Selima (horse)
Encyclopedia
Selima was one of the most important Thoroughbred
horses of the 18th century and became one of the foundation mares of the American Thoroughbred. She was imported to the Province of Maryland
between 1750 and 1752 by Benjamin Tasker, Jr.
s at Gloucester, Virginia which marked "the beginning of the remarkable racing contests between the rival colonies of Maryland and Virginia."
The annual Selima Stakes
, now raced at Laurel Park Racecourse, was named after Selima in 1926 and first held at the Maryland State Fair
with a $30,000 challenge cup for two-year-old fillies.
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...
horses of the 18th century and became one of the foundation mares of the American Thoroughbred. She was imported to the Province of Maryland
Province of Maryland
The Province of Maryland was an English and later British colony in North America that existed from 1632 until 1776, when it joined the other twelve of the Thirteen Colonies in rebellion against Great Britain and became the U.S...
between 1750 and 1752 by Benjamin Tasker, Jr.
Benjamin Tasker, Jr.
Colonel Benjamin Tasker, Jr. was the son of Ann Bladen and Benjamin Tasker, Sr., the Provincial Governor of Maryland from 1752 to 1753....
Racing
In 1752, Selima won the biggest prize of the era, 2,500 pistolePistole
Pistole is the French name given to a Spanish gold coin in use in 1537; it was a double escudo, the gold unit. The name was also given to the Louis d'Or of Louis XIII of France, and to other European gold coins of about the value of the Spanish coin...
s at Gloucester, Virginia which marked "the beginning of the remarkable racing contests between the rival colonies of Maryland and Virginia."
Legacy
She produced 10 foals including Selim, Ebony and Stella.The annual Selima Stakes
Selima Stakes
The Selima Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. Raced in late November, it is open to two-year-old fillies and is raced on turf.- History :...
, now raced at Laurel Park Racecourse, was named after Selima in 1926 and first held at the Maryland State Fair
Maryland State Fair
The Maryland State Fair is the annual state fair for the state of Maryland. It is held at the Maryland State Fairgrounds located near the intersection of York and Timonium Roads in Timonium. As of 2006, the fair is an 11-day event customarily beginning in late August and ending around Labor Day.-...
with a $30,000 challenge cup for two-year-old fillies.