Squirrel (horse) facts for kids

Squirrel was a famous British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was born in 1754 and was known for winning many races. Out of nine races, he won seven! This included the important 1400 Guineas Stakes and special one-on-one races called match races against horses named Dapper and Jason.

After his racing days, Squirrel became a very successful stallion (a male horse used for breeding). He was especially good at siring (fathering) broodmares (female horses used for breeding). These broodmares then gave birth to seven winners of the Classic races, which are some of the biggest horse races in Britain. One of his grandsons, Noble, even won the Derby! Squirrel also sired the mother of Trumpator, who became a champion sire himself. Squirrel was owned by a person named Jenison Shafto.

Early Life and Family

Squirrel was a bay colt, meaning he was a reddish-brown male horse. He was born in 1754 and was bred by William Cornforth. His father was a horse named Traveller, who also won several races. Traveller didn't have many foals (baby horses) until Squirrel and another horse named Dainty Davy started winning races. This showed everyone how good Traveller's offspring could be! Squirrel was later sold to Jenison Shafto, who became his owner.

Racing Adventures

Squirrel's first race was at Huntingdon. He came in second place to a horse named Belford. But he quickly showed his talent!

In October 1758, Squirrel won the very first 1400 Guineas Stakes race at Newmarket. This was a long race, over four miles. He beat other strong horses like Primrose and Posthumous. Later that same day, he won 120 guineas (a type of money used back then) by beating many other horses in another race.

In May 1759, Squirrel won a special 300-guinea match race against Mr. Panton's Mystery. A match race is when only two horses race against each other. He then raced at York and came in second. In October, back at Newmarket, he won another match race, this time against Spider, for 200 guineas.

Squirrel continued his winning streak in April 1760 at Newmarket. He beat the Duke of Cumberland's Dapper in a match race for a huge prize of 500 guineas! In July, he won the Ladies' Plate, which was a race with several heats (parts), beating Juniper and Posthumous.

In the spring of 1761, Squirrel easily won a very valuable match race (worth 1000 guineas!) against Sir James Lowther's Jason. He was supposed to race another of Lowther's horses, Barham, for another 1000 guineas. However, Squirrel got lame (injured his leg) in his fetlock (part of his leg above the hoof). Because of this injury, he couldn't race anymore and was retired from racing to become a breeding horse.

Life as a Breeding Stallion

After his racing career, Squirrel became a very successful stallion. His offspring (his children) earned a lot of money from their own races, over £56,000! He lived at Packenham Hall in Suffolk and had many important foals, including:

• Lady Bolingbroke (born 1766) – She became the mother of Tetotum, who won the Oaks race.
• Squirrel mare (born 1767) – This mare was the mother of Ceres, who won the Oaks. She also produced the mothers of Derby winners Daedalus and Rhadamanthus.
• Flora (born 1768) – She was the mother of two St. Leger winners, Spadille and Young Flora.
• Firetail (born 1769) – This horse won several races, including the Craven Stakes in 1773.
• Brim (born 1771) – She was the mother of Noble, who won the Derby in 1786.
• Brunette (born 1771) – She was the mother of Trumpator, who became a very important and successful breeding stallion himself.
• Cypher (born 1772) – She was the mother of Trifle, who won the Oaks.
• Dasher (born 1772) – He raced from 1776 to 1779 and won many races at different tracks like Newmarket, Epsom, and Ascot.
• Squirrel mare – Another mare by Squirrel who became the mother of Serina, an Oaks winner.

Squirrel passed away in 1780, leaving behind a great legacy in the world of horse racing.