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Horse Racing

World’s Top Jockeys: Rankings, Records, and Horse Racing Legends

The best jockeys in horse racing depend on what you’re measuring. James McDonald leads the 2026 Longines World’s Best Jockey standings — the closest thing the sport has to an official global ranking — having won his third title in…

Miles Henry

Horses

Where Did Horses Originate, and How Did They Return to America?

Horses are native to North America. The earliest horse ancestors evolved here more than 50 million years ago, spread into Eurasia across the Bering land bridge, disappeared from North America around 10,000 years ago, and were reintroduced by Spanish explorers…

Miles Henry

Horse Racing

What Really Separates Male and Female Racehorses?

Picture of our racehorse Mindy with her jockey

Male and female racehorses differ in more than speed. From race conditions and weight allowances to management and breeding value, sex shapes how a horse is trained, raced, and valued. Here’s what really matters when you compare males and females.…

Miles Henry

Horse Racing

How Much Does It Cost to Own a Racehorse — The Full Breakdown

One of my horses developed colic during training and needed emergency surgery. The vet bill ran well over $10,000 — on top of a full year of training fees, farrier visits, and routine care. That horse never made it back…

Miles Henry

Horse Racing

The Real Math of Owning a Racehorse

Before you buy a racehorse, there’s one question you want answered: Can this horse ever pay for itself? It’s a fair question. Between the claim price, monthly training bills, vet work, shipping, farrier bills, and the occasional layup, it doesn’t…

Miles Henry

Horses

Why Is My Horse Nodding His Head? What Horse Owners Should Know

If a horse is standing at the stall door nodding his head, I don’t immediately assume something is wrong. I’ve seen horses do it when they are anticipating feed, turnout, or a trip to the track. What matters is whether…

Miles Henry

Horse Breeds

Top Horse Breeds for Barrel Racing

If you’re looking for the best horse breeds for barrel racing, the American Quarter Horse sets the standard. Paints, Thoroughbreds, Appaloosas, Arabians, and even good grade horses can also make solid barrel horses when the individual animal has the right…

Miles Henry

Horse Racing

Why Trainers Use Tongue Ties on Racehorses: Benefits, Risks, and What the Research Shows

In the paddock before a race, if you notice a strip of cloth or rubber running through the horse’s mouth and beneath its lower jaw, you’re looking at a tongue tie. Out of the seven Thoroughbreds I currently own, only…

Miles Henry

Horse Racing

Why Some Racehorses Carry More Weight Than Others

One of the first things I learned as a new owner at Fair Grounds is that the weight printed next to each horse’s name in the program is not a random number — it is assigned deliberately to keep races…

Miles Henry

Horse Racing

Why Racehorses Start So Young — What a Racehorse Owner Has Learned

The Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes all share one unusual requirement: every horse in the starting gate is three years old. That rule surprises a lot of people because it runs against the way most athletes are…

Miles Henry

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