A new exhibit at William T. Young Library traces the heritage of the modern Thoroughbred horses bred in Kentucky to a stock of Arabian horses imported to England between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. As part of the continued focus on the Year of the Middle East by University of Kentucky (UK) Libraries in conjunction with the UK College of Arts and Sciences, “Arabian Roots: The Pedigree of Kentucky Thoroughbreds” illustrates prominent sires’ bloodlines and shows links to Central Kentucky horses. The exhibit opened April 27.

"Arabian Roots" includes wall panels along with display cases featuring artifacts and books on some of the Central Kentucky sires. The exhibit panels show the evolving Thoroughbred from the Darley Arabian through William T. Young’s famed Storm Cat. The physical exhibit, which runs through July 31, will be located in Core 1 of The Hub in Young Library.

“Arabian Roots” is also a virtual exhibit that can be found in UKnowledge, the university’s institutional repository athttp://uknowledge.uky.edu/world_yome_arabian_roots.

A satellite exhibit with additional artifacts is also on display in the John A. Morris Library in the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center.

All exhibits and events are free and open to the public.

“Arabian Roots” was developed by UK Libraries, The Keeneland Library, and the Gluck Equine Research Center in collaboration with the Pyramid Society and the International Museum of the Horse.

Author: Whitney Hale