Evolution of the Horse and Top Five Thoroughbreds By Kyla Western

Eohippus aka Hyracotherium 60 million years ago (Eocene Era) Looks Small and graceful 10 to 17 ½ inches tall Slender face, springy arched back, short neck, long tail, slender legs Feet Pad footed with hoof like tipped toes Front - 4 front functional toes, 1 larger than others, and a splint Hind - 3 functional toes and a splint 44 crowned teeth 3 incisor 1 canine 4 premolars 3 molars – uneven, dull, bumpy Additional information Lived in swamp like jungles Eohippus means “Dawn Horse” Htyracotherium means “Hyrax-like beast”

Mesohippus 40 million years ago (Oligocene Era) Looks Teeth low crowned for browsing About the size of a collie Longer legs and straighter back Feet splint (front) and 3 toes on each foot Middle was largest All touched ground

Orohippus 50 million years ago (Eocene Era) Looks Similar size as eohippus, but had slimmer body, longer head, slimmer forelegs, and longer back legs Feet 4 toes on forelegs 3 toes on hind legs Teeth First of the premolars were dwarfed Last of premolars became molars Crests of teeth more pronounced (had greater grinding skills) Additional Information Name means mountain horse Not a true horse

Mesohippus 40 million years ago Looks About 2 ft tall Back less arched Face, snout, and neck were longer Small, shallow spots in skull called fossa Teeth 6 grinding cheek teeth Single premolar in front Larger and leggier, allowing faster running speeds in open areas Feet: 3 toes on all 4 feet (1st and 5th toe shrunk and weren’t used for walking) 3rd toe stronger than others 4th toe nothing more than a nub Additional Information Name means “middle horse” Climate change lead to change in habitats Most widespread mammals in early North America

Miohippus 36 million years ago (Oligocene Era) Looks Larger than all it’s predecessors Had same foot structure as Mesohippus Fossa was larger and deeper than the Mesohippus Began to show extra crest in upper cheek teeth When the remaining Mesohippus died out Miohippus thrived and became 2 new groups Prairie horses called Parahippus Size of small pony Prolonged skull Facial structures resemble horses today 3rd toe stronger and larger 4 premolars resembled the molar teeth Forest horses called Kalobatippus 2nd and 4th toes were long Decedents moved to Aisa Additional Information Split off from Mesohippus to become own “herd” Name means “lesser horse” Evolved rather abruptly

Merychippus 20 million years ago (Oligocene Era) Looks Slim, graceful Size of Shetland Hind legs were short Feet All had only 3 toes Middle was heaviest side toes equipped with small hooves Teeth high crown with had surfaces (good for eating grass) Wider molars than ancestors Additional Information Lived in prairies

Pilohippus 10 million years ago (Oligocene Era) Looks Pony sized Skull had deep fossa Immediate and virtually full grown equus Feet Hoof 2 splints on side Teeth Curved Highly crowned, designed for grazing

Equus 4 million years ago (Modern Era) Looks Looks most like modern horses Compact and strong Neck was muscular and strong allowing easy reach for forage Legs Front long and strong, gave it speed Hind muscular and strong, gave it power Feet 1 large toe 2 side toes (nonfunctioning splints) Several different species Small pony sized mainly one species was modern draft sized Additional Infromation Name means “horse” Climax of evolution Died out in North America about 8,000 BC Causes unknown but suggested causes are: climate changes, competition, epidemic, and failure to adapt Before demise some moved into the Old World using the Bering Straight This is where they became servants and friends to humans Came back to North America about 500 years ago by Spanish Conquistadores

Eclipse

Eclipse Basic Facts Sire: Marske Dam: Spiletta Foaled in 1764 during the great solar eclipse Exact place of birth is unknown Breed by H.R.H. William (the Duke of Cumberland) When Cumberland died in 1765 his entire bloodstock was dispersed He was purchased for 75 guineas (about $11,303) by William Wildman Eclipse died there as a result of colic on February 26, 1789, at the age of 24 Eclipse’s skeleton is displayed at the Jockey Club Museum in Newmarket Racing Facts Was started at age 5 being allowed to grow On May 3, 1769 he won a plate valued at 50 pounds (about $7,287) in Epsom for a straight four-mile heats After his win in Epsom, Eclipse was purchased by Denis O’Kelly The next races he entered were two-mile heats at Ascot, a King’s Plate at Winchester (4 mile heats), the City Free Plate at Salisbury (4 mile heats), and three more King’s Plates, at Canterbury, Lewes, and Lichtfield Ending the 1769 season with nine wins In 1770, he remained undefeated and untouchable Eclipse won all of his 18 races without the assistance of aides, such as whips and spurs, Was declared the greatest runner the turf, in 1970 Stud Facts Retired to stud in 1771 at O'Kelly's Clay Hill Stud Farm near Epson Was relocated in 1788 to Cannons Stud in Edgeware Eclipse sired a total of 344 winners, which included Derby winners Young Eclipse, Saltram, Volunteer, and Sergean It is estimated that at least 95% of thoroughbred bloodlines can traced back to Eclipse

Man O’ War

Man O’ War Basic Facts Born early morning March 29, 1917 Dam: Mahubah Sire: Fair Play Belmont’s wife is who gave him his name “My Man o’ War,” because he was born in the middle of a war that had broken out in Europe Sold at Nursery Stud consignment auction in Saratoga for $5,000 (about $74,726 now) in 1918, where his name was shortened to Man O’ War Died at age 30 on November 1, 1947 After his death his body was embalmed and placed in an oak coffin for spectators to see He was buried a few days after embalming and had a bronze statue erected to stand over his grave, which was moved to the horse park in the early 1970’s To this day many horses are compared to Man O’ War Stud Facts First foal crop was born in 1922, which produced 3 champions: American Flag, Florence Nightingale, and Maid At Arms His second crop produced even more great athletes Crusader – winner of the Belmont Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup, and Suburban Handicap After only 3 crops of racing age, he was noted as America's Leading Sire in 1926 His stud record began to dissolve in the mid-1930s He was retired from stud in 1947 due to a heart condition

Man O’ War Racing Facts Was noted for not being an easy horse to break His running gait was unusual which covered a tremendous amount of ground He had outstanding work outs and started out as a favorite He won a 5 furlong maiden, by 6 lengths, at Belmont on June 6, 1919 Following this he won the Keene Memorial (5.5f.) by 3 lengths, and followed up with victories in the Youthful Stakes (also 5.5f.), and Hudson Stakes (5f.) before the end of the month, winning both wire-to-wire Due to his incredible talent his rider weight was bumped from 115 to 120 after his 2nd race, then up to 130 for the next 5 starts At the Saratoga meet in 1919 Man O’ War was defeated by Upset by a half-length after being boxed in at the Sanford Memorial Stakes Man O’ War got his revenge on Upset at the Grand Union Hotel Stakes Man O’ War went to rest at Glen Riddle Farm for his 2 year old winter season with the reputation as “wonder horse” Racing Facts Continued On May 18, 1920 Man O’ War won the Preakness Stakes by a length Following the Preakness win he set 3 new American Racing Records: Wither Stakes running a mile in 1:35 4/5 Belmont Stakes winning by 20 lengths and running it in 2:14 1/5 Dwyer Stakes running 9 furlongs in 1:49 1/5 One of his greatest wins was at the Lawrence Realization, where he won by what is guessed to be about 100 lengths Probably the greatest race Man O’ War won was when he went against Sir Barton, who had won the Triple Crown the year before, in the Kenilworth Park Gold Cup He was retired after winning 20 out of 21 starts, with a total earning of $249,465 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC86Jm5oiMc

Northern Dancer

Northern Dancer Basic Facts Born on May 27, 1961 in Canada Died on November 16, 1990 Dam: Natalma Sire: Nearctic Northern Dancer was unable to bring in the $25,000 reserve price at the yearling sales at Windfields, so he returned to Windfields Farm racing stable After his death, his remains were sent back to Canada for burial, He is now honored at Windfields Farm in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada Racing Facts First victory was at Fort Erie Race Track He won seven of nine starts his first year, earning the Canadian Juvenile Championship At three Northern Dancer won the Grade I Flamingo Stakes, Grade I Florida Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes Won the Kentucky Derby in record time and the Preakness stakes, but finished third in the Belmont Stakes He went on to win his last race the Canada's Queen's Plate, by seven and a half lengths He was retired do to tendon tenderness in his left front leg He finished his career with 14 out of 18 wins http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaB9dLQsbHY Awards While Racing 1964 North America's champion three-year-old colt Canadian Horse of the Year American Eclipse Award as Three-Year Old Male Champion Sovereign Award for Horse of the Year 1965 First horse to be voted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame Out of Racing Ranked 43 in Blood-Horse’s top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century In 1976 inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Won three world sires' presidency titles being for the amount of international stakes winners, international stakes wins and offspring stake earnings, in 1977 Canada Post honored him by putting his image on a postage stamp, in 1999 A residential street on the former site of the Greenwood Race Track in Toronto, was named after Northern Dancer A life size bronze statue stands outside Woodbine Race Track in Toronto.

Northern Dancer Stud Facts Stood at Taylor's Windfields Farm in Oshawa, Ontario until 1969 Moved to Windfields' Maryland farm, in 1969, where he finished out the rest of his years Noted by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association as "one of the most influential sires in Thoroughbred history" Pedigree His foals have out done the other stallions in both earnings and wins Sired a total of 147 stakes winners Nijinsky II, winner of England's Triple Crown His colt Snaafi Dancer was the first yearling to sell for $10 million at a Keeneland sale His twelve yearlings sold for a sale-record average of price of US$3,446.666, in 1984 With his crops selling so well his stud fee was put at $1 million Grandsire of Dance Smartly, the 1991 Canadian Triple Crown winner Great-grandsire, on both sides, of the winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, Big Brown Retired from stud on April 15, 1987

Secretariat

Secretariat Basic Facts Born just after midnight on March 30, 1970 at Meadow Farm in Caroline County, Virginia Dam: Somethingroyal Sire: Bold Ruler Died October 4, 1989 Nick name: Big Red In the fall of 1989 it was discovered that he had been afflicted with laminitis With failure of improvement he was euthanized on October 4 • He was buried whole at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky • It was discovered after his death that his heart was twice the size of a normal horse’s heart Racing Facts Won the title of the Triple Crown in 1973 Won the Kentucky Derby Setting a new record http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Usj3K4oZ0 Won the Preakness Stakes Won by 2 and a half lengths The clock timer at Pimlico messed up and an unofficially clocked time of 1:54 2/5 was accepted by the track http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV89InWOENc&feature=related Won the Belmont Stakes surprising the spectators by continuously pushing himself won by 31 lengths, which was later measured using the tape footage creating another record of 2:24 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V18ui3Rtjz4&feature=related After his triple crown win he won at Arlington Park, where he set a new world record of 1:45 2/5 for 1 1/8 miles Few people know that before the Kentucky Derby Secretariat lost 2 races, the cause was said to be an abscess on his upper lip, which his trainer hidden Won his last race, the Canadian International Stakes, on turf by 6 ½ lengths He won 16 out of 21 starts, finishing out of the money only once Awarded the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year, as both a two-year old and three-year old

Affirmed

Affirmed Basic Facts Born February 21, 1975 Dam: Won't Tell You Sire: Exclusive Native Died: January 12, 2001 Great-great-grandson of War Admiral another Triple Crown winner Euthanized after it was discovered that he had severe laminitis Buried wholeat Jonabell Farm, wearing his owner’s colors Blood-Horse magazine ranked Affirmed number 12 out of the top 100 U.S. thoroughbred champions of the 20th Century Racing Facts Won 8 of 11 starts with only 1 unplaced run finishing with $901,541 in earnings Won the Triple Crown in 1978, last to do so Won the Kentucky Derby by 1 ½ lengths http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65V3xFLPNLA Won the Preakness Stakes by a neck, where he led and set the pace http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5Zytq6GWWM Won the Belmont Stakes, starting out with the slowest start in Belmont History http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZmaqszF4GA He returned to the track early in August of 1978, winning his first race back by 100 yards He then went on to run in the 1978 Marlboro Cup Invitational Handicap Ran against Seattle Slew, the 1977 Triple Crown winner First race in history to have 2 Triple Crown winners competing Lost to Seattle Slew by 3 lengths Competed against Seattle Slew again in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Finished unplaced after his saddle slipped, which left his jockey with almost no control In 1979 after a five race losing streak, he went into a winning streak for the rest of the year Set an earnings record and set a record for running the 1¼ miles in a fast 1:58 2/5 at the Hollywood Gold Cup Won 22 out of 29 starts and earned a total of $2,393,818, making him the first North American Thoroughbred to win over 2 million

Affirmed Stud Facts Sired over 80 stakes winners, 9 champions with total earnings over $44,000,000 (through 2004) Charlie Barley - stakes winner Peteski - won the Molson Export Million Stakes and the Canadian Triple Crown Awards Was elected into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame Named Horse of the Year and American Champion Three-Year-Old male horse Named Horse of the Year and the American Champion Older Male Horse of 1979

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