The Darley Arabian (–1730) was one of three dominant foundation sires of modern Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock. The other two founders were the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerley Turk. This bay Arabian horse was bought in Aleppo, Syria, by Thomas Darley in 1704 and shipped to Aldby Park in England, as a present for his brother.
One author in 1840 described Darley Arabian's arrival in England during the reign of Queen Anne as the event which "forms the great epoch from which the history of the Turf [as in "turf racing"] should be dated".
There he stood at stud, usually private but sometimes open to outside mares. He was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1722. By all accounts, the Darley Arabian stood about 15 hands high and was of substantial beauty and refinement.Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), "Thoroughbred Breeding of the World", Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970
The Darley Arabian sired the undefeated Flying Childers. He also sired Bartlett's Childers, an unraced brother of Flying Childers, who was the great-grandsire of the extremely influential Eclipse. The Darley Arabian was to become the most important sire in the history of the English Thoroughbred. His son Bulle Rock was the first Thoroughbred to be exported to America, in 1730.
Most Thoroughbreds can be traced back to Darley Arabian. In 95% of modern Thoroughbred racehorses, the Y chromosome can be traced back to this single stallion. This is mainly through his descendant, Eclipse, who is the direct male ancestor of 95% of all thoroughbreds and in the pedigree of many of the rest.
Sire line tree
Darley ArabianJumpers: Darley Arabian Sire Line Manica Stump Whistlejacket Cupid Daedalus Danger Dart Skipjack Quintin Croke Bulle Rock Aleppo HobgoblinFoundation Sire: Hobgoblin Phantom Trimmer ShakespeareFoundation Sire: Shakespeare Pincher Scrutineer Spark PacoletStudbook: Early P BriskFoundation Sire: Brisk Foxhunter (Cole) Foxhunter (Chedworth) Almanzor Almanzor (Elstob) Almanzor (Fleetwood) Spinner Smockface Childers (Flying) Childers (Hampton Court) Tantrum Blacklegs Grey Childers (Chedworth) Plaistow Fleec'em Second Merlin Young Merlin Prospero Petit Maitre Leedes Sharp Spanking Roger BlazeFoundation Sire: Blaze SampsonFoundation Sire: Sampson EngineerFoundation Sire: Engineer Bay MaltonWhyte 1840 Pilgrim Treasurer PhocionDoncaster Cup Winners Childers Grenadier Scrub Shales Scot Shales DriverHarness Museum: HambletonianPedigree: Bellfounder Hip Roundhead Roger of the Vale Stadtholder Joseph Andrews Steady Ball SnipFoundation Sire: Snip SnapFoundation Sire: Snap Snap (Hazard) OmniumFoundation Sire: Omnium Snap (Latham)Foundation Sire: Snap (Latham) Lofty Snap (Chedworth)Foundation Sire: Snap (Chedworth) Mambruello Snipe Ancient PistolFoundation Sire: Ancient Pistol GoldfinderFoundation Sire: Goldfinder JuniperFoundation Sire: Juniper Scaramouch Mexican Prince T'Quassaw Tickler Hottentot Judgment Fribble Swiss Young Snip Ferdinando Whitelegs Childers (Bartlett)Foundation Sire: Childers (Bartlett) Childers (Smales)Foundation Sire: Childers (Smales) Turpin Grey Childers (Portmore) Merry Andrew SquirtFoundation Sire: Squirt MarskeFoundation Sire: Marske EclipseDarley Arabian Sire Line: Eclipse BranchPortrait: Eclipse Transit Hephestion Mungo (Leviathan) Narcissus Pretender SharkFoundation Sire: Shark Young MarskeFoundation Sire: Young Marske Garrick (Hyperion) Pontac Jocundo SyphonFoundation Sire: Syphon Tippler Daisy SweetwilliamFoundation Sire: Sweetwilliam Tosspot SweetbriarFoundation Sire: Sweetbriar Tipsey Enterprise Pastor Clown Streamer TandemFoundation Sire: Tandem Gallantry Tim Fig Wanton Willy Gander
In popular culture An anthropomorphized version of the Darley Arabian appears in Umamusume: Pretty Derby as one of the "three goddesses", voiced by Naomi Shindo.
See also List of racehorses Phaéton (trotter horse) Kentucky Derby winners descended from the Darley Arabian
References
Bibliography
External links Darley Arabian Darley Arabian Thoroughbred Heritage: Darley Arabian Sire Line Sire line for 15 generations