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33-645: Bred by John Holmes of Carlisle, he was sired by Cade, a stallion who also got Changeling—the sire of Le Sang, and the grandsire to Bourbon (winner of the St. Leger) and Duchess (winner of the Doncaster Cup)—and Young Cade (who sired many good broodmares). He won many King's Plates in his racing career. Cade was by the Godolphin Arabian , one of the three founding stallions of the Thoroughbred breed. Matchem

66-638: A Barb , but Judith Blunt-Lytton, 16th Baroness Wentworth of the Crabbet Arabian Stud concludes that it is most widely believed that he was an Arabian or had primarily Arabian lineage. "Barb" is a reference to his believed country of origin, Tunisia , on the Barbary Coast . Whyte in the 1840 History of the British Turf , refers to the horse as "The Godolphin Barb, or as he has been improperly called ,

99-754: A "barb". Both were of a similar bay colour, but the Barb had a star . Godolphin later bought a grey Barb, which has also caused some confusion over the years. Recent DNA studies disprove the theory that he was a Barb, as his descendants' Y-DNA traces to the same general haplotype as the Darley Arabian , though to different sub-groups and there are relatively few male-line descendants of the Godolphin Arabian today. This group may have been of Turkoman horse or Arabian origins, as modern horses of both breeds have been linked to this haplotype. The Godolphin Arabian

132-516: A diplomatic gift to King Louis XV of France but, due to his poor condition on arrival and relatively small size, was given to the cook as a cart horse. He was soon sold to a woodcarter in Paris, where he was treated poorly and then purchased by the Quaker Edward Coke of Holkham Hall , older brother of the 1st Earl of Leicester 5th Creation, then sold to Francis, Earl of Godolphin , who maintained

165-518: A great number of chestnuts and a high percentage of blacks, as well as horses listed as roan out of non-roan mares, suggesting he might have carried the rabicano gene. His sire was also noted to have sired a good number of roans. Additionally, he had " Matchem arms ," or 2-3 bars of white hair at the base of the tail. Sold to William Fenwick, Matchem lived at his stud in Bywell in Northumberland until

198-486: A sire line descendant of the Godolphin Arabian since Santa Claus in 1964 and is nowadays dominated by descendants of the Darley Arabian. The major Thoroughbred sire Eclipse traces in his sire line to the Darley Arabian, but his dam was a daughter of Regulus and thus also traces to the Godolphin Arabian. This pattern continues to be seen today, with the Godolphin Arabian more heavily represented in dam lines and in

231-535: A stud in Suffolk , near the racing town of Newmarket . Wandlebury Hill Wandlebury Hill ( grid reference TL493534 ) is a peak in the Gog Magog Hills , a ridge of low chalk hills extending for several miles to the southeast of Cambridge , England. The underlying rock is present in a number of places on the hill. At 74 metres (243 ft) it is the same height as the nearby Little Trees Hill , although

264-415: Is primarily supported by descendants of Relaunch and his son Cee's Tizzy through dual Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow . In Europe, his influence survives mainly through the 2,000 Guineas winner Known Fact , and his son, the champion miler Warning . This line has produced outstanding sprinters such as Diktat ( Haydock Sprint Cup ), Avonbridge and Dream Ahead . The Derby has not been won by

297-616: The Newbery Medal for King of the Wind , recognizing it as the year's "most distinguished contribution to American literature for children". Misty became a film in 1961, but King of the Wind had to wait till 1990 for its adaptation , with Navin Chowdhry as the Arabian's lifetime stable boy Agba. In the novel, the Godolphin Arabian was foaled in Morocco and was called Sham. He came to Europe as

330-517: The "middle" of pedigrees (as opposed to direct sire lines). Conquérant , a founding stallion of the French Trotter breed, also belonged to the male lineage of the Godolphin Arabian. King of the Wind (Chicago: Rand McNally, 1948) is a fictional biography of the Godolphin Arabian by American author Marguerite Henry . She wrote many books about horses for children , and perhaps is best known for Misty of Chincoteague and its sequels. She won

363-586: The 1758 Jockey Club Plate, which he lost to Mirza. He then finished his career with a win against Foxhunter at Scarborough. Notes Matchem began his breeding career in 1758, although he would not retire from his career on the turf until the following year. He stood his entire career at Bywell, until his death 21 February 1781, at age 33. His many offspring, including 354 winners of £151,097, were noted for their good temperaments. Some of his best get include: In prize money terms his career peaked in 1772, when he sired 30 winners of £25,116 10s. The following year

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396-406: The Godolphin Arabian" (emphasis added) before further clarifying, "he was long considered an Arabian, although his points resembled more those of the highest breed of Barbs." However, portraits showing a horse with a high-carried tail and dished profile, features that differentiate the two types, lead modern experts to believe he was more likely an Arabian. The confusion is understandable, but while

429-497: The Godolphin Arabian…his shoulders were deeper, and lay farther into his back, than those of any horse yet seen. Behind the shoulders, there was but a very small space where the muscles of his loins rose exceedingly high, broad, and expanded, which were inserted into his quarters with greater strength and power than in any horse . . . yet seen. Controversy exists over the ancestry of this horse; some writers referred to him as

462-705: The Ladies' Plate at Lincoln, and again a plate at Morpeth. At age seven, he beat Trajan at the four-mile Beacon course at Newmarket, finishing in only 7 minutes, 20 seconds. To solidify the victory, Matchem again beat Trajan in The Whip in April, over the Beacon course. He then won a plate at Newcastle, before experiencing his first loss to Spectator, in the Jockey Club Plate (Newmarket). Due to physical problems, Matchem did not race until

495-541: The Ring. The house was demolished in the 1950s but the monumental stable block remains, now used for accommodation and as headquarters office of Cambridge Past, Present & Future. The grave of the Godolphin Barb horse, which died in 1753, can be seen under the archway. Maps and leaflets are available from the porch at all times and from a shed in car park on summer Sundays. The tail of a crashed World War II Wellington Bomber

528-552: The age of five before beginning his racing career. This practice, to wait until the horse was fully mature, was customary at that time, despite the fact that most racehorses today begin their careers at two or three. In 1753, Matchem won his maiden race, the Great Subscription Purse at York, ridden by Christopher Jackson, as well as a plate in Morpeth, Northumberland. The following year, he won the four-mile Ladies' Plate at York,

561-510: 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 ." After this, she became a successful broodmare at the Belair Stud in Collington, Maryland . The Godolphin Arabian died on the Gog Magog Hills , Cambridgeshire in 1753, aged around 29. The horse's grave in

594-444: The breeds have some characteristics in common and are distantly related, their phenotypes are quite distinct. There was also an argument raised that he was actually a Turkomen , merely called an Arabian in order to raise the stud fee . The Earl of Godolphin referred to the horse as an Arabian, and he was described as such by the painter George Stubbs . Lord Godolphin later bought a second stallion in 1750. This one he clearly called

627-401: The death of his owner in 1733. He was bequeathed to Roger Williams, "proprietor of the St. James's Coffee House ", who inherited Coke's stallions. He was bought by the 2nd Earl of Godolphin, and placed at his stud at Wandlebury , Cambridgeshire, until his death on Christmas Day 1753. A stone marks his grave under the archway of the stable block of Wandlebury House . The Godolphin Arabian

660-523: The fort has vanished, the ditch (the Ring) dug around the edge can clearly be seen and walked along, being 5 metres deep in places and offering an adventurous route along its edge. There is no evidence that it was ever used in defence. The reserve, mainly beech woodlands and fields, is a place for birdwatching . Banyard bird hide, overlooking Varley's Field, was completed in February 2012. Like Little Trees Hill,

693-690: The latter is a more notable landmark. The top stands in Wandlebury Country Park, a nature reserve owned by Cambridge Past, Present & Future (registered charity number 204122), formerly known as the Cambridge Preservation Society. Wandlebury was already inhabited in the Bronze Age and 2500 years ago there was an Iron Age hill fort here known as Wandlebury Ring . This hill fort once had concentric ditches and earthen walls which were kept in place by wooden palisades . Although

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726-401: The stable block of Wandlebury House can be visited. When he was interred, the occasion was marked with ale and cake. Although today the majority of Thoroughbred horses' sire lines trace to the Darley Arabian , several famous North American horses of the past trace their sire line back to the Godolphin Arabian. These include Seabiscuit , Man o' War , and War Admiral . Today, the sire line

759-415: The summit is on public land and is accessible when sheep or Highland cattle are not in the field. Dogs must be on a lead everywhere in Wandlebury Country Park. It can be reached by walking across the field from post 3 of the nature trail. Virtually no climb is involved in the ascent, just a stroll through woodland. Wandlebury House, home of among others Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin , stood within

792-502: Was Lath , the first of his offspring, who went on to win the Queen's Plate nine times out of nine at the Newmarket races . The second colt from this pair was Cade , and the third was Regulus . All three were the same gold-touched bay as their sire, with the same small build and high-crested conformation . All were exceptionally fast on the track, and went on to sire many foals themselves. This

825-415: Was a bay colour with some white on the off heel behind. He stood at 15  hands (60 inches, 152 cm) and was distinguished by an unnaturally high crest, which is noticeable from portraits of the horse. Most of his immediate offspring were also bay. The veterinary surgeon Osmer described the Godolphin Arabian in the following manner, There never was a horse… so well entitled to get racers as

858-534: Was able to draw out the pattern of what he claimed were 3 hill figures picturing ancient British deities - A horse goddess ( Magog or Epona ), a Sun god ( Gog , Bel , Belinus or Lucifer ) and a warrior figure with sword and shield. The Times reported on Lethbridge's discovery as a "previously lost, three thousand-year-old hill-figure". A later article about Lethbridge's efforts was written by W. A. Clark in 1997 which did not confirm his claims, nor did magnetometer and resistivity meter testing. The suggestion

891-556: Was foaled about 1724 in Yemen and moved several times before reaching England. At some early age, he was exported, probably via Syria, to the stud of the bey of Tunis . From there he was given to Louis XV of France in 1730. It is believed he was a present from monarch to monarch. Not valued by his new French owner, it is believed he was used as a carthorse . The horse was then imported from France by Edward Coke and sent to his stud at Longford Hall, Derbyshire , where he remained until

924-588: Was his peak in terms of number of winners - 40 for £16,397 10s prize money. Godolphin Arabian The Godolphin Arabian ( c.  1724 –1753), also known as the Godolphin Barb , was an Arabian horse who was one of three stallions that founded the modern Thoroughbred (the others were the Darley Arabian and the Byerley Turk ). He was named after his best-known owner, Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin . The Godolphin Arabian

957-407: Was out of a bay (1735) mare by Partner , who was an undefeated stallion in 1723, 1724, and 1726 in four-mile match races, until his first loss in 1728 to Smiling Ball. Partner also sired Tartar , the sire of Herod . Matchem's dam was also full-sister to Miss Partner. The colt was surprisingly small, only 14 hands 3 inches with good bone and a "racey" build. Although considered dark bay, he produced

990-496: Was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1738, 1745 and 1747. Originally, this small stallion was considered inferior to the larger European horses of the time and was not meant to be put to stud. Instead he was used as ' teaser ', a stallion used to gauge the mare's receptiveness. This changed when Hobgoblin refused to cover the mare Roxana, who was then covered by the Godolphin Arabian. The result of this mating

1023-634: Was the start of the Godolphin Arabian's prowess as a racing stud, and he spent the rest of his days as the Earl of Godolphin's prize stallion, bred to England's finest mares. The American connection began with the filly Selima (born in 1745 out of Shireborn). She was purchased by Benjamin Tasker Jr. of the Province of Maryland in Colonial America , carried to the new world, and raced between 1750 and 1753. She won

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1056-475: Was thought to have been overgrown or effaced in the 18th century. The figure was first recorded by Bishop Joseph Hall in 1605 and later by others including William Cole and John Layer. Investigation was carried out in 1954 by T. C. Lethbridge , an archaeologist and parapsychologist . He found small lumps of chalk to the south of the hill and proceeded to survey the area with a sounding bar, probing areas of soft ground and disturbed chalk. By placing markers he

1089-468: Was visible wedged high in a beech tree within the estate, until it was dislodged by strong winds in the early 1990s. A number of hypotheses have been made about a supposed "Wandlebury enigma"; the purpose, function and decoration of Wandlebury Hill. The first is the suggestion that an ancient hill figure had once been carved into the side of Wandlebury Hill, similar to the Cerne Abbas Giant . This

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