The Thoroughbred is a breed of horse whose ancestry traces back more than 300 years to three foundation stallions – the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerly Turk.

Named for their respective owners, these stallions were imported into England and bred to the native mares. Although all modern Thoroughbreds trace their lineage to at least one of these foundation stallions, it is the Darley Arabian’s great-great grandson Eclipse from which 80% of modern Thoroughbreds descend. 

Darley Arabian (Wikimedia Commons)