A Look at Arabian Racing

If you're like 99% of all racing fans, the words horse and racing draw to mind images of strong, young Thoroughbred athletes powering down the stretch of the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, or the Belmont Stakes. Names like Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Man o' War slip to mind without having to think. A slew of blogs, fan sites and even television networks ride on their coattails like bumper stickers. We know these races, these horses, and their thousand outlets of easily accessible conversation and debate. Thoroughbred horse racing, no matter how far under the mainstream's radar, has no shortage of avid followers.

The same cannot be said for the Arabian racehorse. No matter how beautiful and valiant these magnificent creatures, they can't seem to garner the following they certainly have earned over their thousands of years of racing. Despite the fact that it was the Arabian who founded the Thoroughbred breed, the majority of racegoers write them off as slow and unprofitable, boring to watch and even worse to handicap. As one involved in Arabian racing, perhaps I'm biased -- but I beg to differ with the common perception of Arabian racing as nothing more than an amusing novelty.

Arabian racing

Soundness 

In the past few decades, the Thoroughbred breed has deteriorated at a frightening pace. With the average career span having dropped from scores of races to just a handful, and career (or life) ending injuries being scattered about like wildfire, many are concerned for the future of the breed. This is not the case with Arabians, who boast much sturdier hooves and bones than their speedier counterpart, the TB, hence lowering the likelihood of a breakdown to a much more manageable rate. Arabians are slow developers, and do not begin racing until 3 years of age -- yet another thing about Arab racing that appeals to the general public. If Thoroughbred purists won't support the Arabians, maybe some newer fans will.

Speed & Beauty

True, the fractions are slower.

While a cozy first quarter for a Thoroughbred horse race would be around 23 seconds, the typical Arabian race plays out with an opening quarter of 25, with 24 being exceptionally speedy. 51 or 52 are normal marks for the half mile; in Thoroughbred racing, a half in only 45 - while very quick - is not too far from the norm. As a rule, Arabians tend to run six furlongs 5-6 seconds slower than a Thoroughbred. While some claim that this handful of seconds makes a world of difference in the fun of the race, I have yet to grow tired of watching the Arabians run. They have a very unique way of going, with their tails hoisted like colorful flags as they "skim" over the ground. The average person is more likely to notice the Arabs' beauty than their slightly inferior fractions.

Pricing

For those interested in racehorse ownership, look no further than the Arabian breed.

While high class Thoroughbreds are measured in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, you can easily purchase a quality Arab in the 5 to 10 thousand range. For $20,000 you could purchase a top of the line competitor. Even in its highest levels, Arabian ownership is much more affordable than the Thoroughbred market. Of course, this is a double edged sword, as quality Grade 1 Arabian stakes usually have purses around $75,000, as opposed to the million dollar purses found in Thoroughbred racing.

Of course, there will always be people who cling to the idea that Arabians are inferior to the widely celebrated Thoroughbred racehorse. I only hope that by handing out a good word for the Arabian racing community, I might somehow contribute to the growing favor of this fantastic sport. Take nothing away from the Thoroughbred horse -- I admire these runners, and spend many hours fondly dreaming of their premier events. I am in no way suggesting that Arabians are superior to their speedier cousins. My top priority is to bring more fans to the game -- and Arabian racing is a lovely place to get started in the Sport of the Kings. I highly recommend following this sport. It is a fast growing segment of the racing industry, and deserves more respect than it is getting.

Long live the Arabian racehorse... and here's to many thrilling finishes!