We would like to thank Visit Northampton, NC for the use of their website photo. You can also find them at Northampton County Tourism Development Authority on Facebook.
Sir Archie
photo compliments of Visit Northampton, NC
Although Sir Archie (Originally named Robert Burns) passed away in 1833, his legacy lives on in most all Kentucky Derby winners of today. Born in 1805 west of Richmond, Va, he stood at stud in our state at Mowfield Plantation in Northhampton County from 1818 until the time of his death. Although there is a historical marker for his final resting place in Virginia, it is now believed that he was buried where he stood stud in Mowfield Plantation, although it has never been determined. A UNC dig (conducted in 1958) failed to turn up any remains at Mowfield Plantation.
(*Mowfield Plantation is now a private residence)
Sir Archie lost his first 3 races, but then came into his own with winning 4 of the next 5 races, and these were not short sprints..the races actually covered a distance of 4 miles, unheard of on today’s tracks.
*Special note: Sir Archie can also be found under another spelling: Sir Archy
| As a stallion, Sir Archy earned his title “The Godolphin of America”, since his influence as a sire and grandsire was as sweeping as the Godolphin Arabian’s had been in England in the middle part of the 1700’s. In a long and prosperous stud career, Sir Archy sired many of the finest runners of the period, including Timoleon, Bertrand, Sir Charles, Sumpter, Stockholder, Lady Lightfoot, Reality, Flirtilla, Janet, and seemingly endless others. Bertrand and Sir Charles both became national leading sires in their own turn. |
Background:
| Sire | Diomed GB |
|---|---|
| Grandsire | Florizel GB |
| Dam | Castianira GB |
| Damsire | Rockingham GB |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1805 |
| Country | United States (Virginia) |
| Colour | Dark Bay |
| Breeder | Capt. Archibald Randolph Col. John Tayloe III |
| Owner | Ralph Wormely VI Col. William R. Johnson at 3Gen. William R. Davie, at stud |
| Trainer | Thomas LarkinArthur Taylor |
| Record | 7 Starts: 4–1–0 |
| Earnings | Unknown |
| Major wins | |
| Post Stakes (1809) Jockey Club Purse, Fairfield (1809) Jockey Club Purse, Petersburg (1809) Match race with the splendid four-miler, Blank (1809) | |
| Honours | |
| U.S. Racing Hall of Fame (1955) | |
| Last updated on December 19, 2007 | |
Partial List of Descendants:
MAN OWAR: Born in 1917, won 20 of 21 races after World War I.
SEABISCUIT: Popular champion of the late 1930s who became subject of several books and films.
NATIVE DANCER: 1954 horse of the year. Z Humor, who will run in today’s Derby, is great- grandson.
BOLD RULER: 1957 horse of the year, sired Secretariat.
SECRETARIAT: Won 1973 Triple Crown
SEATTLE SLEW: Won 1977 Triple Crown
CIGAR: Won 16 races In a row in mld-1990s.
BARBARO: Won Derby in 2006, but broke leg in the Preakness. Eventually died of complications.
Sir Archy was one of the first few horses inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1955
NC Culture would like to say that much of this information was derived from an article by Luke Decock of the News and Observer. He can be reached at the following: luke.decock@newsobserver.com
More information was found via Wikipedia.
The above “Godolphin” statement was taken directly from Thoroughbred Heritage Portraits.