Fenian (horse)

Last updated

Fenian
SireMickey Free
Grandsire Irish Birdcatcher
DamSpiletta
Damsire Stockwell
SexStallion
Foaled1866
Country United States
Color Chestnut
Breeder August Belmont
Owner August Belmont
Trainer Jacob Pincus
JockeyCharlie Miller
Major wins
American Classics wins:
Belmont Stakes (1869)

Fenian (foaled 1866) was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1869 Belmont Stakes. Bred by August Belmont, Fenian raced as a two-year-old, winning two races, placing second twice, and third once from five starts. As a three-year-old he only raced once, in the Belmont, which he won. He suffered from bad legs and some accounts state that he never raced again after the Belmont, although he appears to have raced later as a gelding, and eventually ended up in England where he did some steeplechase races. His likeness is atop the trophy for the Belmont Stakes.

Contents

Breeding

Fenian was bred by August Belmont and was a chestnut stallion. His sire was Mickey Free. [1] His dam was the imported mare Spiletta by Stockwell, and his second dam was Olivia Augusta by Cowl. Fenian was Spiletta's only stakes winning foal. [2] Mickey Free was an imported stallion, sired by Irish Birdcatcher and out of the mare Annie by Wanderer. Fenian was his only stakes winning foal. [3] The American Stud Book gives his original name as "Leonardo". [4]

Racing career

Fenian raced as a two-year-old and was held to be a good racehorse then. [5] He started five times and won twice. [6] On June 10, 1868, he placed third in the Hopeful Stakes, a 5 furlongs (1.0 kilometer ) race for two-year-olds. [7] Seven days later, he placed second in a 1⁄2 mile (1 kilometer) sweepstakes race for two-year-olds. [8] He was again second in a two-year-old sweepstakes race on July 1, this time at a distance of 5 furlongs. [9] On October 7 he won a match race against Inveruglass at a distance of 3⁄4 mile (1.2 kilometers). [10] In his last race as a two-year-old, he won a handicap sweepstakes on October 10 at a distance of 1 mile (1.6 kilometers). [11] His record as a two-year-old was two wins, two seconds, and a third from five races. [7] [8] [9] [6]

1896 newspaper drawing of the August Belmont Trophy, with Fenian on top of the cup. Belmont Cup.png
1896 newspaper drawing of the August Belmont Trophy, with Fenian on top of the cup.

Fenian won the third running of the Belmont Stakes in 1869 for his owner August Belmont. [12] His trainer was Jacob Pincus and he won the race in a time of 3 minutes and 4.25 seconds. [1] [13] The track was rated as heavy, and the race was at a distance of 1+5⁄8 miles (i.e. 13 furlongs (2,600 metres)) on June 5. The race was worth $3500 to the winner, [1] who was ridden by Charlie Miller. [14] Although there is no official record of the margin of victory, contemporary accounts noted that Fenian won the race easily, and finished the race while being pulled up. [1] The race was run at Jerome Park. [14] His stablemate, Glenelg, was also entered in the race, and there is some indication that Glenelg was held back to allow Fenian to win. [13] Glenelg, also owned by Belmont, came in second in the race. Fenian, however, had been bred by Belmont, and Glenelg, who was imported to the United States in his mother's womb, had not, so Belmont preferred for a horse he had bred to win. [15] There were 6 other horses in the race, but none of them came close to beating either Fenian or Glenelg. [5] This was Fenian's only race as a three-year-old. [6]

Fenian reportedly never raced again, due to bad legs. [1] This was a fault of all of his dam's foals. [5] However, Belmont sold Fenian in October 1870 to Dr. D. Kerwin for $70. [16] He later raced under Kerwin's name as a gelding until 1872 when he was sent to England. [17] [18] Retrained for steeplechasing and owned by J.B. Burstall, Fenian was second in the Military and Navy Stakes run at Emsworth in April 1872. [19]

Fenian won no other stakes races, [2] and sired no stakes winners. [20] His claim to fame is that he is the horse that appears on top of the Belmont Stakes trophy. [21] [22]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Fenian
Sire
Mickey Free [23]

1841

 Birdcatcher [24]

1833

 Sir Hercules Whalebone
Peri
GuiccioliBob Booty
Flight
Annie

1827

Wanderer Gohanna
Catherine
Caroline Whalebone
Marianne
Dam
Spiletta [4]

1856

 Stockwell [25]

1849

 The Baron Birdcatcher
Echidna
Pocahontas Glencoe I
Marpessa
Olivia Augusta

1851

Cowl Bay Middleton
Crucifix
MariaBelshazzar
Cervantes Mare

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 New York Racing Association "1869 Belmont Stakes" The Belmont Stakes
  2. 1 2 Hogan Index to Stakes Winners p. 460
  3. ↑ Hogan Index to Stakes Winners p. 622
  4. 1 2 Bruce American Stud Book vol. 1 p. 128
  5. 1 2 3 Vosburgh "Belmont Stakes" Daily Racing Form
  6. 1 2 3 Crickmore Racing Calendars: Vol. 3 p. 232
  7. 1 2 Crickmore Racing Calendars: Vol. 3 p. 33
  8. 1 2 Crickmore Racing Calendars: Vol. 3 p. 36
  9. 1 2 Crickmore Racing Calendars: Vol. 3 p. 38
  10. ↑ Crickmore Racing Calendars: Vol. 3 p. 75
  11. ↑ Crickmore Racing Calendars: Vol. 3 p. 78
  12. ↑ New York Racing Association "Belmont Stakes" The Belmont Stakes
  13. 1 2 Hewitt Great Breeders of the Past p. 24
  14. 1 2 Staff "Glory of Belmont Stakes" Daily Racing Form
  15. ↑ Robertson History of Thoroughbred Racing pp. 105–106
  16. ↑ Staff "Sale of horses at Jerome Park Evening Post
  17. ↑ Staff "American Jockey Club Handicaps" American Gentleman's Newspaper
  18. ↑ Staff "Racing and Trotting Notes New York Clipper
  19. ↑ Staff "South Hampshire Steeplechases" Sportsman
  20. ↑ Hogan Index to Stakes Winners p. 580
  21. ↑ Sowers Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes p. 11
  22. ↑ Staff "Belmont Stakes Factoids" Belmont Stakes
  23. ↑ Bruce American Stud Book vol. 1 p. 38
  24. ↑ Bruce Horse Breeder's Guide p. 71
  25. ↑ Bruce Horse Breeder's Guide p. 3

Related Research Articles

Kingfisher (horse) 19th-century American Thoroughbred racehorse

Kingfisher (1867–1890) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1870 Belmont Stakes.

Luke McLuke 20th-century American Thoroughbred racehorse

Luke McLuke was a bay Thoroughbred stallion born in the United States. He won the 1914 Belmont Stakes, the Carlton Stakes, Kentucky Handicap, and Grainger Memorial Handicap among his four wins from six starts. After his racing career was over, he became a breeding stallion, siring 11 stakes winners. Two of his daughters were named as year-end Champions in the United States.

General Duke was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the second running of the Belmont Stakes in 1868. A son of Lexington, he was bred by Robert A. Alexander in Kentucky. He raced as a two-year-old, winning twice, including a stakes race. As a three-year-old, he raced nine times, winning six races, including several stakes. His final racing record was 18 wins from 32 starts. He was later known as Judge Curtis, and after his racing career ended he was a breeding stallion in Canada before dying in Illinois in 1888. Three of his daughters won stakes races.

Harry Bassett 19th-century American Thoroughbred racehorse

Harry Bassett (1868–1878) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse, winner of the 1871 Belmont Stakes and an outstanding racehorse of the 19th century. He also won a number of other stakes races, and was named the Champion male of his age group in 1870, 1871 and 1872. He was retired to stud duties in New Jersey when his five-year racing career ended, having recorded 23 wins from 36 starts. Harry Bassett died in New Jersey in 1878 and was inducted into the United States Racing Hall of Fame in 2010.

Joe Daniels (1869–1896) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and stallion who won the sixth Belmont Stakes in 1872. Bred in Kentucky, Joe Daniels won two stakes races as a two-year-old and then the Belmont as a three-year-old when he also won a number of other stakes races, and some match races in California. As a four-year-old, he won one further stakes race before retiring with a record of 29 starts for 16 wins. He sired two stakes winning horses during his breeding career.

Springbok (horse) 19th-century American Thoroughbred racehorse

Springbok (1870–1897) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the seventh Belmont Stakes in 1873. Foaled in 1870, he was sired by the imported stallion Australian, his dam was a daughter of Lexington. During his racing career he started 25 races, winning 17 of them. Besides the Belmont, Springbok won the Saratoga Cup twice, in 1874 and 1875 and was named Champion Older Male horse in 1874 and 1875. After retiring from the racetrack, he sired five stakes winners and died in 1897.

Saxon (1871–1895) was a British-bred American-trained Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1874 Belmont Stakes, the eighth running of that stakes race.

Algerine was an American Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1876 Belmont Stakes and was the maternal grandsire of Rhoda B, the dam of the 1907 Epsom Derby winner Orby.

Glenelg was a thoroughbred conceived in England but born in the United States after his dam was imported into the US in 1866. Bred from two horses of no notable talent, he became one of the most influential sires of his time. He excelled both on the track and in the breeding shed.

Eleanor (horse) British Thoroughbred racehorse

Eleanor was a British Thoroughbred racehorse bred by Charles Bunbury and was the first female horse to win The Derby. Eleanor also won the 1801 Epsom Oaks among many other races before retiring from racing at age eight to become a broodmare for Bunbury. She produced the stallion Muley, which in turn sired the mare Marpessa and the influential stallion Leviathan which was exported to the United States in the early nineteenth century. Through the produce of her daughter Active, Eleanor is present in the pedigrees of 19th-century American Standardbred racehorses.

Prince Leopold (horse) British Thoroughbred racehorse

Prince Leopold (1813–1817) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and winner of the 1816 Epsom Derby. Prince Leopold was bred by the Duke of York and raced as a three and four-year-old. The bay colt had an unruly temperament, and was castrated at the end of the 1817 racing season in an attempt to improve his behavior, but he died shortly after the procedure.

Smolensko (horse) British Thoroughbred racehorse

Smolensko was a Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1813 Epsom Derby and 2,000 Guineas Stakes. Smolensko raced for two years and was retired to stud in 1815. He stood for seven years for his breeder, Charles Bunbury, and spent the remainder of his stud career in Surrey and Suffolk. Before his death at age 19 in 1829, he sired the filly Gulnare and the colt Jerry.

Young Eclipse was a Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1781 Epsom Derby. He raced until he was six years old, winning seven races and retiring to stud in 1785. He was not a successful sire.

Hannibal was a Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1804 Epsom Derby. Hannibal raced until he was four-years-old, winning only one race over his two-year racing career. His breeder, Lord Egremont, won the Derby five times and Hannibal's victory was his third time winning the event. Hannibal retired from racing in 1806 and had a limited stud career, covering few mares and standing for only the 1806 breeding season at Lord Egremont's stud in Petworth.

Saltram (1780–1802) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from spring 1783 to May 1785 he ran eight times and won four races. In 1783 he won the fourth running of The Derby on his third racecourse appearance. He won one race in 1784 and was then sold to George, Prince of Wales for whom he won a race at Newmarket in 1785 before being retired to stud. After having some success as a stallion in England he was exported to the United States where he died in 1802.

Americus, was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was exported to England. He had some success as a racehorse, but was more notable for his influence at stud. He was bred in California and won the 1895 Culver Stakes prior to his export. He continued to race in England, until he was nine years old, while also standing as a breeding stallion. He stood at stud in Italy, Ireland, Germany, and Belgium before dying in Germany in 1910. Americus' most famous descendant was his great-granddaughter Mumtaz Mahal.

Gohanna British Thoroughbred racehorse

Gohanna was a British racehorse that was second to Waxy in the 1793 Epsom Derby and was a successful sire in the late 18th and early 19th century. Gohanna was initially referred to as "Brother to Precipitate" during his early racing career until he was officially named in 1795. Retired to stud at Lord Egremont's Petworth House in 1801 where Gohanna spent the entirety of his 14-year stud career, he sired numerous successful racehorses including the Derby winners Election and Cardinal Beaufort.

Hollandoise, or alternatively Hollandaise, (1775–1782) was a grey British Thoroughbred mare that won the 1778 St. Leger Stakes, the first horse to win the event under its formal title. Raced sporadically from 1778 to 1782, Hollandoise won eight races in 14 starts. She died suddenly shortly after her last race in 1782 before producing any offspring.

Ambidexter was a British Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1790. In a racing career which lasted from May 1790 until September 1791, and was conducted exclusively in Yorkshire, he won two of his eight races. After his retirement from racing he does not appear to have been used as a breeding stallion.

Fourstars Allstar was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire, best known for his win in the Irish 2,000 Guineas. As a two-year-old in 1990 he showed promising form by winning the Pilgrim Stakes and the Damon Runyon Stakes as well as finishing second in the Laurel Futurity. In May of the following year he was shipped to Ireland and became the first American-trained horse to win a European Classic with his win in the Irish 2000 Guineas. Although never returned to Europe he was a consistent performer in major American Turf racing over the next four seasons, winning the Elkhorn Stakes, Saratoga Breeders' Cup Handicap, Fort Marcy Handicap, New Hampshire Sweepstakes Handicap and two editions of the Bernard Baruch Handicap.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.