Horses have a history of working on farms, serving in the military, and helping as therapy animals. Through horse racing, these animals that compete with dogs for the title of humans’ best friends are instrumental to their owners’ entertainment. Horse racing is one of the world’s oldest sports, and, according to the owner of Three Chimneys Farm, Gonçalo Torrealba, it goes hand in hand with horse breeding.
Both equine sports and horse breeding are practices that have existed for centuries. They are considered to be some of the building blocks of cultures, societies, and sports traditions. Below, Brazilian executive Gonçalo Torrealba discusses the origins and evolution of Thoroughbred breeding and horse racing and highlights the substantial correlation between the two practices.
Where and when horse racing emerged
Horses have always been symbols of power, elegance, and speed – so these majestic animals have been competing in races for ages. Horse racing has existed before written history, dating back to ancient civilizations in China, Arabia, Persia, and other nations in North Africa and the Middle East. According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, in Europe, horse racing dates back to the Olympic Games in Ancient Greece between 700 and 40 BCE, with chariot and mounted (bareback) races.
Turkish, Arabic, and Barb horses that came to Europe during and after the Crusades were big contributors to horse racing in the Old Continent. These and local breeds were sold in medieval England, and sellers hired professional riders to display the animals’ speed to buyers.
The English Crown started offering race purses in the 12th century. In the 17th century, King Charles II inaugurated the King’s Plates, which were races with prizes for winners that marked the beginning of organized horse racing as known today.
At around 1750, Great Britain’s Jockey Club was established, determining its own race regulations. Races that the Jockey Club organized became popular across Great Britain and, soon, across the entire continent.
Globalization of horse racing and the rise of leaders like Gonçalo Torrealba
Horse races went through the process of globalization during the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1894, the non-American Jockey Club was founded, promoting equine sports across the United States. Before that, the Kentucky Derby was already happening, which helped develop the horse race culture in the country.
“Even with so many evolutions and changes in its format, the objective of horse racing has been practically the same throughout the centuries: the horse that arrives first is the winner,” comments Gonçalo Torrealba.
As a result of the global spread of horse racing, farms such as Three Chimneys and horse breeding specialists like Gonçalo Torrealba emerged. They dedicate their practices to perpetuating the Thoroughbred breed and creating champions for the best equine performance on the racetrack.
“With the practice of Thoroughbred breeding, horse racing is becoming more popular across the country, and breeding farms are thriving as businesses. These operations have been impacting regional economies – particularly in Kentucky – by creating jobs, encouraging the exportation of horses, influencing tourism and the broader racing industry,” says Gonçalo Torrealba in an interview published by APN News.
Relation between Thoroughbred breeding and horse racing
Similar to how the quality and construction of cars affect their performance in a race, there are specific horse breeds that perform better when competing. That is the case of English Thoroughbreds, a type of purebred known to be the most successful in equine races.
Experienced and dedicated breeders, such as Gonçalo Torrealba at Three Chimneys Farm, use sophisticated genetic selection techniques to create horses with the ideal characteristics for the sport. The careful selection of bloodlines and attention to detail during the breeding process is detrimental to the quality of a racehorse.
Thoroughbreds are descendants of elite racing horses that resulted from breeding Arabian, Berber, and Turkish horses with native English species. Brazilian executive Gonçalo Torrealba and other experienced breeders carefully study the bloodlines and pedigrees of the horses to identify desirable psychological traits and athletic potential. Through strategic breeding, breeders like Torrealba aim to produce horses with the ideal combination of speed, stamina, temperament, and physical form.
In addition to genetic selection, Thoroughbred breeding involves intensive care from birth to adulthood. Gonçalo Torrealba’s Three Chimneys Farm and similar operations keep foals in environments that encourage healthy physical and mental development, with access to large pastures and enrichment. They are socialized early on and undergo progressive training programs that prepare them for life on the racetrack.
Science and equine performance
Operations such as the Kentucky-based farm have created exceptional racehorses capable of competing at the highest levels. At the top of the list is Gun Runner, who won the 2017 Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male awards, with approximately $16 million in lifetime earnings. As of 2025, Gun Runner stands at the farm, along with Funtastic (Gun Runner’s half-brother), Gun Pilot (Gun Runner’s son), Newgate, Volatile, and Sky Mesa.
“The use of specific techniques for breeding and training horses from a young age is essential for effective equine performance, and science plays a key role in this process by shedding light on factors like physiology, nutrition, and psychology,” says Gonçalo Borges Torrealba.
The Brazilian executive stresses the insurgence of recent studies on equine biomechanics, which have helped refine training techniques. These techniques, in turn, allow trainers to optimize a horse’s posture, movement, and efficiency during races.
Advances in equine nutrition, on the other hand, have led to the development of customized diets that meet the specific needs of each horse, providing the energy and endurance required for peak performance on the track.
Another area where science has made a significant impact is in the prevention and treatment of injuries in athletic horses. With advanced technologies like MRI and ultrasound, veterinarians, and physiotherapists can diagnose injuries more accurately and develop effective rehabilitation plans for these animals.
Even data analysis has become a relevant field in racehorse training. Through tracking devices and integrated sensors, trainers can monitor a horse’s performance in real time, assessing metrics such as speed, heart rate, and movement patterns. This data is then used to adjust training programs to optimize fitness and maximize the horse’s performance potential.
The role of Gonçalo Torrealba’s Three Chimneys Farm in Thoroughbred breeding
One of the best environments for breeding and caring for Thoroughbreds in the U.S. is Gonçalo Torrealba’s Three Chimneys Farm. The operation, located in the heart of Kentucky, has been a prominent player in the Thoroughbred breeding industry for over 40 years.
Gonçalo Torrealba’s farm has a broad presence that covers the three main aspects of the Thoroughbred market: production (breeding), performance (racing), and commerce (sales). Under Torrealba’s leadership since 2013 and with the dedication of a highly skilled team, the farm has been responsible for breeding and racing several Grade 1 winners.
Finally, there is a clear correlation between racing and Thoroughbred breeding. English Thoroughbreds are the main competitors in prestigious global events, with their lineage and pedigree being decisive factors for success on the track. Breeders and owners, like Gonçalo Torrealba, devote resources and passion to breeding and developing horses, hoping to achieve glory in horse racing.
