Shark (GB)
 
 


Shark

 

 

 

Sire Line


Darley Arabian

 

 

 

 Shark* br c 1771 (Marske - Mare by Snap). Sire Line Darley Arabian. Family 56.

Bred by Charles Pigot, he raced from 1774 through 1779, winning nineteen of twenty-nine starts in England, including the Clermont Cup, and earning over 16,000 guineas, the largest amount ever won until that time.

He was given ample opportunity in the stud, first at Chesterton Hall, near Sutton, in Huntingdonshire, where his fee was 25 guineas in 1779. Moving to Alwalton Lodge, near Stilton, in 1780 he stood for 20 guineas and in 1781 for 10 guineas. In 1782 he moved on to Mr Blake's at Beddington, near Croyden, Surrey, where his fee was 10 guineas, which rose to 15 guineas in 1783, and returned to 10 guineas in 1784. In 1785 he moved to Mr Glenton's, at Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, and commanded 10 guineas to begin, which fell to 5 guineas shortly thereafter. Having made little impression on English breeders he was sold at Tattersall's in 1786 for export to Virginia.

After his departure his English daughter Violet (ch f 1787) produced the St Leger winner Symmetry (gr c 1795 Delpini), the Oaks winner Theophania (b f 1800 Delpini), and was 3rd dam of the St Leger winner and Champion Sire Soothsayer (ch c 1808 Sorcerer).

Shark spent his entire American stud career in Virginia, first at Alexander Spotswood's Nottingham stud, and later at Thomas Goode's and Thomas Hunt's, both in Sussex County. A highly respected stallion, said to stand about sixteen hands, he was often bred to daughters of Diomed* (ch c 1777 Florizel), and produced numerous valuable daughters, including the dam of Ball's Florizel (ch c 1801 Diomed*). He died in Virginia in 1795 or 1796.

 
Pedigree
Shark Marske Squirt Bartlet's Childers
Sister to Old Country Wench
Ruby Mare Hutton's Blacklegs
Bay Bolton Mare
Snap Mare Snap Snip
Sister to Slipby
Marlborough Mare Marlborough
Natural Barb Mare
Race Record
 
At 3: all at Newmarket, won a 500 guineas match in October, beating Mr Greville's Postmaster (b c 1771 Herod) over the Ditch In Course (2 miles, 97 yards), won a 300 guineas match, Second October, beating the Duke of Ancaster's Jacinth (b c 1771 Chrysolite), over the Ditch In Course, collected a 100 guineas forfeit, Second October, from Mr Blake's Prior (br c Coombe Arabian), 2nd in a 300 guineas match, First Spring, won by Mr Vernon's Florizel (b c 1768 Herod) over the Ditch In Course.
 
At 4: all at Newmarket, won a 200 guineas each sweep, Craven, beating Lord Grosvenor's Laurel (b c 1771 Dux) and two others, won a 100 guineas each and a hogshead of claret each sweep, beating Laurel, Mr Brand's Mayfly (b f 1771 Matchem), and three others over the Beacon Course (4 miles, 1 furlong, 138 yards), won the Clermont Cup, Second Spring, incuding a 100 guineas each sweep over the Beacon Course, won a 500 guineas match on May 15, beating Lord Rockingham's Cincinnatus (b c 1768 Sampson) over the Across the Flat Course (1 mile, 2 furlongs, 24 yards), won a 1000 guineas match on September 25, beating Lord Clermont's Johnny (b c 1769 Matchem) over the Beacon Course, lost a 500 sovereigns match, First October, to Lord Abingdon's Pretender (ch c 1771 Marske) over the Beacon Course.
 
At 5: all at Newmarket, won a 1000 guineas match, First Spring, beating Mr Greville's Postmaster over the Rowley Mile (1 mile, 1 yard), won a 1000 guineas each sweep, Second Spring, beating Laurel and Postmaster over the Beacon Course, won a 1000 guineas match, beating the Marquis of Rockingham's Rake (b c 1770 Sampson) over the Across the Flat Course, won a 500 guineas match, May 11, beating Lord Abingdon's Leviathan (bl c 1771 Marske) over the Beacon Course, won a 300 guineas match, First October, from Lord Clermont's Fireaway (gr c 1770 Squirrel) over the Rowley Mile, walked-over for the 140 guineas subscription purse, Second October, collected a 500 guineas forfeit, July, from Lord Abingdon's Critic (b c 1771 Matchem) for a 1000 guineas match over the Beacon Course, collected 250 guineas half-forfeit, First October, from Johnny, 2nd for an 80 guineas purse, won by Lord Ossory's Dorimant (ch c 1772 Otho), beating Lord Clermont's Masquerade (gr f 1771 Marske) and six others over the Ditch In Course, lost a 500 guineas match, May 6, to Masquerade over the Rowley Mile, lost a 200 guineas match, Second October, to Masquerade over half a mile.
 
At 6: all at Newmarket, won a 1000 guineas match, First Spring, from Leviathan over the Beacon Course, won a 500 guineas match, July, beating Hephestion over the Ditch In Course, won a 92 guineas purse beating Mr Compton's Wafer, Masquerade, Magnet and three others, collected a 250 guineas forfeit, First Spring, from Leviathan, lost a 300 guineas match, Second Spring, to Lord March's Kouli Khan (b c 1772 Vernon Arabian) over the Across the Flat Course, with Kouli Khan "carrying a feather," lost a 1000 guineas match, First October, to Lord Abingdon's Pretender over the Beacon Course, 2nd for the 140 guineas, won by Dorimant, beating four others, 3rd in the 140 guineas, won by Sir C Sedley's Ratcatcher (b c 1773 Snap), followed by Lord Clermont's Mistley (b c 1773 Herod) over the Beacon Course, paid a 100 guineas forfeit, Second October, to Leviathan.
 
At 7: all at Newmarket, won a 200 guineas match, First Spring, beating Mr Dawse's Nutcracker (br c 1774 Squirrel) over the Rowley Mile, won 200 guineas and The Whip, Second Spring, beating Lord Ossory's Dorimant over the Beacon Course, lost a 500 guineas match in May to Lord Clermont's Dictator (ch c 1773 Matchem) over the Beacon Course.
 
At 8: having previously retired to the stud he paid a 100 guineas forfeit for a 200 guineas each sweep which was won by Lord Bolingbroke's Highflyer, followed by Dorimant, at Newmarket, Second Spring.