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Sire Line
Darley Arabian |
Childers
[Devonshire or Flying] b c 1714 (Darley
Arabian - Betty Leedes, by Old
Careless). Sire Line Darley
Arabian. Family 6-a. His name was
Childers, although he was later called both Devonshire and
Flying Childers, the latter not until at least five years after
his death. Bred by Leonard Childers of Carr House, near
Doncaster, he was purchased as a youngster by William Cavendish,
the 2nd Duke of Devonshire. A bay with a blaze and four socks,
he was thought to be the fastest horse ever trained until that
time. He ran in
private trials and at Newmarket against the best class of
horses, defeating all he met.
That Childers
gave his spectators an impression of speed is beyond doubt. He
is said to have covered nearly a mile in a minute during his
match with Almanzor and Brown Betty, and to have covered the
Beacon Course, then measured at 4 miles 1 furlong 128 yards, in
7 minutes and 30 seconds, with each stride covering 25 feet.
In the stud
he is said to have covered few mares other than those belonging
to the Duke, and is often thought to have been less successful
than his younger brother Bartlet's
Childers. Nevertheless, he sired the Champion Sires
Devonshire Blacklegs (br c 1728) and Blaze (b c 1733). His
sons Snip (br c 1736), Second (br c 1732) and Hampton Court
Childers (c 1725) were very good stallions, and Ball (b c
1736), Grey Childers (gr c 1729), Roundhead (s c 1733) and
Steady (gr c 1735) also made contributions.
Childers was
Champion Sire in 1730 and 1736. He died in the Duke's stud at
Chatsworth in 1741.
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Childers |
Darley
Arabian |
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Betty
Leedes |
Old
Careless |
Spanker |
| Barb
Mare |
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Sister to
Leedes |
Leedes Arabian |
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Charming Jenny |
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Race Record |
| In 1721 he won a trial against
Almanzor (ch c 1713 Darley Arabian)
and the Duke of Rutland's Brown Betty (br f 1713 Basto)
over the Round Course. Childers carried 9st 2lbs and covered
the course, measured at 3 miles 6 furlongs and 93 yards, in 6
minutes and 40 seconds. In April he defeated the Duke of
Bolton's Speedwell (ch c Honeywood's Arabian) in a 500 guineas
match over 4 miles on the Beacon Course. In 1720 Speedwell had
beaten the Duke of Rutland's famous Coneyskins
(gr c 1712 Lister Turk) in a 4
mile match. In October Childers collected a 500 guinea forfeit
from Speedwell. |
| In 1722 he
beat Fox (b c 1714
Clumsey) a distance
and a half while conceding a stone [Early Records, 161]. Later
in October he defeated Lord Drogheda's Chaunter (b c 1710
Akaster Turk) in a 1000 guineas match over 6 miles. Each carried
10 stone. Although twelve years old at the time Chaunter had
beaten the best horses of his day. |
| Childers was
engaged for two matches in 1723 although he didn't have to run.
He received 50 guineas forfeit from both the Duke of
Bridgewater's Lonsdale Mare and Lord Milsintown's Stripling
(ch f Bald Galloway) when they withdrew from a 300 guineas
match. In November he collected a 100 guineas forfeit from Lord
Godolphin's Bobsey (br c Bay Bolton)
when Bobsey declined the challenge of a 200 guineas match. |
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Childers
Mares |
|
1. |
Ebony (b f
1728) was a foundation mare of Family
5. |
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2. |
Keeton
(f) was likewise a foundation mare of Family
39. |
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3. |
Sister 1 to Steady (gr f c1732) produced
Allworthy (gr
c 1744 Crab) and Feather (b c 1751 Godolphin
Arabian), both good stallions, along with Horatia (b f 1758
Blank), the taproot mare of Family
6-b. |
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4. |
Sister to Blaze (ch f 1730) was the dam of Lord
Portmore's Whitenose (b c 1742 Godolphin
Arabian) and his brother (b c 1736), both useful sires. |
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5. |
Childers Mare (f) was the dam of Little
Driver (ch c 1743 Beaver's Driver). |
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6. |
Childers
Mare (f) was the dam of the good sire Sloe (bl c 1740 Crab). |
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7. |
Childers
Mare (f) was the 4th dam of King
Fergus (ch c 1775 Eclipse). |
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Other Notable
Offspring |
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Blacklegs |
Blacklegs
[Devonshire] br c 1728 (Childers - Sister to Soreheels, by Basto).
Sire Line Darley
Arabian. Family 9-a.
Bred by the 2nd Duke of Devonshire and raced by the 3rd Duke,
Blacklegs ran for two years. He won 200 guineas defeating the
Duke of Bridgewater's Beauty at Newmarket in October of 1732
over four miles. The next year he won the 700 guineas stakes at
Newmarket in April, beating the Duke of Bolton's Sly (ch c 1728
Croft's Partner), Sir Michael Newton's
Favourite and the Duke of Somerset's Quibble, over four miles.
Later in October he won 300 guineas, again beating Sly over four
miles. He then won a 275 guineas sweepstakes defeating Mr.
Honeywood's grey mare, who won the King's Plate at Newmarket in
1734, the Duke of Bolton's Looby (br c 1728 Bay
Bolton), Lord Gower's chesnut mare, Mr. Hutton's Spot, Lord
Halifax's Bumper, Sir Michael Newton's Favourite and Mr.
Seymour's Robin. He joined the Duke's stud at Chatsworth and was
Champion Stallion in 1746. He got a number of good runners and
useful mares. |
| Blacklegs
Mares |
| 1. |
Blacklegs Mare (f
1741), dam of Lord Orford's good runner and stallion
Captain (br c 1752 Young Cartouch) and Lord Portmore's
Cassandra* (b f 1754 Whitenose),
the latter the grandam of Harris's Eclipse (b c 1771
Fearnought*). |
| 2. |
Sir Edward
O'Brien's Duchess (b f 1745), also called Duchess
Dowager, who was sent to Ireland and there became the
dam of Dorimond (b c 1757 Bustard). |
| 3. |
Blacklegs Mare, dam
of Richard Grosvenor's good runner Trajan (b c 1748 Regulus). |
| 4. |
Richard Langley's
Miss Langley [ex-Gipsey] (bl f 1740), dam of the
racehorse Marcus (ch c 1753 Oroonoko). |
| 5. |
Mr. Duncombe's Red
Rose (f 1745), dam of Mr. Buckle's runner Jalap (b c
1758 Regulus). |
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Blaze |
Blaze
b c 1733 (Childers - Confederate
Filly, by Grey Grantham). Sire Line Darley
Arabian. Family 61.
Bred by Thomas Panton, Newmarket, he raced for three years with
considerable success. He won 300 guineas at Newmarket in 1738,
beating the Duke of Bolton's Hopeful (gr c 1733 Sweepstakes)
over over four miles. In April of 1739 he won a 700 guineas
sweepstakes at Newmarket, beating Lord Godolphin's Roundhead
(ch c 1733 Childers) over four miles, and later the same year
he walked-over for the King's Plate at Winchester, and won the
King's Plate at Lewes, beating Mr. Stanton's Cinderwench. Back
at Newmarket in April of 1740 he won the King's Plate there,
defeating the Duke of Hamilton's Spectre and the Duke of
Somerset's Blacklegs. Purchased by Sir Harry Harpur, Blaze went
on to win 40 guineas at Epsom, beating Lord Portmore's
Squirt
(ch c 1732 Bartlet's Childers)
and Mr. Grisewood's Lady Thigh (ch f 1731 Partner),
50 guineas at Guildford, beating Sir A. Henley's Merry Cupid and
Lord Weymouth's Scrutineer (b c 1732 Aleppo),
another 50 guineas at at Reading, beating Mr. Friend's
Pebblestone, Mr. Beaver's Driver (ch c 1732 Snake) and Mr.
Turner's Lath (b c 1732 Godolphin
Arabian), £50 at Chipping-Norton, and a final 50 guineas at
Oxford. He was then purchased by John Luck and Joseph Smith and
stood at Beverley, Yorkshire, still commanding a fee of 3
guineas as late as 1754, and 5 guineas in 1755 when he stood at
Scorton, near Richmond, in Yorkshire. He sired many superior
racehorses, including Mr. Robinson's Sampson
(b c 1745), who was also a very good stallion, and Mr. Witty's Grenadier
(b c 1746), although he is probably best known as the sire of
Sir William St. Quinton's Cypron (b f 1750), the dam of
Champion Sire King Herod (b c 1758
Tartar) and Protector (br c 1770 Matchem).
He was also the great great grandsire of Messenger* (gr c 1780 Mambrino)
who was ancestor to the American trotting horse. Blaze was
Champion Sire in 1756, the year he died. |
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| Roundhead |
Roundhead
s c 1733 (Childers - Roxana, by Bald Galloway). Sire Line Darley
Arabian. Family 6-a.
One of the few horses recorded in the General Stud Book as a
sorrel, Roundhead, bred by Edward Coke, was foaled April 24,
1733. His entry in Lord Godolphin's Stud Book, which had
previously belonged to Edward Coke and its ownership apparently
transferred along with the Godolphin Arabian in 1733, notes that
Roundhead was a chesnut colt with a bald face and four white
legs [Royal Studs, 138]. He was sold to Mr. Potts in 1739 and
stood in the north of Yorkshire. He is recorded in several
sources as sire of the 4th dam of King
Fergus (ch c 1775 Eclipse), which
mare is traditionally assigned to Childers. He got several
useful mares along with noteworthy sons Joseph Andrews, Roger of
the Vale and Stadtholder. Roger of the Vale (ch c 1741) was
erroneously identified in the American Stud Book as the Jolly
Roger who was sent to America. |
| Roundhead
Mares |
| 1. |
Roundhead Mare, dam
of the good racemare Belinda
(gr f 1753 Tartar). |
| 2. |
Roundhead Mare (f
c1740), bred by Mr. Hassell, dam of Mr. Grisewood's
Teazer (gr c 1749
Old Teazer) who won a Royal Plate at
Ipswich in 1753. |
| 3. |
Roundhead Mare,
bred by Mr. Langley, a foundation mare of Family
65, and 4th dam of the Ascot Gold Cup winner
Jannette (ch f 1807 King Bladud). |
| 4. |
Miss Roundhead
(ch f 1742), bred by John Holme, of Carlisle,
Cumberland, the 2nd dam of Old England* (b c 1757
Holme's
Young Starling) who was sent to Virginia in
1762. Purchased by John Leary he ran from 1763 to 1767
in New York and Pennsylvania. In October of 1764 he lost
a Fifty at Newmarket (Long Island) to Mr. Thorne's
Starling* and Mr. Smith's Hero*. He stood in New York
from 1766 to 1772. |
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| Stadtholder |
Stadtholder
ch c 1742 (Roundhead - Mare, by Childers). Sire Line Darley
Arabian. Family 41.
Bred in Yorkshire by Cuthbert Routh of Snape Hall he was sold in
1748 to Lord Tankerville and Thomas Panton for 300 guineas. In
his only start in 1747 he won £50 at York, beating Lord
Portmore's Highlander. In April of 1748 he won the 130 guineas
Plate at Newmarket, again beating Highlander and the Duke of
Ancaster's Badger. Following this race Stadtholder ran for his
new owners, winning the King's Plate at Winchester beating Mr.
Keck's Lady Caroline and the King's Plate at Salisbury beating
Highlander and Lady Caroline again. He then won King's Plates at
Canterbury and Lewes. He was later sent to Ireland but left no
significant offspring. |
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| Snip |
Snip
br c 1736 (Childers - Sister to Soreheels, by Basto).
Sire Line Darley
Arabian. Family
9-a.
Bred and raced by the 3rd Duke of Devonshire, Snip won
his first race, in 1741, at Beccles, Suffolk, earning
£50 while defeating Mr. Trevor's Thirkelby (Easby Snake),
Mr. Shuldam's Fancy and three others. He ran later at
Newmarket without success, in spite of which his "high
blood, justness of shape, and fine appearance recommended
him to breeders as a promising stallion" [Pick1:66]. Sold to William Parker, he stood first at Dunstan-Bank,
near Newcastle, and later at Mr. Rogers's at Kenton, Northumberland.
He got a number of good sons, including the Champion Sire
Snap (bl c 1750), Prince T'Quassaw
(b c 1751), Judgment (b c 1751), Fribble (b c 1756)
and Swiss (br c 1757). Of his many useful daughters the
"Grey-legg'd mare" produced the good runners
Cardinal Puff (gr c 1760 Babraham)
and Crimp (b c 1757 Cade), and
another produced Banker (b c 1761 Matchem)
who ran with great success in Ireland. Snip died at Kenton
in May of 1757. |
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Prince
T'Quassaw |
Prince
T'Quassaw b c 1751 (Snip
- Dairymaid, by Bloody Buttocks). Sire Line Darley
Arabian. Family
23.
First owned by William Fenwick of Bywell, Northumberland,
he was later purchased by the Duke of Kingston. In 1755
he won the Maiden Plate at Lincoln, beating Mr. Richardson's
Fox-Cub and Lord Scarborough's Chance. He also won £50
at Morpeth, beating Mr. Scurfield's Dunkirk. In 1756 he
won the 60 guineas Subscription Purse at Hambleton, beating
Mr. Swinburn'e Judgment over four miles. He then won a
500 guineas sweepstakes at York, beating the Duke of Ancaster's
Myrtle, Mr. Hutton's Speedwell, Sir William Middleton's
Spot, the Marquis of Granby's bay colt (Buffcoat) and
Mr. Shafto's Hawk. The same year he won £50 at Lincoln,
beating Mr. Meek's Rake (Blaze) who retired after the
first heat; and walked-over for £50 at Morpeth.
Starting for the Duke of Kingston in April of 1757 he
won over 60 guineas at Newmarket, beating Sir John Ramsden's
Brisk (Cade). He then won the King's Plate at Nottingham,
beating Mr. Peirse's Commoner (Rib). He also won the King's
Plate at York, again beating Commoner, along with Mr.
Scurfield's Dunkirk. He walked-over for £50 at Lincoln
and started twice more without success. He got very few
mares whilst in the stud and is mainly remembered as the
sire of the 3rd dam of Dr. Syntax (br c 1811), who was
in turn the damsire of Newminster (b c 1848
Touchstone). |
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