Squirt (horse) facts for kids

Squirt (born in 1732) was a famous racehorse known as a Thoroughbred. He is most famous for being the great-grandfather of a super-fast horse named Eclipse. Eclipse became the start of a very important family line of racehorses that is still strong today! Squirt lived a long time ago, even before the rules for horse racing and horse family records were fully set up. Because of this, some information about him is not complete.

Squirt's Family and Early Life

Squirt was born in 1732. He was bred by William Metcalfe in a place called Beverley, England. His father was a horse named Bartlett's Childers. Bartlett's Childers was the full brother of Flying Childers, who was thought to be the best racehorse of his time!

Bartlett's Childers never raced himself. But he became a very important father horse (a "sire"). Squirt's mother was called Sister to Old Country Wench. She had also given birth to another famous horse named Grey Robinson. Grey Robinson later had a son named Regulus, who never lost a race!

Squirt's Racing Days

During his time as a racehorse, Squirt was owned by Charles Colyear, who was the Earl of Portmore. Squirt started racing when he was five years old, which was common back then. Here are some of his racing achievements:

• In 1737, he won 200 guineas (a type of money) at Newmarket.
• In 1738, he raced against a horse named Lath at Newmarket but was beaten.
• In 1739, he won 200 guineas again at Newmarket. He also won 40 guineas at Epsom, 50 guineas at Stamford, and £30 at Winchester.
• In 1740, he won a special race (called a "plate") at Salisbury.

Squirt's Legacy: A Family of Champions

After his racing career, Squirt became a "stallion," which means he was used for breeding. He lived with Sir Henry Harpur in Derbyshire. Squirt almost had to be put down because he got a foot problem called laminitis. But his groom (the person who cared for him) begged for him to be saved, and he was!

Squirt had many important children. Here are some of them:

• Marske (born 1750): Marske was the father of the amazing, undefeated horse Eclipse. Through Eclipse, Squirt's family line of horses continues to be super important even today! Many top racehorses around the world come from this line. For example, in Great Britain, famous horses like Sadler's Wells and Galileo are from his line. In North America, horses like Bold Ruler (father of Secretariat) and Mr. Prospector (an ancestor of American Pharoah) are part of this family. In Japan, top horses like Sunday Silence and Deep Impact are also from Squirt's line.
• Syphon (born 1750): He won several big races, including the £160 Great Subscription at York. Syphon was the father of Sweetwilliam and Sweetbriar.
• Tim (born 1752): His daughters (female offspring) became very good mothers, having many important foals.
• Pratt's Old Mare: This mare had 17 foals! Some of her famous children include Pumpkin, who won 20 races, and the mares Purity and Maiden, who won 15 races.