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

Click here for Illustrations of coat colors

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 Jan. 1

The favorite wins approximately 33% of all races

More than $12 billion is wagered on Thoroughbred racing in North America annually