Mrs McArdy
| Mrs McArdy | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Tribal Chief |
| Grandsire | Princely Gift |
| Dam | Hanina |
| Damsire | Darling Boy |
| Sex | Mare |
| Foaled | 1974 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Lord Grimthorpe |
| Owner | Edith Kettlewell |
| Trainer | Mick Easterby |
| Record | 16:8-0-1 (in Europe) |
| Major wins | |
|
Tote Free Handicap (1977) 1000 Guineas (1977) Fen Ditton Stakes (1977) Strensall Stakes (1977) |
|
| Awards | |
| Timeform rating 101 (1976), 123 (1977) | |
Mrs McArdy (1974 – 5 August 1991) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare best known for winning the classic 1000 Guineas in 1977. She won four minor races as a two-year-old in 1977 before emerging as a top class performer in the following year. As a three-year-old she won the Tote Free Handicap before winning the Guineas as a 16/1 outsider. She went on to win the Fen Ditton Stakes when conceding weight to colts and older horses and then took the Strensall Stakes. She was exported to race in the United States but failed to reproduce her European form. After her retirement from racing she had some success as a broodmare.
Mrs McArdy was a "shapely, attractive" bay mare with a large white star bred by Christopher Beckett, 4th Baron Grimthorpe at his Westlow Hall stud near York. She was arguably the best horse sired by Tribal Chief, a sprinter who won the New Stakes and the Norfolk Stakes as a two-year-old in 1969. Her dam, Hanina, was a poor racehorse but was a granddaughter of Star of India the outstanding British two-year-old of 1955.
In 1975, Lord Grimthorpe sold all his bloodstock, with most being bought by the trainer Mick Easterby. Easterby sold the horses on but kept Mrs McArdy and trained at her at his farm near Sheriff Hutton in Yorkshire. He later sold the filly privately to Edith Kettlewell the wife of a hotelier.
Campaigned exclusively in the North of England, Mrs McArdy made little impact in the earliest part of her racing career, finishing unplaced in her first four races before winning a maiden race over five furlongs at Newcastle Racecourse. She then made steady improvement, winning a handicap race over six furlongs at Thirsk and the Prince of Wales's Nursery over a mile at Doncaster, receiving fifteen pounds from the runner-up Fair Season. On her final appearance of the season she took her winning run to four with a victory in a minor race over six furlongs at Redcar Racecourse in September, beating Sarasingh by three quarters of a length.
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