Marshua was an American

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...

 racehorse

Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...

 sired by her famous father Nashua out of Emardee, by Heliopolis. Marshua was ranked second in her class of two year-olds. She made 16 starts in 1964 and was in the money 15 times an incredible 94% of the time. The highlight of that season was her victory in the prestigious Selima Stakes

Selima Stakes

The Selima Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. Raced in late November, it is open to two-year-old fillies and is raced on turf.- History :...

 at Laurel Park Racecorse 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...

. Having led all the way around the 1-1/16 mile event, she battled Queen Empress through the stretch to win by a fading neck. Queen Empress was later named champion two year-old filly. In addition to the Selima, Marshua won the Schuylerville Stakes

Schuylerville Stakes

The Schuylerville Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to two-year-old fillies, it is contested at a distance of six furlongs on dirt. A Grade III event, it offers a purse of $100,000. In 2006, the race was...

, the Gardenia Stakes

Gardenia Stakes

The Gardenia Stakes was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the second week of November. Created in 1955 at Garden State Park Racetrack in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, the 11/16 mile event was the world's richest race for two-year-old fillies, offering a total purse of US$130,300 in...

 and the Marguerite Stakes in her freshman year.

Marshua was bred and owned by Mrs. W. Gilroy. At age three she placed second in the Acorn Stakes

Acorn Stakes

The Acorn Stakes is an American Grade I race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies. It is raced on dirt over a distance of one mile with a current purse of $250,000. It is the first leg of the US Triple Tiara and is followed by the Coaching Club American Oaks...

 and won the filly classic Coaching Club American Oaks

Coaching Club American Oaks

The Coaching Club American Oaks is a race for thoroughbred three-year old fillies and the second leg of the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing. Originally run at Belmont Park, the Grade I $250,000 stakes race was moved to Saratoga Race Course in 2010....

. She retired with a record of nine wins, six seconds and four thirds in 21 starts with career earnings of $317,599.

In 1987 Laurel Park Racecourse named a race in her honor, the six furlong Marshua Stakes

Marshua Stakes

The Marshua Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in February at Laurel Park Racecourse in Laurel, Maryland. The Marshua Stakes, is open to fillies that are three-years-old in age and up willing to race six furlongs on the dirt. It was the 24th running of the stakes race in...

run annually every winter in February.