Abermaid

Abermaid
Sire	Abernant
Grandsire	Owen Tudor
Dam	Dairymaid
Damsire	Denturius
Sex	Mare
Foaled	1959
Country	Ireland
Colour	Grey
Breeder	Sir Percy Loraine and Roderic More O'Ferrall
Owner	Sir Percy Loraine; Roderic More O'Ferrall
Trainer	Harry Wragg
Record	8: 4-1-2
Major wins
	New Stakes (1961); 1000 Guineas (1962)

Last updated March 05, 2019

Abermaid (1959–December 1979) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the classic 1000 Guineas in 1962. In a racing career lasting from the spring of 1961 until July 1962, the filly ran eight times and won four races. As a two-year-old in 1961, Abermaid was unbeaten in three races including the New Stakes at Royal Ascot. After running poorly on her three-year-old debut she recorded an upset win in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse in May. She was placed in her three remaining races before being retired to stud where she had some success as a broodmare.

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. Thoroughbreds are considered "hot-blooded" horses that are known for their agility, speed, and spirit.

The British Classics are five long-standing Group 1 horse races run during the traditional flat racing season. They are restricted to three-year-old horses and traditionally represent the pinnacle of achievement for racehorses against their own age group. As such, victory in any classic marks a horse as amongst the very best of a generation. Victory in two or even three of the series marks a horse as truly exceptional.

A filly is a female horse that is too young to be called a mare. There are two specific definitions in use:

Background

Abermaid was a grey mare bred at the Kildangan stud in County Kildare, Ireland by the partnership Sir Percy Loraine and Roderic More O'Ferrall.^[1] She was the only British classic winner sired by the outstanding sprinter Abernant, from whom she inherited her grey colour. Her dam, Dairymaid won three races as a two-year-old but then developed temperament problems and refused to race in her two subsequent starts. As a descendant of the broodmare Laitron, she was closely related to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Oroso and the Timeform Gold Cup winner Miralgo.^[2]

Kildangan is a village in County Kildare in Ireland.

County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is located in the province of Leinster and is part of the Mid-East Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county which has a population of 222,504.

The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres, and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.

Abermaid originally raced in the colours of Percy Loraine and was sent into training with the former champion jockey Harry Wragg at his Abington Place stable in Newmarket, Suffolk.^[3]

The Champion Jockey of flat racing in Great Britain is the jockey who has ridden the most winning horses during a season. The list below shows the Champion Jockey and the number of winners for each year since 1840. The seasonal record of jockeys' winners was published for the first time in 1846. The championship was sponsored for the first time in 2009 by online casino 32Red and is currently sponsored by Stobart Group.

Harry Wragg (1902–1985) was a British jockey and racehorse trainer, who gained the nickname "The Head Waiter" due to his "come from behind" riding style. In a 27-year riding career, Wragg rode over 1700 winners in Britain and Ireland, including three victories in The Derby and ten in other British Classic Races. He then embarked on a successful 36-year training career, in which he trained many important winners including five more classics. He retired in 1982 and died three years later.

Newmarket is a market town in the English county of Suffolk, approximately 65 miles north of London. It is generally considered the birthplace and global centre of thoroughbred horse racing and a potential World Heritage Site. It is a major local business cluster, with annual investment rivalling that of the Cambridge Science Park, the other major cluster in the region. It is the largest racehorse training centre in Britain, the largest racehorse breeding centre in the country, home to most major British horseracing institutions, and a key global centre for horse health. Two Classic races, and an additional three British Champions Series races are held at Newmarket every year. The town has had close royal connections since the time of James I, who built a palace there, and was also a base for Charles I, Charles II, and most monarchs since. The current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, visits the town often to see her horses in training.

Racing career

1961: two-year-old season

Abermaid began her racing career at Newmarket in the spring of 1961 when she won Granby Stakes. In May, at York, she recorded a second success in the Zetland Stakes (not the current race of the same name). She was then moved up in class to run at Royal Ascot in June, where she was matched against colts in the New Stakes (now the Group Two Norfolk Stakes. Ridden by Lester Piggott, she won at odds of 3/1 from the colt Princely Strath.^[4] Abermaid did not run again in 1961 and at the end of the year she was given a rating of 118 in the official ratings, fifteen pounds below the top-rated La Tendresse. When Loraine died in 1961, full ownership of the filly passed to Roderic More O'Ferrall and she raced in his colours from then on.^[1]

York Racecourse is a horse racing venue in York, North Yorkshire, England. It is the third biggest racecourse in Britain in terms of total prize money offered, and second behind Ascot in prize money offered per meeting. It attracts around 350,000 racegoers per year and stages three of the UK's 36 annual Group 1 races – the Juddmonte International Stakes, the Nunthorpe Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks.

The Zetland Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old horses. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs, and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.

A colt is a male horse, usually below the age of four years.

1962: three-year-old season

Abermaid made her first appearance for almost ten months in the Free Handicap over seven furlongs at Newmarket in April. She finished unplaced after being badly hampered at the start. At the next Newmarket meeting, Abermaid started a 100/6 outsider in a field of fourteen fillies for the 1000 Guineas over the Rowley mile course.^[5] Ridden by the Australian jockey Bill Williamson she stayed on strongly to win by half a length from Display and West Side Story. The result was only confirmed after an objection to Abermaid on the grounds of interference was overruled.^[6]

The European Free Handicap is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres) on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket in mid-April.

A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one eighth of a mile, equivalent to 660 feet, 220 yards, 40 rods, or 10 chains.

Bill Williamson born William James Williamson was an Australian jockey who enjoyed considerable success in Australia during the 1950s and in Europe during the 1960s. He was born in Williamstown Melbourne and named after his father William James Williamson, a machinist, and his wife Euphemia Agnes.

As the daughter of a sprinter, Abermaid was never considered as a contender for The Oaks, and ran instead in the Irish 1000 Guineas at the Curragh. She started favourite but finished third behind Shandon Belle and Lovely Gale. In June, Abermaid returned to Royal Ascot for the second year when she ran in the seven furlong Jersey Stakes. She finished second, beaten half a length by the colt Catchpole. On her final appearance she finished third to Tournella in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket in July.^[1]

The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 6 yards, and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June. It is the second-oldest of the five Classic races, after the St Leger. Officially the Investec Oaks, it is also popularly known as simply The Oaks.

Curragh Racecourse horse racing venue in the Republic of Ireland

The Curragh Racecourse, usually referred to as simply The Curragh, is one of Ireland's most important Thoroughbred racecourses. It is situated on the Curragh plain in County Kildare, between the towns of Newbridge and Kildare.

The Jersey Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old horses. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 7 furlongs, and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.

Retirement

Abermaid's first foal was a colt sired by Sicambre named Great Host who won the Ballysax Stakes, Chester Vase and Great Voltigeur Stakes in 1967. None of her other foals were successful racehorses, but her daughter Hunting Box (by Quadrangle) was exported to Japan where she produced the Satsuki Sho winner Azuma Hunter.^[7] Abermaid died in December 1979.^[8]

Assessment and honours

In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Abermaid an "average" winner of the 1000 Guineas.^[9]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Abermaid (IRE), grey mare, 1959^[10]
Sire Abernant (GB) 1946	Owen Tudor 1938	Hyperion	Gainsborough
		Hyperion	Selene
		Mary Tudor	Pharos
		Mary Tudor	Anna Bolena
	Rustom Mahal 1934	Rustom Pasha	Son-in-Law
		Rustom Pasha	Cos
		Mumtaz Mahal	The Tetrarch
		Mumtaz Mahal	Lady Josephine
Dam Dairymaid (USA) 1947	Denturius 1937	Gold Bridge	Golden Boss
		Gold Bridge	Flying Diadem
		La Solfatara	Lemberg
		La Solfatara	Ayesha
	Laitron 1932	Soldennis	Tredennis
		Soldennis	Soligena
		Chardon	Aldford
		Chardon	Thistle (Family:12-g)^[2]

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References

1 2 3 Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
1 2 "Luna - Family 12-g". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
↑ "Person Profile : Harry Wragg". Horseracing History Online. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
↑ Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books Publishing. ISBN 978-1-873626-15-3.
↑ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third Edition). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
↑ "Objection overruled". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. 3 May 1962. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
↑ "Azuma Hunter pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-10-04.
↑ Weatherby (1981). "Abermaid". General Stud Book. 39: 4.
↑ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN 978-1-901570-15-1.
↑ "Abermaid pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-10-04.

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[Mortimer-1] 1 2 3 Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.

[bloodlines1-2] 1 2 "Luna - Family 12-g". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-10-04.

[3] "Person Profile : Harry Wragg". Horseracing History Online. Retrieved 2012-10-04.

[Breedon-4] Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books Publishing. ISBN 978-1-873626-15-3.

[Guinness-5] Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third Edition). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.

[6] "Objection overruled". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. 3 May 1962. Retrieved 2012-10-04.

[7] "Azuma Hunter pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-10-04.

[8] Weatherby (1981). "Abermaid". General Stud Book. 39: 4.

[century-9] Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN 978-1-901570-15-1.

[10] "Abermaid pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-10-04.