports such as show jumping and polo, are perhaps as closely linked to British, Irish and European breeds as they are to the Middle East. The study, the results of which are published in the journal Biology Letters, investigated the maternal origins of 1,929 horses by examining their mitochondrial DNA - the genetic information passed exclusively from mother to daughter. Researchers found that 61% of the "founding mares" from which modern-day racehorses stem were from British and Irish breeds, while just 8% had possible Middle Eastern or west Asian links. The foundations of the Thoroughbred lines date back to the 17th century. At the time, detailed records were kept about the males, as it was thought that the defining qualities of elite racehorses - such as their speed and agility - came principally from the stallions. As a result, breeders have long-since known that all Thoroughbreds are descended from just three stallions, imported from the Middle East.