Byerley Turk facts for kids

The Byerley Turk by John Wootton

The Byerley Turk (born around 1680 – died around 1706) was a very important horse. He was one of the first three famous stallions (male horses) who helped create the modern Thoroughbred horse breed. Thoroughbreds are known for their speed in horse racing. The other two famous horses were the Godolphin Arabian and the Darley Arabian.

About the Byerley Turk

We don't know everything about the Byerley Turk's early life. Records say he was Captain Robert Byerley's war horse in Ireland. This was during King William's wars around 1689.

Many people think the horse was captured in a big battle called the Battle of Buda (1686). Others believe he was one of three Turkish horses taken at the Battle of Vienna. It's also possible he was born in England.

What we do know is that he was Captain Byerley's horse. Captain Byerley fought in the Battle of the Boyne. Stories say the captain once escaped danger because his horse was incredibly fast.

The horse's name is sometimes spelled "Byerly Turk." However, most people agree that "Byerley" is the correct spelling. This matches his owner's name.

The Byerley Turk was a dark brown or black horse. His exact background isn't known, but he was often called an Arabian horse. Turkish horses at that time were thought to be related to Arabian horses. They were known for being elegant, brave, and very fast. Many of his foals (baby horses) were also dark in color.

Life as a Breeding Horse

In 1692, Captain Byerley married Mary Wharton. They moved to her family home, Goldsborough Hall, in England. After Captain Byerley retired, the Byerley Turk also retired. He became a "stud" horse, meaning he was used for breeding.

He first lived at Middridge Grange. Then, from 1697, he moved to Goldsborough Hall. The Byerley Turk died there in 1706. People believe he is buried near the Hall. Today, Goldsborough Hall is a private home that offers rooms for guests. There's even a special "Byerley suite" there.

The Byerley Turk didn't breed with many top mares (female horses). But his most important sons include:

• Black Hearty: A black colt born around 1695. He was a famous horse.
• Grasshopper: Born around 1695. He won a race in Nottingham.
• Jigg: A bay colt born around 1701. He wasn't a super-fast racer himself. But Jigg became the father of Partner. Partner was a leading sire (father of many winners) four times. Partner then sired Tartar. Tartar was the father of Herod (born 1738). Herod started one of the three main male family lines that all modern Thoroughbreds come from. The other lines started with Eclipse and Matchem.
• Basto: A very dark colt born around 1704. He won several races. Basto's daughter, Old Ebony, became a very important "foundation mare." This means she started a major female family line (#5) for Thoroughbreds.

The Byerley Turk also had several very important daughters. We don't know the names of most of them. They are usually known by the "female family" they belong to:

• The Byerley Turk mare (daughter of a Tarfollet Barb mare): All modern horses in female family #1 come from her. About 15% of all Thoroughbreds belong to this family! Many famous horses, like Frankel, are from this line. By 2010, this family had produced many winners of major races like the Epsom Derby and The Oaks Stakes.
• Bowes' Byerley Turk mare: She started female family #3. This family has also produced many classic race winners around the world.
• Other Byerley Turk mares started female families #8, #17, and #41. These families have also produced many important racehorses, including Nijinsky.

Byerley Turk's Male Family Line

Herod (King Herod)

The Byerley Turk's male family line (sire line) continued through history. It produced a major father horse every few generations. These horses then started their own branches of the family. Most of these branches have died out over time.

Here's how the main line continued to today:

• The Byerley Turk (born ~1680) had a son named Jigg (born 1705).
• Jigg had a son named Partner (born 1718).
• Partner had a son named Tartar (born 1743).
• Tartar had a son named Herod (born 1758). Herod was the top sire in Great Britain and Ireland from 1777 to 1784.
• Herod had a son named Highflyer (born 1774). Highflyer was also a top sire. His line lasted for many generations but ended in the early 1900s.
• Herod also had a son named Florizel (born 1768). Florizel's son, Diomed (born 1777), became a very important father horse in America. Diomed's son, Sir Archy, was the first great "sire of sires" in the United States. Later, Lexington from this line became the top sire in North America many times. However, his male line ended in the late 1900s.

Sultan

• Herod's line continued through Woodpecker (born 1773). Woodpecker's son, Buzzard (born 1787), started several male lines. Most of these also faded away.
• Buzzard's line continued through Selim (born 1802). Selim was a top sire and produced another strong male line.
• Selim's line continued through Sultan (born 1816). Sultan was a top sire six times.

Bay Middleton

• Sultan's son, Bay Middleton (born 1833), was a top sire twice. Most of his line also ended by the mid-1900s.
• Bay Middleton's line continued through The Flying Dutchman (born 1846). His sons' lines slowly died out.
• The Flying Dutchman's line continued through Dollar (born 1860), then Androcles (1870), Cambyse (1884), Gardefeu (1895), Chouberski (1902), Bruleur (1910), and finally Ksar (born 1918).
• Ksar won the Arc de Triomphe twice. He was the top sire in France in 1931. Ksar had a son named Tourbillon (born 1928).
• Tourbillon was a top sire in France three times. His son Djebel (born 1937) also won the Arc de Triomphe.

Ksar, 1921

• Djebel had a son named My Babu. My Babu's male line continued for several generations. It led to Cirrus des Aigles, a Group 1 winner in 2014. Sadly, Cirrus des Aigles was gelded (couldn't breed), so this line is almost gone.
• Djebel also had a son named Clarion (born 1944). Clarion's line is the best hope for the Byerley Turk's male line to continue.
• Clarion had a son named Klairon (born 1952). Klairon's son, Luthier, was a top sire in France four times. But Luthier's line seems to have ended.
• Klairon also had a son named Lorenzaccio (born 1965). Lorenzaccio's son was Ahonoora (born 1975).
• Ahonoora was a very successful sire. His children include Don't Forget Me, Dr Devious, and Indian Ridge.
• Indian Ridge has several sons and grandsons who are still breeding today. This means the Byerley Turk's male line continues through Ahonoora's family in Europe.

It's important to know that the Byerley Turk's influence is even bigger than just his direct male line. He has more "blood" in modern Thoroughbreds than the other two foundation sires, through other family lines.

Also, the Byerley Turk has influenced other horse breeds through his male descendants:

• Diomed influenced the American Quarter Horse and Standardbred breeds.
• Denmark was a key founder of the American Saddlebred breed.
• Justin Morgan was a key founder of the Morgan horse breed.

So, the Byerley Turk's overall family line is actually more common today in the American Quarter Horse, American Saddlebred, and Morgan horse breeds than in Thoroughbreds.

Male Lineage Tree

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