Selima (horse) facts for kids

Selima was a very important horse born in 1745. She was a special type of horse called a Thoroughbred. Selima became one of the first "mother horses" for American Thoroughbreds. She came to Maryland from England around 1750. Benjamin Tasker, Jr. brought her to America.

Selima's Early Life and Journey

Selima was born in England on April 30, 1745. Her birthplace was a special horse farm owned by Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin. Her father was a famous horse named the Godolphin Arabian. Her mother was called the "Shireborn Mare." This mare may have come from the royal stables of Queen Anne.

Selima was a bay colored horse. This means she had a reddish-brown body with a black mane and tail. She also had a small white star on her forehead. Plus, she had a splash of white on her left back ankle. Selima was one of the first Thoroughbreds to travel across the Atlantic Ocean. She came to the American colonies to race there.

Benjamin Tasker, Jr. of Maryland imported Selima. She arrived around September 1750, when she was five years old. Records suggest she might have been pregnant during her journey. However, she did not have a foal, meaning she likely lost it.

Selima's Racing Career

Selima was trained to race in Maryland in 1751 and 1752. Her first race was in Annapolis, Maryland, in May 1752. She raced against another English mare named Creeping Kate. Selima won the race and earned about 50 pistoles. A pistole was a type of gold coin.

In 1752, Selima won a huge prize. She won 2,500 pistoles at Gloucester, Virginia. This win was very important. It started many exciting races between Maryland and Virginia. Selima won that big race. Another mare named Tryal came in second. Two other English Thoroughbreds, Jenny Cameron and Childers, also raced. Childers later became a popular mother horse for other racers.

Selima's Legacy

Selima became a very important "broodmare" after her racing career. A broodmare is a female horse used for breeding. She had many foals that became famous racehorses themselves.

Here are some of her foals:

• 1758 - Stella, a mare
• 1759 - Galloway's Selim, a stallion
• 1760 - Ebony, a mare
• 1762 - Wilkins Spadille, a stallion
• 1763 - Little Juniper, a stallion
• 1765 - Black Selima, a mare
• 176x - Camilla, a mare

The annual Selima Stakes race is named after her. This race started in 1926. It is now held at Laurel Park Racecourse. It is a special race for two-year-old female horses called fillies.

See also

• Dungannon
• Maryland Jockey Club