Racehorses Are Getting Faster—It Could Be Evolution
In Britain, horses have improved their race times since 1850, especially those that run short distances. But why is another question.
The first American Triple Crown winner in 37 years, American Pharoah, silenced critics who said modern racehorses weren't up for the challenge, and now, new research says horses are getting even faster—at least in Britain.
A study published in Biology Letters shows Thoroughbred racehorses in Britain have grown speedier, especially sprint horses, which run short races of about 0.7 mile (1.2 kilometers), or 6 furlongs.
From 1997 to 2012, sprint horses improved their race times by over a second, or about seven horse lengths. Over middle and long distances—up to 20 furlongs, or 2.4 miles (4 kilometers)—racehorses only improved their speed slightly.
The study runs counter to previous research that suggested racehorse speeds had peaked, and the animals weren't
