Matchem
Encyclopedia
Matchem was a Thoroughbred
racehorse who had a great influence on the breed, and was the earliest of three 18th century stallions that produced the Thoroughbred sire-lines of today, in addition to Eclipse
and Herod
. He was the Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland from 1772 - 1774.
, one of the three founding stallions of the Thoroughbred breed.
Matchem was out of a bay (1735) mare by Partner (Croft's), who was an undefeated stallion in 1723, 1724, and 1726 in four-mile match races, until his first loss in 1728 to Smiling Ball. Partner also sired Tartar, the sire of Herod
. Matchem's dam was also full-sister to Miss Partner.
out of non-roan mares, suggesting he might have carried the rabicano
gene. His sire was also noted to have sired a good number of roans. Additionally, he had "Matchem arms
," or 2-3 bars of white hair at the base of the tail.
until the age of five before beginning his racing career. This practice, to wait until the horse was fully mature, was customary at that time, despite the fact that most racehorses today begin their careers at two or three. In 1753, Matchem won his maiden race, the Great Subscription Purse at York, as well as a plate in Morpeth, Northumberland. The following year, he won the four-mile Ladies' Plate at York, the Ladies' Plate at Lincoln, and again a plate at Morpeth.
At age seven, he beat Trajan at the four-mile Beacon course at Newmarket, finishing in only 7 minutes, 20 seconds. To solidify the victory, Matchem again beat Trajan in The Whip in April, over the Beacon course. He then won a plate at Newcastle, before experiencing his first loss to Spectator, in the Jockey Club Plate (Newmarket). Due to physical problems, Matchem did not race until the 1758 Jockey Club Plate, which he lost to Mirza. He then finished his career with a win against Foxhunter at Scarborough.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse who had a great influence on the breed, and was the earliest of three 18th century stallions that produced the Thoroughbred sire-lines of today, in addition to Eclipse
Eclipse (horse)
Eclipse was an outstanding, undefeated 18th-century British Thoroughbred racehorse who was later a phenomenal success as a sire.-Breeding:...
and Herod
Herod (horse)
Herod , formerly King Herod, later shortened to just Herod in common usage, was a Thoroughbred racehorse. He was one of the three foundation sires of the modern Thoroughbred racehorse, along with Matchem and Eclipse...
. He was the Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland from 1772 - 1774.
Breeding
Bred by John Holmes of Carlisle, he was sired by Cade, a stallion who also got Changeling—the sire of Le Sang, and the grandsire to Bourbon (winner of the St. Leger) and Duchess (winner of the Doncaster Cup)—and Young Cade (who sired many good broodmares). He won many King's Plates in his racing career. Cade was by the Godolphin ArabianGodolphin Arabian
The Godolphin Arabian , also known as the Godolphin Barb, was an Arabian horse who was one of three stallions that were the founders of the modern Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock...
, one of the three founding stallions of the Thoroughbred breed.
Matchem was out of a bay (1735) mare by Partner (Croft's), who was an undefeated stallion in 1723, 1724, and 1726 in four-mile match races, until his first loss in 1728 to Smiling Ball. Partner also sired Tartar, the sire of Herod
Herod (horse)
Herod , formerly King Herod, later shortened to just Herod in common usage, was a Thoroughbred racehorse. He was one of the three foundation sires of the modern Thoroughbred racehorse, along with Matchem and Eclipse...
. Matchem's dam was also full-sister to Miss Partner.
Description
The colt was surprisingly small, only 14 hands 3 inches with good bone and a "racey" build. Although considered dark bay, he produced a great number of chestnuts and a high percentage of blacks, as well as horses listed as roanRoan (horse)
Roan is a horse coat color pattern characterized by an even mixture of colored and white hairs on the body, while the head and "points"—lower legs, mane and tail—are more solid-colored. The roan pattern is dominantly-inherited, and is found in many horse breeds...
out of non-roan mares, suggesting he might have carried the rabicano
Rabicano
Rabicano, also called white ticking, is a horse coat color characterized by limited roaning in a specific pattern: interspersed white hairs most dense and originating from the flank and the tailhead...
gene. His sire was also noted to have sired a good number of roans. Additionally, he had "Matchem arms
Rabicano
Rabicano, also called white ticking, is a horse coat color characterized by limited roaning in a specific pattern: interspersed white hairs most dense and originating from the flank and the tailhead...
," or 2-3 bars of white hair at the base of the tail.
Racing career
Sold to William Fenwick, Matchem lived at his stud in Bywell in NorthumberlandNorthumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
until the age of five before beginning his racing career. This practice, to wait until the horse was fully mature, was customary at that time, despite the fact that most racehorses today begin their careers at two or three. In 1753, Matchem won his maiden race, the Great Subscription Purse at York, as well as a plate in Morpeth, Northumberland. The following year, he won the four-mile Ladies' Plate at York, the Ladies' Plate at Lincoln, and again a plate at Morpeth.
At age seven, he beat Trajan at the four-mile Beacon course at Newmarket, finishing in only 7 minutes, 20 seconds. To solidify the victory, Matchem again beat Trajan in The Whip in April, over the Beacon course. He then won a plate at Newcastle, before experiencing his first loss to Spectator, in the Jockey Club Plate (Newmarket). Due to physical problems, Matchem did not race until the 1758 Jockey Club Plate, which he lost to Mirza. He then finished his career with a win against Foxhunter at Scarborough.
Breeding career
Matchem began his breeding career in 1758, although he would not retire from his career on the turf until the following year. He stood his entire career at Bywell, until his death 21 February 1781, at age 33. His many offspring, including 354 winners of ₤151,097, were noted for their good temperaments. Some of his best get include:- Conductor: 1767 chestnut colt, out of a Snap mare, won 10 races and sired Trumpator (sire of Sorcerer) and Imperator. Passed the Godolphin Arabian's male line onward, making him the most important breeding son of Matchem.
- Hollandaise: 1775 gray filly, winner of the St. Leger.
- Tetotum: 1777 bay filly, winner of the Oaks.
- Pumpkin: 1769 chestnut colt, best racing son of Matchem, won a 1,000 guineas match against Firetail and a 500 guineas match against brother Conductor, among others.
- Turf: 1760 bay colt, most well known as the sire to an unnamed filly who was dam to the influential MessengerMessenger (horse)Messenger was an English Thoroughbred stallion bred by a John Pratt and imported into the newly formed United States of America just after the American Revolution.-Breeding:...
. Messenger became a foundation sire for the Standardbred breed, also important to the Tennessee Walking Horse breed, and sired the filly Miller's Damsel, dam to American Eclipse.