Selima (horse) facts for kids

Selima was a very important Thoroughbred horse from the 1700s. She was born on April 30, 1745. A Thoroughbred is a special type of horse known for its speed and used in horse racing. Selima became one of the first important female horses (called a "foundation mare") for American Thoroughbreds. She was brought to Maryland in America by Benjamin Tasker, Jr. between 1750 and 1752.

Selima's Early Life

Selima was born in England on April 30, 1745. She was born at the farm of Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin. Her father was a famous horse named the Godolphin Arabian. Her mother was called the "Shireborn Mare."

Selima was a bay horse, which means she had a reddish-brown body and a black mane and tail. She had a small white star on her forehead and a white splash on her left back ankle.

Coming to America

Selima was one of the first Thoroughbred horses to travel across the Atlantic Ocean to race in the American colonies. Benjamin Tasker, Jr. of Maryland brought her to America around September 1750. She was about five years old at the time.

Some records say she might have been pregnant when she traveled. However, no foal was born, so she likely lost the baby horse during the long trip.

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 won this race, beating another English horse named Creeping Kate. Selima won 40 pounds, which was about 50 pistoles (a type of old Spanish gold coin).

Later in 1752, Selima won the biggest prize of that time. She won 2,500 pistoles at a race in Gloucester, Virginia. This race was very important. It started a big rivalry between Maryland and Virginia in horse racing. Selima won, and a gray horse named Tryal came in second.

Selima's Foals and Legacy

After her racing career, Selima became a "broodmare." This means she was used to have many baby horses (called "foals"). Her foals helped create many of the Thoroughbred horses we see today.

Here are some of her famous foals:

• 1755: Ariel, a male horse (stallion)
• 1756: Partner II, a stallion
• 1757: "Leonidas' Dam," a female horse (mare)
• 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

There are two different records for a foal she had in 1761:

• Bellair I (Tayloe's), a stallion
• Babraham II, a stallion

The Selima Stakes

To honor Selima, a horse race called the Selima Stakes was named after her in 1926. This race is still held today at Laurel Park Racecourse in Maryland. It's a race for two-year-old female horses (fillies).

See also

• Dungannon
• Maryland Jockey Club