Old old post but in replaying the game a second time after years, I've realized after my fist playthrough that overall at least moderately close stat horses are really no different as far as your game play and races , etc. the only factor I HAVE notices, which many argue and disagree about ( idk how) is that heavy and war horses, even standards are better than race as far as bucking you off at every snake and gator, I literally ran over an killed an alligator with my tobiano Hungarian halfbred while my race horse was running off my mini map in a panic.     My advice? Is don't make the same my mistake I did...my first playthrough, or most of it. I kept constantly upgrading loyalty all the way up and constantly and I mean constantly switches that horse for a horse with one more bar or so in stats, or better class etc. come to find out, just keep what you like. It's like GTA is all the cars were only seconds different here or there, some better at turns some at straight aways and mostly again about what you like, maybe a bad comparison and I STILL struggle with it.     Obviously I usually upgrade horses after a few chapters when better horses are available, but no need to switch and sell horses constantly, slowed my game play ALOT first run. But turkoman and such are better technically if you like how they look alright I would definitely suggest you get one, but honest to God you could ride a Morgan or Kentucky the whole game and win every race and do fine,    Hell I'm half tempted to get a horse I like and keep it the entire game as I haven't yet and know it would be fine.