Selima (horse)

Last updated

Selima
Sire Godolphin Arabian [1] [2]
DamShireborn
DamsireHobgoblin
Sex Mare
Foaled30 April 1745 [3]
Country Great Britain
Colour Bay
Owner Benjamin Tasker, Jr.
Earnings2,500 pistoles
Honours
Selima Stakes at Laurel Park Racecourse
Last updated on 27 August 2023

Selima (b. 30 April 1745) was one of the most important Thoroughbred horses of the 18th century and became one of the foundation mares of the American Thoroughbred. [1] [2] She was imported to Maryland between 1750 and 1752 by Benjamin Tasker, Jr. [1]

Contents

History

Selima was foaled on 30 April 1745 at the stud farm of Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin in England. [3] She was sired by the Godolphin Arabian out of the "Shireborn Mare", by the stallion Hobgoblin. Shireborn reportedly same from the royal stables of the Stuart monarch Anne, Queen of Great Britain. [3]

A bay mare with a faint white star on her forehead, and a splash of white on her left hind ankle, Selima was among the first Thoroughbreds to cross the Atlantic Ocean and race in the American colonies. She was imported by Benjamin Tasker, Jr. of Maryland around September 1750, at the age of 5, and was supposedly pregnant when she was shipped across the Atlantic, according to the Earl of Godolphin's studbook. However, no foal was produced, meaning that Selima likely miscarried. [3]

However, John L. Hervey, the author of Racing in America 1665-1865 (1944), disputes this:

"[The] precise age and maternal pedigree [of Selima], despite these things, were matters of uncertainty and dispute until but yesterday. At various times four different dams, all wrong, were assigned her by different authorities. Precisely when she arrived in Maryland, precisely how old she then was – these likewise were facts fruitful of misstatement. Not until 1933 did the late C. M. Prior, that indefatigable investigator of old English Thoroughbred history, set them at rest. Having turned up the original manuscript stud books kept by Edward Coke, the man who brought the Godolphin Arabian into England from France, and by the Earl of Godolphin, to whom the horse passed after Coke's death and whose property he remained throughout the rest of his (the stallion's) life, Mr. Prior discovered in them the authentic entry of her foaling upon April 30, 1745; that her dam was the Shireborn Mare, by Hobgoblin and of the maternal family stemming from Queen Anne's Moonah Barb Mare; and that she was a bay 'with a Small Star & a Little of ye near hind Heell white'. The notation following: 'This Filly sold to Mr. Tasker into Maryland', with the further statement that she was sent there in September, 1750, being plenary verification of her origin and ancestry."

John L. Hervey,Racing in America 1665-1865 (1944)

Selima was trained to race at Belair in 1751 and 1752, and she made her racing debut was in Annapolis, Maryland in May 1752. There, she defeated another English mare, Creeping Kate, winning 40 pounds, or about 50 pistoles.

In 1752, Selima won the biggest prize of the era, 2,500 pistoles at Gloucester, Virginia which marked "the beginning of the remarkable racing contests between the rival colonies of Maryland and Virginia", according to former Annapolis mayor Ellen Moyer. Selima won, followed by Tryal (Trial) - William Byrd III's gray mare - followed by two imported (c. 1751) English Thoroughbred horses also owned by the Tayloes, Jenny Cameron and Childers, with Childers later becoming a popular broodmare sire. [1] [4]

Legacy

Selima produced many foals during her career as a broodmare: [1]

However, records are conflicted on which foal she had in 1761, with two different ones being recorded:

The annual Selima Stakes, now raced at Laurel Park Racecourse, was named after Selima in 1926 and first held at the Maryland State Fair with a $30,000 challenge cup for two-year-old fillies. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Godolphin Arabian</span> Foundation sire of the Thoroughbred horse breed (c. 1724–1753)

The Godolphin Arabian, also known as the Godolphin Barb, was an Arabian horse who was one of three stallions that founded the modern Thoroughbred. He was named after his best-known owner, Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benjamin Tasker Jr.</span> American slave trader, politician (1720–1760)

Colonel Benjamin Tasker Jr. was a politician and slave trader in colonial Maryland, and Mayor of Annapolis from 1754 to 1755. He was the son of Benjamin Tasker Sr., Provincial Governor of Maryland from 1752 to 1753.

Belair Stud was an American thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding farm founded by Provincial Governor of Maryland Samuel Ogle in 1747 in Collington, Prince George's County, Maryland, in Colonial America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland</span>

The title of champion, or leading, sire of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland is awarded to the stallion whose offspring have won the most prize money in Britain and Ireland during the flat racing season. The current (2022) champion is Dubawi, who earned his first title after finishing runner-up multiple times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spark (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Spark was a Thoroughbred stallion who was among the early imports of Thoroughbred horses to America. The Belair Stud stables were associated with him and a mare, Queen Mab, also imported in this period. Frederick, Prince of Wales gave the stallion to Samuel Ogle, the governor of Maryland, as a gift.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thoroughbred</span> Horse breed developed for racing

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed developed for horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are considered "hot-blooded" horses that are known for their agility, speed, and spirit.

The Selima Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. Raced in late November, it is open to two-year-old fillies and is raced on turf.

Aimwell was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career that lasted from autumn 1784 to spring 1786, he ran eight times and won five races. In 1785, he won the sixth running of the Epsom Derby as well as three races at Newmarket. He was beaten in his only race in 1786, and did not appear in any subsequent records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alcock's Arabian</span> Foundation sire of the Thoroughbred breed

Alcock's Arabian, also known as Pelham Grey Arabian and less certainly as Bloody Buttocks and Ancaster Turk, among other names, is the ancestor of all grey-coloured Thoroughbred horses, as well as grey sport and riding horses descended from Thoroughbred lines.

Rafalca is a former dressage horse, co-owned by Ann Romney, that performed in the equestrian competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics, with rider Jan Ebeling. She was retired from competitions in 2014, and is now a broodmare.

Curwen's Bay Barb was a foundation sire of the Thoroughbred breed. A bay horse with a white blaze, he was imported by Henry Curwen in 1698 from France. He had originally been a present to Louis XIV from the King of Morocco. One of his early sons, Mixbury, stood just over 13 hands high and apparently "there were not more that two horses of his day that could beat him under light wrights". He also sired Tantivy, Brocklesby, Brocklesby Betty, Creeping Molly and the top stallion Hip. It has also been suggested that he may have been the sire of Alcock's Arabian.

Blank (1740–1770) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He only won one race, but became a very successful sire and was British Champion sire in 1762, 1764 and 1770.

Crab also known as Old Crab and Mr. Panton's Crab was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. After retiring from racing he became a successful stallion and was British Champion sire in 1748, 1749 and 1750. He was owned by the 1st Earl of Portmore until purchased by Mr. Cotton and then Thomas Panton.

Bloody Buttocks was a British Thoroughbred sire who was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1739. He was owned by Mr. Crofts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lath (horse)</span> British Thoroughbred racehorse

Lath was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He won at least four races, including a 1000-guinea sweepstakes at Newmarket and a match race against Squirt. After retiring from racing he became a stallion and produced a number of high-class runners and also sired the grand-dam of St. Leger winner Hollandoise.

Squirrel was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He won seven of his nine races, including the 1400 Guineas Stakes and match races against Dapper and Jason. He was also a successful stallion, siring Craven Stakes winner Firetail. However he was more well known for producing broodmares, siring the dams of seven Classic winners including Derby winner Noble, along with the dam of champion sire Trumpator. Squirrel was owned by Jenison Shafto.

Imperatrix was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She raced only twice, with her only win coming in the 1782 St. Leger Stakes. She was bred and owned by John Pratt. As a broodmare, Imperatrix produced nine foals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Allan (horse)</span> Foundation sire of the Tennessee Walking Horse

Black Allan or Allan F-1 was the foundation sire of the Tennessee Walking Horse. He was out of a Morgan and Thoroughbred cross mare named Maggie Marshall, a descendant of Figure and the Thoroughbred racing stallion Messenger; and sired by Allandorf, a Standardbred stallion descended from Hambletonian 10, also of the Messenger line.

Janus (1746–1780), also known as Little Janus, Young Janus, and Janus II, was an English Thoroughbred stallion imported to Colonial America, which would later become the United States. Noted for his quickness and compact conformation, he has subsequently been acknowledged as a foundation sire of the American Quarter Horse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medley (horse)</span> British Thoroughbred racehorse

Medley (1776–1792) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who was imported to the United States after the American Revolutionary War, becoming one of the foundation stallions of the American Thoroughbred.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Deubler, Cindy (May 2002), "Belair Museums stand in path of "Progress"", Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred: 22–27
  2. 1 2 Remly, Lynn L. (Fall 2002), "Art Among the Oats: Belair Stable Museum", Equine Images, 2000 (81): 5–56
  3. 1 2 3 4 Eisenberg, John. "Off to the Races". HorseHints.org. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  4. ↑ "U.S. Thoroughbreds Rise to New Heights by 1800". International Museum of the Horse. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  5. ↑ Carson, Jane (1965), Colonial Virginians at Play, Williamsburg, Virginia: Colonial Williamsburg, p. 125, ISBN   0-87935-122-5, OCLC   526839
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.