The great proliferation of gray coloring in the Thoroughbred came through The Tetrarch, bred in Ireland by Edward Kennedy, who reportedly purchased Roi Herode because of a fascination with the Byerley Turk line through Herod.
The historical record on different lines of descent in the Thoroughbred shows that the winnowing out of male lines has gone on from the beginnings of the breed.
From one of finest families in the stud book, Alpinista (by Frankel) has added more luster to the line on Oct. 1 with her victory in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. That victory was her eighth in succession, with the last six being all G1s.
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‘Always Bet the Gray:’ The History Behind Derby Favorite Essential Quality’s Silver Coat Sponsored by:
Godolphin homebred Essential Quality, ridden by Luis Saez, wins the TVG Juvenile Presented By Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on Breeders Cup Championship Friday at Keeneland on November 6, 2020: in Lexington, Kentucky. John Voorhees/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup/CSM
A gray Thoroughbred is often a head-turner, not only for its sterling coat but for its relative rarity. Comprising only a small percentage of the breed, they are outnumbered by their bay, brown and chestnut stablemates.
This year, though, you might just see a garland of roses placed around a gray colt s neck.