Squirt (1732 – ?) was a Thoroughbred racehorse, best known as the grandsire of Eclipse, founder of the breed's dominant sire line. He lived at a time when the Thoroughbred breed was in its infancy, before even the foundation of the Jockey Club (in 1750) and General Stud Book (in 1791). Thus information is incomplete.
Breeding Squirt was bred by William Metcalfe of Beverley, Yorkshire. His sire was Bartlett's Childers, a full brother to Flying Childers, considered the greatest race horse of his time. Bartlett's Childers, also known as Bleeding Childers because he bled from the nose on exertion, never raced but did become a major sire. Squirt's dam, Sister to Old Country Wench, had earlier produced Grey Robinson, who in turn produced the undefeated Regulus.
Racing career During his racing career, Squirt was owned by Charles Colyear, (2nd) Earl of Portmore. He began racing at five, as was customary at the time. His performances include: in 1737, won 200 guineas at Newmarket in 1738, beaten by Lath in a match race at Newmarket in 1739, won 200 guineas at Newmarket, 40 guineas at Epsom, 50 guineas at Stamford, and £30 at Winchester in 1740, won a plate at Salisbury.
Breeding career Squirt then became a stallion for Sir Henry Harpur of Calke, Derbyshire. Squirt was nearly put down after developing laminitis, but his groom begged for a reprieve.Byles, Tony; 101 Interesting Facts on the History of Horse Racing Squirt's offspring includes: Marske (1750), sire of the unbeaten Eclipse, amongst others. Through Eclipse, Squirt's sire line continues to the present day. In Great Britain and Ireland, his sire line includes leading sires such as Sadler's Wells, Danehill and Galileo. In North America, leading sires in his line include Bold Ruler (sire of Secretariat), Mr. Prospector (ancestor of American Pharoah), Danzig, Storm Cat, AP Indy, Giant's Causeway and Tapit. In Japan, Squirt's sire line includes leading sires Sunday Silence, King Kamehameha and Deep Impact, while in Australia leading sires from his line include Redoute's Choice, Encosta De Lago and Fastnet Rock. Syphon (1750), winner of the £160 Great Subscription at York and others, sire of Sweetwilliam and Sweetbriar Tim (1752), whose daughters would go on to be significant producers Pratt's Old Mare, who went on to produce 17 foals, including Pumpkin, winner of 20 plates, and the mares Purity and Maiden, winner of 15 plates.
Sire line tree
SquirtFoundation Sire: SquirtJumpers: Darley Arabian Sire Line MarskeFoundation Sire: Marske EclipseDarley Arabian Sire Line: Eclipse BranchPortrait: Eclipse Planet PotooooooooDarley Arabian Sire Line: Pot-8-Os BranchPortrait: Pot-8-Os Coriander Alderman AsparagusFoundation Sire: Asparagus WaxyPortrait: WaxyFoundation Sire: WaxyBiography: Waxy ChampionFoundation Sire: ChampionBiography: Champion TyrantFoundation Sire: Tyrant Vespasian WorthyStudbook: Early W JupiterFoundation Sire: Jupiter Ganymede Thunderbolt JupiterFoundation Sire: Young Jupiter Sir Walter SatelliteFoundastion Sire: Satellite King FergusDarley Arabian Sire Line: King Fergus BranchPortrait: King Fergus Honest Tom OvertonFoundation Sire: Overton Poor Jack Young Traveller OrmondPortrait: Ormond BeningbroughPortrait: Beningbrough Brother to Overton Deserter HambletonianPortrait: Hambletonian Garswood JohnnyFoundation Sire: Johnny WarterFoundation Sire: Warter Vertumnus BaronetFoundation Sire: BaronetBiography: Baronet Boudrow ObscurityStudbook: Early NO Bacchus Bompard Joe AndrewsDarley Arabian Sire Line: Joe Andrews BranchFoundation Sire: Joe Andrews Dick AndrewsPortrait: Dick AndrewsFoundation Sire: Dick Andrews MercuryFoundation Sire: Mercury PrecipitateFoundation Sire: PrecipitateBiography: Precipitate Silver GohannaPortrait: GohannaBiography: Gohanna Hermes Young EclipseFoundation Sire: Young Eclipse Young Eclipse DungannonFoundation Sire: Dungannon LurcherFoundation Sire: LurcherStudbook: Early L Hambleton BedfordStudbook: Early B Young Dungannon Dungannon Boaster SaltramFoundation Sire: Saltram WhiskeyFoundation Sire: Whiskey Royalist Whip OscarFoundation Sire: Oscar VolunteerFoundation Sire: Volunteer Stirling Spread EagleFoundation Sire: Spread Eagle VolunteerStudbook: Early UV Magic EagleFoundation Sire: EagleBiography: Eagle Fop Serjeant AlexanderFoundation Sire: Alexander Tityrus Hephastion MeteorFoundation Sire: Meteor Don QuixoteStudbook: Early D Sancho Cervantes Whitenose Amadis PegasusFoundation Sire: Pegasus Expedition Peace-Maker Alonzo Hippomenes Brush Transit Hephestion Mungo (Leviathan) Narcissus PretenderFoundation Sire: Pretender Longitude Pretender No Pretender Pandolpho Mowbray SharkFoundation Sire: Shark Young MarskeFoundation Sire: Young Marske RulerFoundation Sire: Ruler Weathercock Pencil Governor Prince Lee Boo Abba Thule Clifton Spanker ShuttleFoundation Sire: Shuttle Stavely Middlethorpe PopeStudbook: Early P Garrick (Hyperion) Roscius Sulky Pontac Sir Thomas Jocundo SyphonFoundation Sire: Syphon Tippler Daisy SweetwilliamFoundation Sire: Sweetwilliam Captain Plume Phoenix Tosspot SweetbriarFoundation Sire: Sweetbriar Chocolate Cornet AssassinFoundation Sire: Assassin Gunpowder Tipsey Enterprise Pastor Clown Streamer TandemFoundation Sire: Tandem CreeperFoundation Sire: CreeperBiography: Creeper Mouse Gallantry Tim
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