Making horse racing selections is a difficult task, and people often spend hours poring over charts and tables and reading articles, all in an attempt to make the best picks. It may come as a surprise then, for people to hear that the horses they typically bet on (except in harness racing where standardbreds are used) are closely related.

One of the tasks of the Jockey Club, which was founded in the 1750s, was to regulate the breeding of horses, so they created the General Stud Book in 1791, which has been updated every year since. Within a short time, by law, the only horses that were allowed to be called thoroughbreds and race were those descended from the horses in the stud book. Inbreeding was very common among bloodlines.

So great was the extent of inbreeding that all thoroughbreds today can be traced back to three original, or "foundation," sires. The three originals were the Byerley Turk, foaled in 1679, the Darley Arabian, foaled in 1700, and the Godolphin Arabian, foaled in 1724. Hundreds of years of careful breeding have identified and preserved the abilities present in the three founders.

So, when making your horse racing selections, it may be some comfort to know that most of the horses you are deciding between are related. Consider the number of generations required to produce a real champion and you can understand the fascination and allure of thoroughbred racing. To make the most out of your horse racing selections, bet with VIPhorses.com, where you'll find the best odds, the most useful information, and attentive service. Sign up today for bonuses and the best horse racing action available!