Starling (GB)
 
 


Courtesy of Ackermann & Johnson

 

 

 

 


Bolton Hall

 

 

 

Sire Line


Darcy's White Turk

 

 

 


Torismond, by Bolton Starling

 

 

 

 Starling [Bolton] gr c 1727 (Bay Bolton - Camilla's Dam, by Brownlow Turk Colt). Sire Line Darcy's White Turk. Family 24.

Starling was bred in North Yorkshire by Charles Paulet (1685-1754), 3rd Duke of Bolton, at Bolton Hall, near Wensley. He was foaled April 17, 1727. He spent four successful years on the turf prior to entering the stud. He appears to have covered initially at the Barforth stud of Mr Croft and then was sold to Edward Sims, of Castlelost, near Tyrellspass in County Westmeath, Ireland, on October 1, 1739.

He covered the next seasons at Castlelost, moving in 1744 to Tuam, County Galway. His stud fee varied from 3 guineas to 2 moydores to 2 guineas. In 1745 in response to English breeders he was offered to cover at Mr Harrison's, the Post Master, in Bedale, Yorkshire, for a fee of 5 guineas. The following year he was back at Castlelost for a fee of 3 guineas, apparently an encouragement to Irish breeders. In 1747 he covered at Assouls, County Clare, and in 1748 at Lisburn, County Antrim, in both places at a fee of 2 guineas.

Purchased by Edward Rookes Leedes (1713c-1785) he then moved back to Yorkshire to hold court in the North Milford stud at Tadcaster, where he was advertised from 1749 to 1756.

During the course of his stud career Starling got many good runners, several stallion sons, notably Skim, Ancaster Starling and Teazer, and numerous daughters. His blood was particularly valued in America. He was a Champion sire in 1744. He is said to have died suddenly on March 24, 1756, at the age of twenty-nine.

 
Pedigree
Bolton Starling Bay Bolton Grey Hautboy Hautboy
 
Makeless Mare Makeless
Brimmer Mare
Grantham Mare Brother to Grey Grantham Brownlow Turk
 
Old Lady Pulleine's Arabian
Rockwood Mare
Race Record
 
In 1731 Starling won the Subscription Purse at Hambleton, beating fourteen others over four miles.
 
In April of 1732 he won the 700 guineas Stakes at Newmarket, beating Sir M Newton's Brisk, the Duke of Devonshire's Brown George and two others, over four miles.
 
In April of 1733 he beat Mr Panton's Mouse in a 300 guineas race over four miles, with Mouse conceding five pounds. He also won the King's Plate at Lewes, beating in two heats Mr Try's Surley-Slouch, the King's Plate at Lincoln, beating in two heats Captain Appleyard's Quiet Cuddy and others, and in October he walked-over for the King's Plate at Newmarket.
 
In April of 1734 he won the King's Plate at Newmarket, beating Surley-Slouch and Miss Hackney in two heats.
 
Starling Mares
 
1. Bay Starling (b f 1750), bred by John Holme of Carlisle, Cumberland, 2nd dam of Sir Harry Harpur's Juniper (b c 1767 Snip), who twice won the Doncaster Cup. Bay Starling was also ancestress to most of Family 12-c.
2. Grey Starling (gr f 1745), bred by Mr Selby, dam of Doncaster Cup winner Tuberose (gr f 1772 King Herod). Tuberose was the dam of Contessina (gr f 1787 Young Marske), the taproot mare of Family 19-a.
3. Sister to Grey Starling (gr f 1755), bred by Mr Selby and later owned by Lord Northumberland, dam of the influential stallion Bolton* (b c 1760 Leeds' Chub) and also Shadow* [ex-Vizier] (b c 1759 Babraham).
4. Grey Starling (gr f 1752), bred by Edward Rookes Leedes, 3rd dam of the stallion Slope (gr c 1782 Highflyer).
5. Jenny Jessamy (gr f 1748), bred by Sir Edward O'Brien, ancestress of the Irish stallion Nabocklish (ch c 1810 Rugantino).
6. Mary Grey* (gr f 1742c), probably bred by John Croft in Yorkshire, her pedigree is discussed by Fairfax Harrison in Early American Turf Stock, Volume 1, p. 60. Not only her pedigree but also the many foals attributed to her, by Jolly Roger* (ch c 1743 Mogul), were the object of much confusion. Among her authenticated offspring were her daughter, the good matron Poll Flaxen (gr f 1765 Jolly Roger*), and her great grandson, the stallion Willis' Americus (ch c 1768 Fearnought*).
7. Miss Bell*, owned by John Hunter, Elizabeth City County, Virginia, she is the taproot mare of Family A15. She was the 10th dam of the Leading Sire Revenue (b c 1843 Trustee*), and the 13th dam of the Leading Sire Himyar (b c 1875 Alarm).
8. Miss Starling (f 1750), bred by Mr Croft, 2nd dam of the good stallion Pantaloon* (b c 1778 King Herod).
9. Miss Starling Jr (f 1752), bred by Mr Croft, ancestress of St Leger winner Paragon (b c 1783 Paymaster) and Two Thousand Guineas winner Cwrw (br c 1809 Dick Andrews).
10. Pretty Polly (ch f 1751), bred by Lord Rockingham, dam of the good racehorse Coriolanus (ch c 1762 Whistlejacket), and 3rd dam of the worthy Expedition* [ex-Ballinamuck] (ch c 1795 Pegasus).
11. Sister to Skim (gr f 1752c), owned by Cuthbert Routh, 4th dam of Paymaster* (b c 1783 Paymaster) and 4th dam of the stallion Frolic (b c 1812 Hedley).
12. Starling Mare (f 1746), bred in Yorkshire by Edward Rookes Leedes, 2nd dam of the Cub Mare*, taproot of Family 4-r.
13. Starling Mare, Mr Fenwick's, 2nd dam of A-la-Grecque (ch f 1763 Regulus), taproot mare of Family 23-a, and 3rd dam of Turk Mare (f 1770c Turk), taproot of Family 23-b.
14. Starling Mare (bl f 1753), bred by Mr Shafto, 3rd dam of Messenger* (gr c 1780 Mambrino), who was sent to New York and there became the progenitor of the American trotting horse as well as the dam sire of American Eclipse (ch c 1814 Duroc).
15. Starling Mare, dam of Fanny (ch f 1751 Tartar), the grandam of King Fergus (ch c 1775 Eclipse).
16. Starling Mare, a foundation mare of Family 34.
17. Starling Mare, a foundation mare of Family 35.
18. Starling Mare, 2nd dam of the good runner Milford (br c 1759) and Young Babraham* (b c 1760 Babraham).
19. Starling Mare, Lord Rockingham's, dam of Mr Payne's race horse Sloven (b c 1761 Cub).
20. Starling Mare (f 1753), 2nd dam of Gunpowder (ch c 1784 Eclipse) and 3rd dam of St. George (b c 1789 Highflyer).
21. Starling Mare, Lord Rockingham's, dam of Squirt Mare* (f 1754c Squirt), who was sent to the John's Island Stud in South Carolina and there produced the celebrated runner Noble (b c 1763 Brutus*).
22. Starling Mare, 3rd dam of Mareschal (br c 1770 Sanaah Arabian).
23. Tipsey (b f 1750), bred by Sir J Pennington, 3rd dam of Mr Welburn's Comet (ch c 1788 Phoenomenon) and his half-sister Miss Muston (b f 1790 King Fergus), ancestress of several classics winners and Maid of Masham (gr f 1845 Don John), taproot mare of Family 9-e.
24. Sister to Torismond (b f 1740), bred by Mr Croft, dam of the stallion Alcides (b c 1753 Babraham) and the King's Plate winner Mosco (br c 1746 Cullen Arabian).
 
Other Notable Offspring
 
Moro (GB)
 
bl c 1752 (Bolton Starling - Brown Slipby, by Slipby). Sire Line Darcy's White Turk. Family 2. Moro was bred by John Holme of Carlisle, Cumberland, who also bred Matchem (b c 1748 Cade), and purchased by HRH the Duke of Cumberland. In October of 1758 Moro won 500 guineas whilst defeating the Duke of Bridgewater's Cracker (b c 1752 Torismond) over the Beacon Course at Newmarket. At the same meeting he won another 300 guineas from the Duke of Bridgewater, beating his Villager (ch c 1752 Cade) over the Beacon Course, giving weight to Villager. In May of 1759 he won 500 guineas from Lord March's Rose [later Ceres] (ch f 1754 Blank) over the Beacon Course at Newmarket. In October of the same year he lost the 500 guineas back to Rose, again over the Beacon Course, both times conceding above a stone. In May of 1760 he lost 500 to Lord Gower's Pharoah (b c 1753 Chedworth's Moses), who was later sent to South Carolina, over the Beacon Course at Newmarket, giving Pharoah a stone advantage. He also paid a forfeit to Lord Gower's Invalid (b c 1753 Gower Stallion), after which he became a trial horse. His son, Young Moro, was exported.
 
Young Moro (GB)*
 
bl c 1764 (Moro - Mare, by Regulus). Sire Line Darcy's White Turk. Family 12-a. Moro was bred by HRH the Duke of Cumberland. He was never trained but instead sent to South Carolina in 1768. His pedigree is absent from the General Stud Book although it was attested to by his groom, William Coates who got it from Bernard Smith, the Stud Groom to the Duke. In 1769 Young Moro stood at William Henry Drayton's plantation at the Horseshoe savannah, in 1770 at B Waring's near Dorchester, and from 1771 to 1772 at T Ferguson's in St. Paul's, all in South Carolina. There is no further record of him [E2:173].
 
Perseus (GB)
 
b c 1754 (Bolton Starling - Coughing Polly, by Bartlet's Childers). Sire Line Darcy's White Turk. Family 19. Perseus was bred by Edward Rookes Leedes at North Milford, near Tadcaster, Yorkshire, and later sold to Sir Hugh Smithson Percy, Earl of Northumberland, who had married Elizabeth, daughter of Algernon Percy, 7th Duke of Somerset. Brother to the Doncaster Cup winner Grey Starling (gr f 1745) his turf career was satisfactory. In October of 1758 he lost a race at Newmarket, won by Mr Shafto's excellent race horse Squirrel (b c 1754 Traveller), followed by Sir Nathaniel Curzon's Keddleston (b c 1754 Whitenose) and others. In 1759 he won £50 at Ascot Heath, beating Mr Gorge's Second, Mr Vernon's Stow-Hill, Mr Pytt's Sportley and 3 others in three two-mile heats. Later the same year he won the King's Plate at Lichfield, beating Mr Hutton's Silvio (bbr c 1754 Cade), Mr Gorge's Victor and Mr Corker's Ivory-Black, two-mile heats. In April of 1760 he placed 2nd at Newmarket to Lord Chedworth's Bosphorus, beating Mr Panton's Posthumous and Sir Nathaniel Curzon's Phoenix. He broke down later that year when running for the King's Plate at Nottingham, and was said to never come sound afterwards. Nevertheless he was tried again in 1763, losing a race to Mr Fenton's Engineer (br c 1756 Sampson) and nine others at York. Perseus stood in Yorkshire and despite his limited mare book he got Bay Richmond.
 
Bay Richmond (GB)
 
b c 1764c (Perseus - Mare, by Hutton's Spot - Mare, by Croft's Partner - Mare by Greyhound). Sire Line Darcy's White Turk. Owned by Mr Taylor, he won £50 at Carlisle and £50 at Durham in 1769. Later owned by John Savile (1719-1778), 1st Earl of Mexborough, Bay Richmond was used as a hunter by his owner and reputed to be one of the strongest blood horses in the country. In the stud he got Clockfast (gr c 1780) who attained much success as a stallion in America.
 
Clockfast (GB)*
 
br c 1780 (Bay Richmond - Mare, by Swinburne's Arabian). Sire Line Darcy's White Turk. Owned by George Alcock in England, he was imported into Virginia, along with Medley* (gr c 1776 Gimcrack) and Pantaloon* (b c 1778 King Herod) in the consignment of Hart & McDonald in 1784. Prior to export Clockfast won a maiden Fifty at Durham from several starts. There was a Virginia tradition that Clockfast* was a half-brother to Medley* which was accepted by the American Stud Book and thence the General Stud Book. However, the certificate which accompanied Clockfast* to Virginia records the pedigree given by George Alcock. He stood at Robert Walker's in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, where he got some good sons, notably Jones' President (gr c 1788), sire of Bay Yankee (b c 1801c), and Verrell's Silvertail (gr c 1792), the progenitor of American Family A20. He also got a number of valuable daughters. His stock were known for their "wind and bottom" and were generally grey in colour. Sanders Bruce, compiler of the American Stud Book, noted that "many of the gamest and best race horses of this country have a cross of Clockfast and very many of them trace their excellent qualities directly to him."
 
Clockfast Mares
 
1. Clockfast Mare, 3rd dam of the great 19th century American race horse Boston (ch c 1833 Timoleon).
2. Maria, bred and owned by Colonel M. Alexander, Virginia, "the best race nag in the United States in her day, whether we regard the speed, the length, or the number of her races and also the time she lasted on the turf." She was the dam of the matriarch Black Maria (bl f 1795 Shark*) and the stallions Dorocles (bl c 1796 Shark*) and Vingt'un (ch c 1801 Diomed*).
3. Bandy, bred and owned by Major Cooke, Virginia, 2nd dam of Sir Solomon (br c 1805 Tickle Toby*), a useful stallion.
4. Lucy Sock, a foundation mare of American Family a63.
5. Clockfast Mare, dam of William Randolph's stallion Diomed (gr c 1801c Diomed*).
6. Clockfast Mare, dam of Wilkes' Chanticleer (b c 1799 Old Chanticleer).
 
Teazer [Old] (GB)
 
gr c 1739 (Bolton Starling - Bay Brocklesby, by Croft's Partner). Sire Line Darcy's White Turk. Family 23. Teazer was bred by in Yorkshire by John Croft of Barforth and later sold to Mr Grisewood. In 1743 he won £50 at Carlisle, beating in two heats Mr Mann's Darby (b c 1739 Childers), Mr Parker's True Blue and two others. He then won £50 at Durham, beating Mr Scurfield's Neptune, Mr Fletcher's Yellow Jack and others. Starting for Mr Grisewood in March of 1744, he won £80 at Newmarket, beating Mr Routh's Cub (ch c 1739 Fox), Lord Portmore's Lady Caroline, Mr Martindale's Torismond (gr c 1739 Bolton Starling) and three others. This same year he won the King's Plate at Ipswich, distancing two others, followed by 50 guineas at Grantham, beating Mr Dawkins's Smiling Ball and two others, £50 at Oxford, beating Mr Smith's Slamerkin, and 80 guineas at Burford, beating Mr Aislabie's Bucephalus (ch c 1738 Robinson Crusoe) and Lord Leigh's Foxhunter while distancing two others. In 1745 he won the King's Plate at Guildford, beating "easy" Mr Martindale's Torismond. In March of 1746 he won 50 guineas at Newmarket, beating Mr Martindale's Starling, Mr Greville's Drowsy, Lord Gower's Tortoise (b c 1737 Godolphin's Whitefoot), the Duke of Devonshire's Collier (bl c 1738 Devonshire Blacklegs) and the Duke of Ancaster's Brisk. Teazer was measured at thirteen hands one and three-quarters inches, despite which he was considered to be the best at Royal Plates of his year with the exception of Regulus (b c 1739 Godolphin Arabian). Teazer ran two "severe" heats against Regulus in the King's Plate at Winchester and the same at Canterbury, with Regulus said to have won the remainder of his races in a very high form. Teazer was judged to be superior to any horse of his size the kingdom had known at high weights. His best son was Grisewood's Teazer and his daughter, Teazer Mare, produced the good stallion Dove* (gr c 1756 Young Cade).
 
Teazer [Grisewood's] (GB)
 
gr c 1749 (Old Teazer - Mare, by Roundhead). Sire Line Darcy's White Turk. Family 75. Teazer was bred by Mr Hassell of Ripon, Yorkshire, and later purchased by Mr Grisewood. In 1753 he won the Royal Plate at Ipswich, beating Mr Denshire's Auretta (Ancaster Starling) and Lord Gower's Beau Clincher (b c 1749 Gower Stallion) in three heats. In 1754 he won £50 at Ascot Heath, beating Mr Burford's Coomb (b c 1749 Janus), the Duke of Cumberland's Entrance (b c 1749 Godolphin Arabian) and Mr Jenison's Tawney in three heats. In May of 1755 he won £50 at Epsom, beating Mr Pytt's Liberty and Mr Marshall's Alfred. He also ran in the Royal Plates at Guildford, Nottingham and York.
 
Torismond (GB)
 
gr c 1739 (Bolton Starling - Miss Partner, by Croft's Partner). Sire Line Darcy's White Turk. Family 4. Torismond was bred by John Croft of Barforth, Yorkshire, and sold, first to Mr Parker, and then to Mr Martindale of London. In 1743 Torismond won £50 at Morpeth, defeating Mr Smith's Rattle-Rack, Mr Scurfield's Neptune and three others. In 1744 he won £50 at Epsom beating the Duke of Beaufort's Crafty and two others, £50 at Huntingdon beating six others, £50 at Warwick beating Lord Byron's Robin Hood, Mr Bingham's Merry Cupid and Mr Read's Jack Come Tickle Me, and in October, £50 at Newmarket beating Miss Stuart's Miss Spinster. In April of 1745 he won 100 guineas at Newmarket beating Mr Panton's Trusty, Mr Prentice's Crazy and the Duke of Beaufort's Reynard in four-mile heats. The same year he won the 80 Guineas Prize at both Oxford and Lincoln. In 1746 he won £50 at Winchester beating Mr Grisewood's Trifle and three others, £50 at Leicester beating Sir W W Wynn's Legacy, Mr Watt's Lilliput and Sir Harry Harpur's Drowsy. He was a stallion in the Yorkshire stud of Edward Rookes Leedes at North Milford where he was said to have covered few mares other than those of Mr Leedes. His daughter, Torismond Mare, was the dam of Moll Brazen* (gr f 1761 Cub). Moll Brazen*, bred by Mr Hodson of Tadcaster, was imported by Henry Mitchell of Fredericksburg, Virginia. She was then purchased by Daniel McCarty of Westmoreland, Virginia, in whose stud she produced Thornton's Shakespeare (gr c 1771 Fearnought*), the sire of Old Union (b c 1777).
 
Young Starling [Holme's] (GB)
 
gr c 1751 (Bolton Starling - Sister 2 to Miss Partner, by Croft's Partner). Sire Line Darcy's White Turk. Family 4. Bred by John Holme of Carlisle, Cumberland, Young Starling was half-brother to the Champion Sire Matchem (b c 1748 Cade) and Changeling (b c 1747 Cade), both of whom were also bred by John Holme. Young Starling doesn't appear to have raced, although he was used a fair amount in the stud. Most of his better known offspring were exported to America where they left no stock that bred on.
   
   
Starling (GB) [Ancaster] gr c 1738 (Bolton Starling - Ringbone, by Croft's Partner). Sire Line Darcy's White Turk. Family 2-a.
   
Skim (GB) gr c 1746 (Bolton Starling - Miss Mayes, by Bartlet's Childers). Family 19. Sire Line Darcy's White Turk.