Breed of light
horse developed in the U.S., primarily for harness racing. The foundation sire was an English
Thoroughbred imported in 1788; his progeny were bred with other breeds, especially the
Morgan, to produce speedy trotters and pacers. The Standardbred's height is 15 – 16 hands (60 – 64 in. [152 – 163 cm]); its weight is 900 – 1,000 lb (410 – 450 kg). Colour varies, but the most common is bay. "Standard" refers to a requirement imposed in 1871 that, to be registered, a horse must meet certain standards of speed (e.g., trotting a mile in 2.5 minutes).
For more information on Standardbred, visit Britannica.com.