What is (was) a race horse?

[Linny]

Bid and Affirmed were professional race horses. Moderately bred they outran pedigree.
Skip Away was another, more recent example. John Henry fits as does ol' Spooky Mulder who has yet to win a graded stakes but he's a pro, no doubt. I think that Lava Man fits and his connections have been quite sporting, including a trip to Japan last fall.
The sad reality is that in today's world the only horses who stick around long enough to "take on all comers" are those of modest parentage for whom the breeding shed doesn't becon. Had Skippy been by A P Indy or Mr P or Danzig, he'd have had a much shorter career.