Standardbreds
So much more than Racing
The Standardbred Horse
The Standardbred is a beautiful, gentle breed of horse that is affectionate and easy to work with. The breed comes in many colors, with bay (a light brown) and brown being the most dominant. They weigh between 800 and 1,200 lbs. and are known for their willing temperaments. The beginnings of the Standardbred breed can be traced back to the horse Messenger, a gray Thoroughbred who was brought to the U.S. in the 18th century.
Virtually every North American Standardbred can be traced back to Messenger’s great-grandson, Hambletonian 10. The name “Standardbred” originated because the early trotters were required to reach a certain standard of time for the mile distance in order to be registered as part of the new breed. Harness racing is based in tradition and history, but the Standardbred breed continues to evolve each year. It’s amazing to watch these incredible animals reach new levels of speed and excellence.

Trotters vs Pacers
Watch this video to learn more about the difference between the two gaits for Standardbred horses.
get involved
Horse Ownership
Own your own Standardbred – or join a partnership! There are multiple options available for horse ownership!
What are the costs?
There are different ways to get involved with owning a horse from individual ownership, partnerships, fractional ownership groups and leasing.
It’s Easy!
There’s nothing more exciting than watching your horse racing down the stretch to win before posing for a photo in the winner’s circle. Find out how easy it is to get involved.

harness racing and beyond
We Support Standardbreds

Standardbred Incentive Program
For Standardbreds participating in disciplines other than racing. Riders and drivers can accumulate points for year-end awards.

Life After Racing
The Standardbred horse is athletic and intelligent, well suited for many uses beyond the racetrack. There are a number of resources available for an off the track Standardbred.

Education
The Standardbred is a beautiful, gentle breed of horse that is affectionate and easy to work with. The Standardbred horse can win many races and many hearts.
Watch Live
Live feed of Standardbreds at the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center. Watch the horses in the field grazing and dreaming of their new life
Click the play button to start the stream

JOIN THE FUN
BECOME A MEMBER OF THE U.S. TROTTING ASSOCIATION
Standardbred owners and harness racing enthusiasts can join the US Trotting Association to get access member benefits and great discounts on data!