Matchem facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Matchem
Matchem
Sire	Cade
Grandsire	Godolphin Arabian
Dam	Sister to Miss Partner (1735)
Damsire	Partner
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1748
Country	Great Britain
Colour	Bay
Breeder	John Holmes
Owner	William Fenwick
Record	12: 10-2-0
Major wins
5yo Great Subscription Purse (1753)
Awards
Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland (1772, 1773, 1774)
Last updated on 19 July 2011

Matchem (born in 1748 – died February 21, 1781) was a very important Thoroughbred racehorse. He was one of the first three famous stallions from the 1700s who created the family lines of most Thoroughbreds we see today. The other two were Eclipse and Herod. Matchem was known as the best father (sire) of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland for three years, from 1772 to 1774.

Matchem's Family Tree

Matchem was born in 1748 and bred by John Holmes in Carlisle. His father was a stallion named Cade. Cade was also a successful racehorse who won many King's Plates. Cade's father was the famous Godolphin Arabian, who was one of the three original horses that started the entire Thoroughbred breed.

Matchem's mother was a bay mare born in 1735. Her father was a horse named Partner. Partner was a champion racehorse who was undefeated in many races between 1723 and 1726. Partner also fathered Tartar, who was the father of another very important horse, Herod. Matchem's mother was also a full sister to a horse named Miss Partner.

What Matchem Looked Like

Matchem was a bit smaller than expected for a racehorse. He was only about 14 hands and 3 inches tall. (A "hand" is a way to measure a horse's height, with one hand being 4 inches). He was a strong horse with a body built for racing.

Even though he was a dark bay color, Matchem often had foals (baby horses) that were chestnut, black, or even roan. This was interesting because his mother wasn't roan. He also had a special mark called "Matchem arms." These were 2-3 bars of white hair at the base of his tail. This unique mark helped people recognize his offspring.

Matchem's Racing Days

Matchem was sold to William Fenwick. He lived at Fenwick's farm in Bywell, Northumberland, until he was five years old before he started racing. Back then, it was common for horses to wait until they were older and stronger before they began their racing careers. Today, most racehorses start racing when they are two or three years old.

In 1753, Matchem won his very first race, the Great Subscription Purse at York. He also won a race in Morpeth that year. The next year, 1754, he continued his winning streak. He won the Ladies' Plate at York and another Ladies' Plate at Lincoln. He also won another race in Morpeth.

When he was seven years old, Matchem raced against a horse named Trajan at Newmarket. He won the four-mile race in a very fast time of 7 minutes and 20 seconds! To prove his win, Matchem beat Trajan again in another race called The Whip. He then won a race in Newcastle. His first loss came against a horse named Spectator in the Jockey Club Plate. After that, Matchem had some physical problems and didn't race for a while. He returned in 1758 but lost the Jockey Club Plate to Mirza. Matchem ended his racing career with a win against Foxhunter in Scarborough.

Matchem's Breeding Career

Matchem started his career as a breeding stallion in 1758, even though he raced one more time the following year. He stayed at the Bywell farm for his entire breeding career until he passed away on February 21, 1781, at the age of 33.

Matchem was a very successful father to many racehorses. He had 354 winners who earned a lot of money in prizes. His offspring were known for having good temperaments, meaning they were calm and easy to handle. Some of his most famous children include:

• Conductor: This chestnut colt was born in 1767. He won 10 races and became a very important father himself. His son, Trumpator, continued Matchem's family line.
• Hollandaise: A gray filly born in 1775, she won a very important race called the St. Leger.
• Tetotum: This bay filly, born in 1777, won another major race called the Oaks.
• Pumpkin: Born in 1769, Pumpkin was Matchem's best racing son. He won several big races, including a match race against his brother Conductor.
• Turf: This bay colt, born in 1760, is famous because his daughter became the mother of an incredibly important horse named Messenger. Messenger became a founding father for the Standardbred breed (horses used for harness racing) and was also important for the Tennessee Walking Horse breed.

Matchem's breeding career was most successful in 1772, when his children won over £25,000 in prize money. The next year, 1773, he had the most winners, with 40 of his offspring winning races.