Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of an American breed of trotting and pacing horses developed especially for harness racing by crossing Thoroughbreds with Morgans and other breeds.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun horse racing A breed of horse bred specifically for harness racing

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From the fact that in order to be registered as a standardbred, a horse originally had to be able to trot a mile within a standard time of two and a half minutes.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

standard +‎ bred

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Examples

  • The standardbred industry also contributed several million towards Monmouth's experiment.

    N.J. Racing Fights for Its Future 2010

  • While the state currently breeds and races thoroughbred and standardbred horses (which are used in harness racing), the report took as a core assumption that the industry "cannot earn enough purse monies on its own to sustain two breeds in the state."

    N.J. Racing Fights for Its Future 2010

  • Pushing the issue, Mr. Christie earlier this month vetoed the schedules for standardbred racing and thoroughbred racing.

    New Bet on Meadowlands Race Track Lisa Fleisher 2010

  • That's the nickname given to a 9-year-old standardbred horse that a humane society says was left at a northeast Ohio store by an Amish teenager more than two months ago.

    The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com The Huffington Post News Editors 2012

  • One fellow will try to sell his plan to buy, race and sell a standardbred horse, all in 30 days.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed DAVID SHOALTS 2011

  • That's the nickname given to a 9-year-old standardbred horse that a...

    The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com The Huffington Post News Editors 2012

  • Coleman is a Canadian standardbred trainer who is finally poised to win the race on Thursday with a horse with the Utopian name in this world of Betterthancheddar.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed Beverley Smith 2011

  • For the past several years, Dr. Physick-Sheard has been conducting research into the effects of intense exercise on the heart rates and rhythms of racehorses - both standardbred and thoroughbred - at Woodbine and Mohawk racetracks in Ontario.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed BEVERLEY SMITH 2011

  • Coleman is a Canadian standardbred trainer who is finally poised to win the race on Thursday with a horse with the Utopian name in this world of Betterthancheddar.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed Beverley Smith 2011

  • Coleman is a Canadian standardbred trainer who is finally poised to win the race on Thursday with a horse with the Utopian name in this world of Betterthancheddar.

    The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed Beverley Smith 2011

Comments

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  • Standardbreds are a breed of horse best known for their ability to race in harness at a trot or pace instead of under saddle at a gallop. Developed in North America, the breed is now recognized worldwide for its harness racing ability. They are solid, well-built horses with good dispositions that are also used under saddle for a variety of equestrian activities, particularly in the Midwest and eastern United States.

    _Wikipedia

    February 5, 2008