This is just out of curiosity, no something I HAVE to know, but would like too.
With improved breeding plans, breeding stock and etc. Could we develop the Arabian to have just as fast times as the Tb's?
As I'm understanding it... the TB is faster but not THAT much faster than the Arabian... or maybe I'm mistaken...
I'm here to learn so correct me where I'm wrong!
Thanks again ya'll!

The Beryl Turk is not considered an Arabian, and there is still debate over whether the Go dolphin was an Arabian or a Barb.

Okay I want to know also. I have never heard of arabs being that fast.. well in short distances. Of course there hearts are very dedicated. I am going to watch this post.. would also like someone to elaborate who has the answer for this one..

Man I love a good forum topic.. well most are good, since I don't know much about anything. except the Grace of God.

If you put a Quarter Horse, a Thoroughbred and an Arabian into the same race, the Quarter Horse would be the quickest to the quarter of a mile mark, the Thoroughbred would win the race but the Arabian would keep on going, and going and going.

I learnt that whilst watching the races at Lone Star Park with Dick and Christine in 2005.

Possibly. But you would probably have to change some of the fundamental characteristics of the breed to do it.

Thoroughbreds today have lost the ability to carry weight over distance. That is because they have been bred for longer, finer legs, which increase stride and reduce weight. But along with that comes leg weaknesses due to decreased bone and longer cannons.

Thoroughbreds are also sprinters. Flat races rarely extend beyond 2-3 miles. The musculature required for such activates is actually different. Muscles designed to contract quickly and powerfully are fast twitch fibers. They produce quick bursts of speed and strength, but tire quickly. Slow twitch fibers contract more slowly, but will continue working over long periods. In order to breed a faster animal over the same distance, you will actually have to breed for different musculature, and you will lose either one or the other in proportion.

Thoroughbred racers also tend to have some physiological differences that help a dead run, but are not so helpful at other gaits.

I really don't know but I have both a tb and an arab, and there both really fast. the arab is a barrel racer and the tb was never raced but her great grand sire was northern dancer. It would be cool to flat race them against each other and see who was faster but I agree with what one of ya'll said:
If you put a Quarter Horse, a Thoroughbred and an Arabian into the same race, the Quarter Horse would be the quickest to the quarter of a mile mark, the Thoroughbred would win the race but the Arabian would keep on going, and going and going!

How about I toss in some REAL times.......

A fast time for an Arabian to run 5/8 of a mile (or 5 FLs) is 1.09

A fast time for a Thoroughbred to run 5/8 of a mile is 0.59

So you do the math, which would be faster. They do hold Arabian races as short as 4 1/2 FL which is just shy of the 5/8 mile.

Also, out in the US the longest distance they hold TB races are 1 1/2 of a mile. The 2 and 3 mile races are steeplechase races that are held in Europe.

Just another FYI, they do hold QH races at a long distance. The longest they hold is 1/2 mile and some of them are darn fast and do spank the TBs at the distance!

What you need to know about Arabians are that they have muscles that are designed for endurance races. They are designed to travel long distances. I think it is Slow Twitch? Don't hold me to that, my equine science teacher would be disappointed in me... The Thoroughbred has a different type of muscle, I believe they were called Type 2. They are designed for shorter and quicker races. So, in a sprint they will beat the Arabian. In an endurance race, the TB wins.