Around three hundred years ago three stallions made their way from the sun- baked Middle East to the grey shores of Britain. Known by the names of their owners, they were the Darley Arabian, the Godolphin Arabian, and the Byerley Turk. Today every single thoroughbred alive can be traced in direct male descent to one of these stallions. You may be able to marry a place in Burke's Peerage, but the Weatherby's stud book is closed.