Richard Ulbrich - thoroughbred history researcher and author

Self published in 1994, and with just over 27,000 main entries and 100,000 horses noted, it was acknowledged world wide as the essential who's who of the modern thoroughbred, with biographical entries of the most significant thoroughbred horses since the "invention" of the thoroughbred.

Long out of print, and now surpassed by the online version detailed below, and no longer available in bookshops anywhere, there are limited copies still available.

We are offering a copy at a nominal cost of US$50 to all subscribers to the online version at www.ulbrichspeerage.net . The cost of subscription is US$199.

Click here if you would like to up this offer (US$249), please go to our payments page at www.ulbrichspeerage.info here.

If you would just like a copy of the book, there are softcover and hardcover copies available. The softcover is US$195 (including postage) and the hardcover is US$250 (including postage). The payments page is available here.

Also, email your delivery details to ulbrichspeerage(at)gmail.com or click on to our contact form here.

"A Must!... Ulbrich has boldly gone where no researcher has gone before, into realms of treating females with some overdue equality... the user will have access to information not before grouped in one place." Peter Tonkes

"A Must for all serious pedigree readers and enthusiasts.. In one incredible publication Richard Ulbrich has provided the mean to plug all but the very, very obscure gaps." Tim Greene.

"The book is a monumental achievement without international barriers ... (and) the beauty of Peerage goes well beyond this incredible compilation of essential reference material as much as the information provides fascinating and lasting enjoyment." Leon Rasmussen.

"There is a vast amount of correct data within these pages ...(but) a mishmash of badly ordered data, in which the unimportant and irrelevant are commonly emphasized at the expense of the truly significant." (Tony Morris, Racing Post, Feb. 8 - amongst criticism of style - but not content.)

"A valuable reference .. serves a valuable adjunct to computer records for those who wish to extend knowledge of their female families beyond the information available in computer databases." (John P. Sparkman, The Thoroughbred Times, 14 Jan., 95).

"Author Ulbrich delivers (the) goods ... New book a must for aficionados ... billed as the essential Who's Who of the modern Thoroughbred"; something it more than lives up to." (S.H. Fernando, Daily Racing Form)

While bloodlines of the thoroughbred have been carefully managed for the best part of three centuries, 'good blood' does not necessarily show where it counts: at the finishing post. And 'chance bred' horses, such as McGee - the only offspring of his Sire, are well represented in racing's halls of fame.

Theories abound as to why particular bloodlines disappear and reappear in the world's winner's circles. However, author Richard Ulbrich says that particular theories should be given but passing credence by the breeder, owner, buyer or keen observer of the thoroughbred, as many a theory - such as the fabled "nick" of 'Nasrullah' with a 'Princequillo' mare can be proved to fail. The key, he says, is in interpreting relevant, high-quality data.

To this end, Ulbrich spent more than three decades researching and documenting the ancestry, performances, and progeny of major race winners around the world to compile his database of some 51,000 thoroughbreds - and 6 million plus words. The online database builds on the wealth of knowledge Ulbrich published earlier in book form, such as See How They Ran (1981), The Great Stallion Book (1988) and the 25,000 + horse print version of the database: Richard Ulbrich's Peerage of Racehorses (1994) - see above.

The unique, searchable database - www.ulbrichspeerage.net. - covers the winners of classic/major stakes events around the world, focusing primarily in the US, Europe and Australasia. Detailed profiles of significant performers place these animals more concisely in the context of thoroughbred history, and are accompanied by Ulbrich's unique (and exclusive) thoroughbred family trees.

Ulbrich, who was born in England and now lives in Australia, set firm criteria against which horses would be chosen for his 'peerage', and the type information to be included.

"I eliminated most handicap winners and geldings," Ulbrich explains. "These factors can bias, unhelpfully for breeders and buyers, the relative success of a particular line or animal."

Ulbrich says his choice of the word 'peerage' was significant.

"I concentrated on names that have dominated, and continue to dominate the thoroughbred breed. Their claim to 'royalty' is based on an analysis of sustained, credible performance on the track and/or at stud, not simply parentage."

A free 'lite' version of Ulbrich's Peerage is now available online at www.ulbrichspeerage.net..

Subscription to Ulbrich's comprehensive, 50,000 + resource is available for $199 (USD) for the first year and $39 (USD) for subsequent annual renewal. Subscribers also have online access to 'Ulbrich's Thoroughbred Family Trees' (sample attached).

An example of the depth of information the online resource provides on significant horses can be viewed by visiting www.ulbrichspeerage.net and clicking on the 'Blog' link. A sample page profiles England's leading sire of 1951, and America's Leading Sire five times, Nasrullah.

For more information contact Richard here.