Godolphin Estate British Home of TB Horses
Lord Godolphin's Great Horse Never Saw his Great Estate
Mar 21, 2009
The Thoroughbred was developed from three desert horses imported to England; the Byerly Turk, the Darley Arabian and the Godolphin Barb. The Barb was owned by Lord Francis Godolphin, whose estate is near Helston, in Cornwall, England. The horse probably never slept a night there; however, he was imported from Yemen (according to the economicexpert website) by way of Paris, and ended up standing at stud in Lord Godolphin’s Newmarket stables. It is rumored that in Paris, the horse pulled a water cart, but TB Heritage maintains that is a myth. Still, when exported to England, the horse was almost skin and bones, according to contemporary accounts.
Color Like an Akhal-Teke
It’s too bad the horse wasn’t sent south; it might have improved his rank disposition. According to those who knew, “Shami” was no pleasure to handle, but he was “well made” according to contemporary accounts. Shami was small with a high crest. His color was nice, too; gold-touched bay, much like the color of modern Akhal-Teke horses. He transmitted both these traits to his progeny, as well as the ability to run like the wind.
While Shami was in Paris, the Viscomte de Manty noted that the horse had “legs of iron” and “unequalled lightness of forehand,” according to TB Heritage.
After arriving in Newmarket in 1733, Shami bred with Lady Roxana, a mare belonging to Edward Coke. Lady Roxana was a difficult mare to breed, and some reports think a groom took it upon himself to send her to Shami without Lord Godolphin’s approval. Lady Roxana had already rejected another great sire, Hobgoblin. However, the skinny colt that resulted, Lath, started winning races left and right, which probably made Lord Godolphin happy.
Tin Mines Paid For the Stallion
Although the Godolphin estate was enormous, at least 550 acres, Sir Francis Godolphin didn’t like it. He didn’t like Cornwall. One has merely to look at the pictures to wonder if he was crazy. The estate, which had fallen into serious disrepair, has been acquired by Britain’s National Trust and is undergoing extensive restoration. Much of it is, however, open to the public. This, alone, makes the visit more interesting, as visitors can see how the conservators are working at returning the estate to its eighteenth-century glory, glory paid for by the Godolphin tin mines much more than by any stud fees brought in by Shami or race purses by his offspring.
Visit the Godolphin Estate, or Work Your Vacation There
In fact, it is possible to take a Working Holiday at Godolphin. Visit the National Trust website to find out how to volunteer for a truly conservation-oriented holiday.
Shami—the Godolphin Barb—died on Christmas Day in 1753 and is buried at Newmarket; visitors cannot see his stable, which has been torn down, but can see his memorial marker.
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