Godolphin Arabian

The Godolphin Arabian (ca 1724 - 1754), also known as the Godolphin Barb, was one of three horses which were the founders of the modern thoroughbred horse racing broodstock. (The other two are the Darley Arabian and the Byerly Turk.) The Godolphin Arabian was foaled in Morocco. He was a gift to King Louis XV of France; he was subsequently purchased in Paris by Edward Coke of Holkham Hall, son of the Earl of Leicester, and sold to Francis, Earl of Godolphin, who maintained a stud (a breeding farm for horses) in Suffolk, near the racing town of Newmarket.

Traditionally the Godolphin is considered to be Arabian, but there is considerable evidence he may have been a Barb. The mistake was a common one at the time, since Barb handlers usually spoke Arabic, but while the breeds share features, they are not closely related. Originally, this small and unprepossessing (in comparison to larger European horses) stallion was not meant to be put to stud (i.e. to breed). This changed when Lady Roxana, a mare brought to the stud specifically to be bred to a stallion called Hobgoblin, rejected her intended mate, and so the Godolphin Arabian was allowed to breed her instead. The result of this mating was Lath, the first of his offspring, who went on to win the Queen's Plate nine times out of nine at the Newmarket races. The second colt from this pair was Cade, and the third was Regulus. All three were the same gold-touched bay as their sire, with the same small build and high crested conformation. All were exceptionally fast on the track, and went on to sire many foals themselves. This was the start of the Godolphin Arabian's prowess as a racing stud, and he spent the rest of his days as the Earl of Godolphin's prize stallion. There he was bred to England's finest mares.

The American connection began with the filly Selima (born 1745 out of Shireborn). She was purchased by Benjamin Tasker, Jr. of Maryland in Colonial America and raced between 1750 and 1753. After this she became a successful broodmare at the Belair Stud in what is today Bowie, Maryland.

Although today nearly all thoroughbred horses’ sire lines end at the Darley Arabian, many famous American horses of the past trace their line back to the Godolphin Arabian. These include Seabiscuit, Man O' War, War Admiral, and Silky Sullivan. Today, dual Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow represents his line, as does dual classic winner, Funny Cide.

Godolphin's grave in the stable block of Wandlebury House can be visited.

A somewhat romanticized biography of the Godolphin Arabian is told in King of the Wind, a children's novel by Marguerite Henry (better known for her Misty of Chincoteague stories).

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