The Darley Arabian (foaled c. 1700) was one of three dominant foundation sires of modern Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock. The other two founders were the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerley Turk. This bay Arabian horse was bought in Aleppo, Syria, by Thomas Darley in 1704 and shipped to Aldby Park in England, as a present for his brother.
One author in 1840 described Darley Arabian's arrival in England during the reign of Queen Anne as the event which "forms the great epoch from which the history of the Turf [as in "turf racing"] should be dated".
There he stood at stud, usually private but sometimes open to outside mares. He was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1722. By all accounts, the Darley Arabian stood about 15 hands high and was of substantial beauty and refinement.
The Darley Arabian sired the undefeated Flying Childers. He also sired Bartlett's Childers, an unraced brother of Flying Childers, who was the great-grandsire of the extremely influential Eclipse. The Darley Arabian was to become the most important sire in the history of the English Thoroughbred. His son Bulle Rock was the first Thoroughbred to be exported to America, in 1730.
Most Thoroughbreds can be traced back to Darley Arabian. In 95% of modern Thoroughbred racehorses, the Y chromosome can be traced back to this single stallion. This is mainly through his descendant, Eclipse, who is the direct male ancestor of 95% of all thoroughbreds and in the pedigree of many of the rest.
Sire line tree
Darley Arabian
Cupid
Daedalus
Dart
Manica
Stump
Scar
Whistlejacket
Hackwood
Skipjack
Quintin
Crook
Constant Ball
Bulle Rock
Aleppo
Hobgoblin
Phantom
Bat
Hob
Full Moon
Sherborne
Rat
Trimmer
Shakespeare
King Lear
Pincher
Falstaff
Aleppo (Hamilton) Scrutineer Turtle Surley Spark Pacolet Bulle Rock Young Bulle Rock Brisk Foxhunter (Cole) Foxhunter (Leigh) Moses Surley Bauble Foxhunter (Chedworth) Almanzor Mercury Whittington Almanzor (Elstob) Almanzor (Fleetwood) Spinner Why Not Dragon Childers Commoner Poppet Winall Hampton Court Childers Blacklegs (Bingham) Punch Leadenheels Blacklegs Collier Chub John Trott Chance Firetail Grey Childers Plaistow Fleec'em Second Ajax Merlin Young Merlin Prospero Petit Maitre Childerkin Leedes Sharp Spanking Roger Blaze Yellow Jack Blacklegs (Prentice) Sampson Engineer Viper Tom Tinker Bay Malton Pilgrim Cosmo Pluto Solon Treasurer Phocion Sextus Pompeius Star Childers Little David Childers (Lee) Grenadier Scrub Humble Shales Hip Roundhead Roger of the Vale Stadtholder Joseph Andrew Pilot Samson Crusoe Whitenose Jingle Jeff Steady Ball Chuff Snip Snap Snap (Hazard) Omnium Snap (Castle) Snap (Latham) Lofty Snap (Chedworth) Mambruello Snipe Metaphysician Ancient Pistol Creme De Barbade Goldfinder Faggergill Gnawpost Juniper Scaramouch Count Mexican Prince T'Quassaw Tickler Hottentot Judgment Osmar Fribble Hunter Swiss Corsican Gambler Young Snip Oscar Ferdinando Childers Colt (Read) Whitefoot Windsor Shades Badsworth Crazy Tiger Dancing Master Nest Gull Smockface Luggs Whitelegs Bartlett's Childers Fig Merry Andrew Childers Turpin Kettle Bender Prince Pretty Grey Childers Tom-Come-Tickle-Me Squirt Marske Eclipse Woodcock Dominitian Transit Hephestion Mungo Narcissus Pontifex Pretender Revenge Shark Vizard Young Marske Clayhall Marske Garrick Pontac Lexicon Flying Gib Syphon Tippler Daisy Sweetwilliam Tosspot Sweetbriar Tipsey Enterprise Pastor Clown Streamer Tandem Gallantry Nisus Tim Oedipus Simon Bumper Sourface Toy Flower Wanton Willy Gander
See also
List of racehorses
Phaéton (trotter horse)