Sire Line

Darley Arabian

Darley Arabian b c 1700. Sire Line Darley Arabian.

He was purchased in Aleppo by Thomas Darley, for his father Richard Darley at Aldby Park, near York, England, in 1704. Richard Darley died in 1706, being succeeded by his eldest son Henry. On Henry's death in 1720, his sister Jane inherited Adlby, and she later married John Brewster of Hertfordshire, who added the name Darley to his own. The horse stood at Aldby, under its succeeding owners, for the rest of his life. [Royal Studs:126]

The General Stud Book says he was probably a Turk or a Syrian horse, however, the eminent authority Sir Theodore Cook says he was the only authentically pure Anazah Arabian in the stud book. He stood about 15 hands.

Thomas, the Consul at Aleppo, discusses the Darley Arabian in a letter (dated December 21, 1703) to his brother John. "The colt, bought about a year and a half ago, with a design to send him to my father the very first opportunity. He comes four years old the latter end of March, or beginning of April next. His colour is bay, and his near fore-foot before, with his hind-feet, has white upon them. He has a blaze down his face, something of the largest. He is about fifteen hands high, of the most esteemed race among the Arabs, both by sire and dam, and the name is called Mannicka. Shall send him over by an intimate friend of mine, the Hon. and Rev. Henry Brydges, son to Lord Chandos, who embarks in the Ipswich, Captain W. Waklin. Hope he will not be much disliked; for he is highly esteemed here, where I could have sold him at a very considerable price, if I had not designed him for England. I have desired Mr. Brydges to deliver him to my brother John, or my cousin Charles Waite, who he can find (sic); and they are to follow my father's orders in sending him into the country.

In a conversation with John Cheny in 1743 John Brewster Darley (1670-1743) noted that the Darley Arabian had covered very few well-bred mares with the exception of Almanzor's dam, the Old Hautboy Mare [Cheny 1743, xv, xxvi], and that although Dart, Manica and Skipjack were good plate horses their dams were bad mares. Given his limited opportunities at home the Darley Arabian appears to have significantly upgraded his mares, many of whom remain unidentified.

Credit is due Leonard Childers who had purchased one of his colts, Whistlejacket, and subsequently thought highly enough of the Darley Arabian to later send his mare Betty Leedes to him twice, the result being the two great brothers Childers and Bartlet's Childers. Through Bartlet's Childers (b c c1716), sire of Squirt, who sired Marske, who sired Eclipse, the Darley Arabian established the sire line to which most living thoroughbreds trace in tail-male. Bartlet's Childers was Champion Sire in 1742. His full brother Childers (b c 1714), thought the fastest horse the world had ever seen, was Champion Sire in both 1730 and 1736.

Other sons made notable contributions as well, including Aleppo and *Bulle Rock. Wanton Willy (b c 1719) placed 2nd in the King's Plate at York in 1725, Cupid and Dart were both said to be good Plate horses and Daedalus was said to be a very fleet horse.

A Champion Sire in 1722, the Darley Arabian remained at Aldby Park, with the exception of a season spent with the Duke of Leedes in exchange for a prize bull, until his death.

Top, painting by John Wootton, described on the canvas as "An Arabian Horse belonging to John Brewster Darley Esq of Aldby." Left, a life-size painting by an anonymous Yorkshire artist dated 1709c said to have hung in the hall at Aldby along with one of Aleppo and another of Mother Neasham. The painting itself measures 9 feet 4 inches by 7 feet; from it can be deduced that the Darley Arabian stood 15 hands high. Right, a print of the painting by J. N. Sartorius.

For a history of the Darley Arabian written by Peter Darley, a descendant of John Brewster Darley, please visit the Genuki website Darley Arabian page.

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Aleppo

Aleppo b c 1711 (Darley Arabian - Mare, by Hautboy). Sire Line Darley Arabian. Family 53. Aleppo was bred in Yorkshire by John Brewster, prior to his marriage to Jane Darley. In 1716 at York he won the Ladies' Plate for 5 year olds, beating Lord Chesterfield's King Fisher, Lord Lonsdale's Brisk (ch c 1711), Mr. Curwen's Ladylegs and six others, all carrying 10 stone over four miles, along with several other prizes and plates. Purchased by Mr. Bantry, he retired to stud. Although he was said to have gotten very few well-bred mares he nevertheless sired Hobgoblin (br c 1724), whose union with the descendants of the Moonah Barb Mare helped establish Family 21, Spark* (c c1733), and Mr. Hassell's (later Lord Weymouth's) King's Plate winner Scrutineer (br c 1732).

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Almanzor

Almanzor ch c 1713 (Darley Arabian - Mare, by Hautboy). Sire Line Darley Arabian. Family 53. Bred in Yorkshire by John Brewster he was described as a remarkably fine, well-bred horse, who was a good runner. In 1719, starting for the Hon. W. Stanhope, he placed 3rd in the Gold Cup at York, won by the Earl of Carlisle's Buckhunter (ch c 1713 Bald Galloway), followed by Mr. Mackworth's Sober John, beating two others. A public stallion, he covered many mares although few of his offspring raced, despite which, he got his namesake, Mr. Williams's and later Sir Peter Soame's Almanzor (ch c 1726), who won Royal Plates at Nottingham and Newmarket and the Duke of Bolton's Mary Grey (gr f 1726) who won the Royal Plate at Hambleton in 1731. His daughter Sister to Spinner was the dam of the famous Old Traveller (b c 1735 Croft's Partner). His most successful son was probably Spinner.

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Spinner

Spinner gr c 1727 (Almanzor - Sister to Bay Bolton, by Grey Hautboy). Sire Line Darley Arabian. Family 37. Bred by  Mr. Osbaldeston of Hunmanby he was later purchased by Lord Portmore. Spinner got the very successful Sportley (b f 1740) who won Fifties at Peterborough, Newmarket, Warwick, Leicester, Huntingdon and Hounslow, along with the Town Plates at Chester and Newmarket. She also won a 50 guineas match at Newmarket against Lord Portmore's Moorcock (gr c 1740 Hutton's Blacklegs). Spinner also sired the dam of Mr. Preston's noted runner Hero [ex-Slape] (gr c 1753 Cade).

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Brisk

Brisk ch c 1711 (Darley Arabian - Coneyskins' Dam by Jigg). Sire Line Darley Arabian. The General Stud Book notes that Brisk was a half-brother to Coneyskins (gr c 1712 Lister Turk) [GSB1:378], however, sources conflict. There is likely more than one Brisk and more than one Coneyskins that have been been confused. In any case he was said to be a good horse and, running for Lord Lonsdale, he placed 3rd in the Ladies' Plate at York in 1716, won by Mr. Darley's Aleppo, followed by the Earl of Chesterfield's Kingfisher, beating Mr. Curwen's Ladylegs, Mr. Metford's Favourite and two others. In the stud he is credited with getting Mr. Cole's Foxhunter.

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Foxhunter

Foxhunter [Cole's] bbr c 1727 (Brisk - Brown Betty, by Basto). Sire Line Darley Arabian. Family 5. Foxhunter, son of the Duke of Rutland's Brown Betty, was owned by Mr. Cole. In 1734 he won 30 guineas at Lambourn, beating Mr. Bradley's Jigg along with two others. In his next engagement he won another 30 guineas at Newport-Pagnel, beating Mr. Garthside's Bonny Dundee. In 1735 he won the 40 guineas Town Plate at Salisbury. He next won 40 guineas at Winchester carrying 11 stone (154 pounds), beating Mr. St. John's Achilles and Mr. Bradley's Chance. He then won 20 guineas at Marlborough, 30 guineas at Newport-Pagnel, beating Sir Michael Newton's Brisk, 40 guineas at Northampton, beating Mr. Rich's Merry Tom, and £20 at Henley-upon-Thames. In 1736 he won £40 at Winchester, beating Mr. St. John's Achilles, 30 guineas at Northampton, beating Mr. Fleetwood's Whitefoot and the Duke of Ancaster's Driver (gr c 1727 Wynn's Arabian). He also won £30 at Tewkesbury, beating Mr. Howe's Cuddy, and 50 guineas at Oxford, beating Mr. Major's Whitestockings, the Duke of Ancaster's Driver and Lord Portmore's Partner. In 1737 he won £30 at Rugby. In the stud he got Lord Chedworth's Foxhunter (b c 1750) who very seldom raced although he did win a Fifty at Tetbury in 1755, beating Mr. Cornwall's Redstreak (b c 1750 Regulus), Mr. Kingscote's Trifle and others. Cole's Foxhunter got numerous other credible runners as well as the dam of the good mare Molly Long Legs (b f 1753 Babraham).

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Bulle Rock

Bulle Rock* (b c 1709) by Darley Arabian - Mare, by Byerley Turk - Mare, by Lister Turk - Natural Arabian mare. Sire Line Darley Arabian. Owned by Mr. Metcalfe and the Earl of Huntingdon, he had a respectable turf career in England. He was said to be a "good plate horse, though out of an indifferent mare" [Pick1:13]. There is some doubt that his dam line is as shown. In 1713 he placed 4th in the £30 Ladies' Plate at York, won by Mr. Hutton's Careless, followed by Mr. Stapleton's Hazard and Sir William Ramsden's Spot (gr c 1709 Curwen's Spot). In July of 1714 he placed 2nd in the £30 Ladies' Plate at York, won by Mr. Childers's Whitefoot (ch c 1709 Hutton's Grey Barb), beating Mr. Hildyard's Brisk and ten others. On August 24, 1715 he placed 2nd in the 100 guineas Royal Gold Cup at York, won by the Duke of Rutland's Brocklesby (b c 1709 Curwen's Bay Barb), beating Mr. Metcalfe's own Smiling Kit, Mr. Hildyard's Brisk and Mr. Curwen's Jew Trump who fell lame. On August 29 at the same meeting he placed 2nd in the £60 Gold Cup at York, won by the Duke of Rutland's Whitefoot, beating three others. In August of 1716 he won a £30 Plate at York, beating Mr. Pulleine's, later Mr. Dyer's, famous Dimple (ch c 1708 Leedes Arabian) and Sir William Blackett's Bagpiper (ch c c1708 Thoulouse Barb). The first heat, won by Dimple, was thought one of the finest ever run, being "most severely contested" for the whole four miles by all three horses. Bagpiper went lame in the second heat, apparently from holes in the course which had been improperly filled, and had to be withdrawn. Bulle Rock won the the last two heats. In July of 1717, he placed 3rd in a £30 Plate at York, won by Sir William Lowther's Wagtail, followed by Mr. Darley's Skipjack, beating Mr. Pulleine's Dimple, with both Bulle Rock and Dimple said to be lame. In 1718 he placed 2nd in a £40 Plate at York, won by Mr. Pulleine's Sly, beating Mr. Stapleton's Bridget and Mr. Howard's Crutches, although it was the opinion of onlookers that Crutches would have won had his rider not intentionally thrown himself off close to the distance post while the horse was on the lead. Bulle Rock has the distinction of being the first "thoroughbred" horse to come to America. He is thought to have been imported into Virginia at the age of twenty-one by James Patton, a merchant mariner, and to have been owned by Samuel Gist of Hanover County, Virginia, around 1731.

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Gander

Gander b c 1720 (Darley Arabian - Sister to Quiet by Leedes). Family 9. Owned by the Duke of Bolton, he was half-brother to Mr. Panton's famous Molly (ch f 1713 Thoulouse Barb) who won a number of high stakes matches at Newmarket from 1721 to 1723. In the stud his singular achievement was the third dam of Cunegonde (b f 1769 Blank), a foundation mare of Family 42.

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Manica

Manica b c 1707 (Darley Arabian - Jester, by Old Merlin). Sire Line Darley Arabian. Bred by Mr. Darley, he was full brother to Skipjack (ch c 1710 Darley Arabian). A good runner, he won several plates and prizes, including a 3rd placing in the Gold Cup at York in 1713. In the stud he got the good winners Mr. Humberston's Stump (b c 1724), who won Royal Plates at York, Nottingham and Lincoln in 1730, and Captain Appleyard's Black Mare (bl f 1722) who won the Royal Plate at Hambleton in 1727 beating twenty-four others. Through his son, Botterill's Horse, Manica contributed to the foundation of the Yorkshire Coach Horse.

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Stump

Stump b c 1724 (Manica - Mare, by Lister's Snake). Sire Line Darley Arabian. Family 104. Bred by Mr. White, he first ran under the name of Ladies' Toy. Described as a well marked, very strong brown bay, he stood 14 hands 3 inches. In 1729 Mr. Humberston's Ladies' Toy finished 2nd for a 30gs Plate for 5 year olds at Epsom in May, which was won by Mr. Dashwood's Tarran (ch c 1724 Tarran's Black Barb), beating Sir W. Bagot's chestnut colt Squirrel, Sir. M. Newton's Dumplin (ch c 1724), Mr. Greville's chestnut colt Squirrel and seven others. He also finished 2nd for the Royal Plate at Ipswich in June, won by Sir. R. Fagg's Goldenlocks (ch c 1724 Alcock's Arabian), beating Lord W. Manners's Roger (ch c 1724 Cyprus Arabian), the Duke of Somerset's brown colt, Mr. Williamson's Miss Alcock (b f 1724 Alcock's Arabian), Sir M. Newton's Sharpless (gr g 1724 Hutton's Turk) and three others who were distanced in the first heat. He then finished 4th for a  £60 Gold Cup at York in August, won by Captain Appleyard's Craftsman (gr c 1724 Smiling Tom). In 1730 he won a £30 Plate for 6 year olds at Malton in June, defeating Mr. Smith's Snake [ex-Midge] (gr c 1724 Jigg), Mr. Taylor's Polly Peachum (b f 1724 Smiling Tom) and Mr. Brewster's Miss Almahide (ch f 1724 Almanzor). In July he won both heats of the Royal Plate at Nottingham, beating Mr. Atkinson's bay colt Sampson, Mr. Shepherd's Foreigner (b c 1724 Howe's Persian) and two others who were distanced in the first heat. In August he again won both heats of the Royal Plate at York, beating Sir M. Wyvill's Scarborough Colt (bl c 1724 Tifter), Mr. Brewster's chestnut colt Little-thought-of, Mr. Henley’s Salisbury Steeple (ch c 1724 Almanzor) and Lord James Cavendish’s Young Mountain. At the end of August yet again he won both heats of the Royal Plate at Lincoln, beating Sir M. Wyvill's Scarborough Colt who was withdrawn after the first heat and Mr. Wildbore's grey colt Better-Luck [ex-True Blue] who was distanced. He finished 2nd for the Royal Plate at Newmarket in October won by Mr. Shepherd's Tarran (ch c 1724 Tarran's Black Barb), beating Mr. Coke's Hobgoblin (br c 1724 Aleppo). In 1732, running for Lord Portmore, he finished 2nd for for a £50 Plate at Guildford in June, won by Mr. Rich's brown colt Castaway. Stump has the distinction of winning the last Royal Plate that was run over Clifton and Rawcliffe Ings. In 1739 he was advertised to cover at Mr. Baldock's, the Talbot, Malton, Yorkshire, for a fee of 1 guinea. He was said to transmit beauty, strength and size to his offspring.

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Skipjack

Skipjack ch c 1710 (Darley Arabian - Jester, by Old Merlin). Bred by Mr. Darley he was full-brother to Manica. He had no major success on the turf, although he managed a 2nd placing in a £30 Plate at York in 1717, won by Sir William Lowther's Wagtail, beating Mr. Metcalfe's Bulle Rock and Mr. Pulleine's Dimple, both of whom were lame. In the stud at Aldby he got the King's Plate winner Croke (ch c 1729), half-brother to Lord Halifax's Justice, and the good mare Miss Patty (ch f 1732), the latter from Mr. Darley's famous race mare Mother Neasham. He also got Mr. Jefferson's Quintin (ch c 1720) who placed 2nd in the Ladies' Gold Cup at York in 1725, won by Mr. Routh's Surley (gr c 1720 Hutton's Surley) who was said to have won with great difficulty.

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Smockface

Smockface c 1714c (Darley Arabian - Mare, by Hautboy). Sire Line Darley Arabian. Family 53. Brother to Aleppo and Almanzor, he was bred by Mr. Brewster and later owned by Sir Matthew Peirson. He sired Smockface Mare, 3rd dam of Lord Gower's Pharoah (b c 1753 Chedworth's Moses), whose highly successful turf career included victories in five matches, for 200, 300, 500 (twice) and 1000 guineas. Pharoah was later sent to South Carolina.

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Whistlejacket

Whistlejacket ch c 1707 (Darley Arabian). Sire Line Darley Arabian. Said to be a good plate horse, in August of 1712 he won the £30 Ladies' Plate at York, for five year olds carrying 10 stone over four miles, beating Mr. Anderson's Wag (ch c 1707) and several others. According to Peter Darley he was subsequently purchased by Leonard Childers of Carr House, Doncaster, for £120 which perhaps led Mr. Childers to later send his mare Betty Leedes to the Darley Arabian and thereby produce both Childers (b c 1714) and Bartlet's Childers (b c c1716).

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Whitelegs

Whitelegs c 1715c (Darley Arabian - Mare, by Hautboy). Sire Line Darley Arabian. Family 53. Bred by Mr. Brewster, he was sometimes referred to as Brother to Almanzor. Later owned by the Duke of Somerset he was considered as good a horse as Almanzor, although he never ran in public due to an accidental injury.