Lady Lightfoot
Encyclopedia
Lady Lightfoot was an American
Thoroughbred
racing mare
by one of America's foremost stallion
s, Sir Archy
. A product of his very first crop, Lady Lightfoot is almost certainly his best daughter.
Lady Lightfoot was bred by John Tayloe II and foaled at Belair Stud
in Maryland
. (Tayloe had a hand in many a great horse's life, especially in her sire's life. Though Sir Archy would eventually "stand" in North Carolina
, in those days, sires often traveled from farm to farm selling their "services.")
In the filly's
very first race, a three heat effort of four miles per heat, she went up against a horse called Hermaphrodite. He won the first heat, and she won the next two. The time clocked for Hermaphrodite's win was 7 minutes 52 seconds. Lady Lightfoot's time for the last two heats was 7 minutes 53 seconds and 7 minutes 52 seconds. These are the fastest times for four miles in Maryland in her day.
The racing records during Lady Lightfoot’s life are incomplete. Some say she started 23 times, 15 of these starts in 4 mile heats. Others say there is evidence she could have won 30 or 40 races. It’s for certain that in the year 1817 when she was five years old, under her trainer William Wynn (known as "Racing Billy"), she and her half-brother Timoleon
, won five of the six races in the Charleston, Virginia winter meet.
One of the few races Lady Lightfoot lost was to one of America’s greats, American Eclipse
. On October 15, 1821 at the Union Course on Long Island, New York when Lady Lightfoot was nine, American Eclipse at age 7 beat her in straight heats.
Lady Lightfoot raced right through her eleventh year and when retired she dropped eight foals in nine years. Several of her foals achieved fame, especially her great daughter, Black Maria by her old rival American Eclipse. (Not to be confused with Lady Lightfoot's dam, also called Black Maria.) Many consider Black Maria a greater runner than her dam.
Lady Lightfoot seems to have died soon after her last foal, making the date 1832 or 1833. She would have been 19 or 20 years old.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
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...
racing mare
Mare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
by one of America's foremost stallion
Stallion
A Stallion is a male horse.Stallion may also refer to:* Stallion , an American pop rock group* Stallion , a figure in the Gobot toyline* Stallion , a character in the console role-playing game series...
s, Sir Archy
Sir Archy
Sir Archy was an American Thoroughbred racehorse.-Early life:Born and bred in Virginia by two Americans, Capt. Archibald Randolph and Col. John Tayloe III, Sir Archy's sire was the Epsom Derby winner Diomed, who had been imported from England as an older horse...
. A product of his very first crop, Lady Lightfoot is almost certainly his best daughter.
Lady Lightfoot was bred by John Tayloe II and foaled at Belair Stud
Belair Stud
Belair Stud was an American thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding farm founded by Provincial Governor of Maryland, Samuel Ogle in 1747 in Collington, Prince Georges County, Maryland in Colonial America.-Colonial Period:...
in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. (Tayloe had a hand in many a great horse's life, especially in her sire's life. Though Sir Archy would eventually "stand" in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, in those days, sires often traveled from farm to farm selling their "services.")
In the filly's
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
very first race, a three heat effort of four miles per heat, she went up against a horse called Hermaphrodite. He won the first heat, and she won the next two. The time clocked for Hermaphrodite's win was 7 minutes 52 seconds. Lady Lightfoot's time for the last two heats was 7 minutes 53 seconds and 7 minutes 52 seconds. These are the fastest times for four miles in Maryland in her day.
The racing records during Lady Lightfoot’s life are incomplete. Some say she started 23 times, 15 of these starts in 4 mile heats. Others say there is evidence she could have won 30 or 40 races. It’s for certain that in the year 1817 when she was five years old, under her trainer William Wynn (known as "Racing Billy"), she and her half-brother Timoleon
Timoleon (horse)
For the Greek statesman of this name, see Timoleon.Timoleon , was a good American Thoroughbred racehorse and was later an important sire....
, won five of the six races in the Charleston, Virginia winter meet.
One of the few races Lady Lightfoot lost was to one of America’s greats, American Eclipse
American Eclipse
American Eclipse was an undefeated American Thoroughbred racehorse, who raced when three to four mile heats were common.-Breeding:...
. On October 15, 1821 at the Union Course on Long Island, New York when Lady Lightfoot was nine, American Eclipse at age 7 beat her in straight heats.
Lady Lightfoot raced right through her eleventh year and when retired she dropped eight foals in nine years. Several of her foals achieved fame, especially her great daughter, Black Maria by her old rival American Eclipse. (Not to be confused with Lady Lightfoot's dam, also called Black Maria.) Many consider Black Maria a greater runner than her dam.
Lady Lightfoot seems to have died soon after her last foal, making the date 1832 or 1833. She would have been 19 or 20 years old.