Selkirk

Selkirk (February 19, 1988 – January 3, 2013) was an American-bred Thoroughbred race horse and sire who raced mainly in Europe. Bred in Pennsylvania and owned by American philanthropist businessman George W. Strawbridge Jr., he was trained by Ian Balding. At the end of 1991, his third year, he had a record of 3-1-2 out of seven starts. In total, he had won six of his 15 starts. He retired from racing in 1993 and began his stud career at Kirsten Rausing's Lanwades stud farm in Newmarket, England, where he sired 92 stakes winners from 987 foals. He died on January 3, 2013, at the age of 25. Background Selkirk was a chestnut horse with a white blaze and long white socks on his hind legs, bred in Pennsylvania by his owner George Strawbridge. He was sired by Sharpen Up, a British racehorse who won the Middle Park Stakes in 1971 before becoming a successful breeding stallion. His other progeny included Pebbles, Kris and Diesis. Selkirk's dam, Annie Edge was a successful racemare for Strawbridge on both sides of the Atlantic, winning the Park Stakes in 1983, and the New York Stakes a year later. Strawbridge sent his colt to be raced in Europe and trained at Ian Balding's Kingsclere training facility near Watership Down, Hampshire, England. Racing career 1990: two-year-old season Selkirk never contested a maiden race, instead starting his career in a Listed stakes event. On September 14 Selkirk won his debut race in the Stardom Stakes at Goodwood by four lengths with a time of 1m 38.56s. He was immediately moved up to the highest level for the Group One Grand Critérium at Longchamp on October 6 in which finished fourth at around three lengths behind champion Hector Protector.