Hephestion (horse)

Last updated
Hephestion
Sire Alexander
Grandsire Eclipse
DamOlivia
DamsireJustice
Sex Stallion
Foaled1807
Country United Kingdom
Colour Bay
Breeder Robert Grosvenor, 2nd Earl Grosvenor
OwnerRobert Grosvenor, 2nd Earl Grosvenor
Trainer Robert Robson
Record18: 5-5-7
Major wins
2000 Guineas (1810)

Hephestion (foaled 1807) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and best known for winning the classic 2000 Guineas in 1810. The rest of his racing career was undistinguished, as he recorded only four other victories in minor contests from a total of eighteen competitive races. He does not appear to have found a place at stud as a breeding stallion.

Contents

Background

Lord Grosvenor, who bred Hephestion and owned him during the 1810 season Robert, 1st Marquess.jpg
Lord Grosvenor, who bred Hephestion and owned him during the 1810 season

Hephestion was a bay horse bred by his owner Robert Grosvenor, 2nd Earl Grosvenor. He was sired by Grosvenor's stallion Alexander who was based at Figdale in Cheshire: Alexander's other offspring included The Oaks winner Nike and the unnamed but influential Alexander mare. [1] Hephestion was the tenth of twelve foals produced by his dam Olivia, [2] a full-sister of the Oaks winner Trifle. [3] Grosvenor sent the filly to be trained at Newmarket by Robert Robson, the so-called "Emperor of Trainers". [4]

Racing career

1810: three-year-old season

Hephestion began his racing career on 23 April the opening day of the 1810 flat racing season at Newmarket Racecourse. He started at odd of 5/1 for a produce sweepstakes over the Rowley Mile course and finished second of the six runners behind Pledge, a filly owned by the Duke of Grafton. [5] At the next Newmarket meeting, Hephestion was one of nine three-year-olds, from an original entry of twenty-seven, to contest the second running of the 2,000 Guineas Stakes over the Rowley Mile. Ridden by Frank Buckle, he was made the 5/1 second favourite and won easily [6] from Lord Kinnaird's colt The Dandy. [7]

A month after his win at Newmarket, Hephestion was moved up in distance to contest the Derby Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse. He started the 3/1 second favourite but finished unplaced behind Whalebone and The Dandy. [8]

1811: four-year-old season

Hephestion won four of his ten competitive races as a four-year-old in 1811. After being off the course for more than ten months, he reappeared at Newmarket in May in the colours of Mr Ladbroke. He won a sweepstakes over ten furlongs at the first spring meeting [9] but at the next meeting two weeks later was beaten by Asmodeus in a five furlong sweepstakes and by Lord Oxford's filly Morgiana in a handicap race. By the end of that month he had entered the ownership of Sir H. Lippincott and at the Epsom Derby meeting he finished third in the Gold Cup over two miles [10] after which he was campaigned at relatively minor courses. At Stockbridge Racecourse a week later he finished last of three runners in a sweepstakes. [11] At the end of June Hephestion had three engagements at the Bibury Club meeting at Burford: he was withdrawn from the Sherborne Stakes, finished third in a four mile sweepstakes, received compromise when his rival failed to appear for a match race and then recorded his first competitive win of the season when he won a one mile match against a six-year-old mare named Matilda. [12] His next appearance was at Bath Racecourse on 5 July, when he contested a handicap race run in a series of one mile heats, with the prize going to the first horse to win twice. Hephestion won the first heat, finished second in the next two, and claimed the victory when his only remaining rival, a mare named Viscountess, fell in the deciding heat. [13] Two weeks later, he finished third behind Romana in the Cup over one and a half miles at Winchester Racecourse. On 30 July Hephestion ended his summer campaign by winning both heats of a £50 race at Stockbridge from two opponents. [14] His final appearance of the season was on 17 September at Kingscote Racecourse, where he finished third in the Kingscote Stakes over three miles.

1812: five-year-old season

Hephestion remained in training as a five-year-old but failed to win in four races. At the Maddington Club meeting at Stockbridge in May he was beaten by Ringdove in a 50 guinea match race and then finished third of the four runners behind Romeo in the four-mile Maddington Stakes. [15] In the following month he finished last of three behind Ringdove in a claiming race at the Bibury meeting. Hephestion ended his racing career at Kingscote in September, winning the first heat of a two-mile handicap but finishing second in the next two heats behind Topsy-Turvy. [16]

Hephestion disappears from the records after his defeat at Kingscote. He does not appear on any lists of stallions and has no offspring mentioned in the General Stud Book.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Hephestion (GB), bay stallion, 1807
Sire
Alexander (GB)
1782
Eclipse
1764
Marske Squirt
The Ruby Mare
Spilletta Regulus
Mother Western
Grecian Princess
1770
Williams' ForesterCroft's Forester
Looby mare
Coalition colt mareCoalition colt
Bustard mare
Dam
Olivia (GB)
1786 [17]
Justice
1774
Herod Tartar
Cypron
Curiosity Snap
Regulus mare (1749)
Cypher
1772
Squirrel Traveller
Grey Bloody Buttocks
Regulus mare (1749) Regulus
Childers mare (Family:3-b)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orville (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Orville (1799–1826) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a racing career which lasted from August 1801 until October 1807 the horse ran thirty-four times and won twenty races. In his early career he was based in Yorkshire and won the classic St Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse as a three-year-old in 1802.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meteora (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Meteora (1802–1821) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the classic Oaks Stakes at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1805. In a racing career which began with her win in the Oaks on 31 May 1805 and lasted until July 1810 she ran thirty-six timeas and won twenty-four races. She defeated the Derby winner Cardinal Beaufort and the St Leger winner Staveley in match races and won many other important races of the era including the Stamford Gold Cup, the Oatlands Stakes (twice), the Audley End Stakes, the Somerset Stakes and the Brighton Gold Cup. Many of her defeats occurred when she was carrying large weights in handicap races.

Bronze was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the classic Oaks Stakes at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1806. Bronze's classic win left her unbeaten in three starts, but her subsequent racing career was undistinguished: in eighteen more races she recorded only three wins, two of which were at relatively minor tracks. After being retired to stud in 1809 she proved to be a highly successful and influential broodmare, whose direct descendants have won many important races up to the present day.

Morel was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the classic Oaks Stakes at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1808. In a racing career which lasted from April 1808 until July 1812 the mare ran twenty-seven times and won fourteen races. She was mainly campaigned at Newmarket Racecourse, running against some of the best horses of the era in match races and frequently carrying large weights in handicaps. Unlike many champions of the early 19th century, she was particularly effective at shorter distances, recording many of her successes over a mile or less. After her retirement from racing, Morel became a highly successful and influential broodmare, whose direct descendants have won numerous major races in Europe, North America, Japan and Australasia.

Maid of Orleans (1806–1825) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the classic Oaks Stakes at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1809. Unraced as a two-year-old, Maid of Orleans won her first race at Newmarket in April 1809 and then won the Oaks as a 16/1 outsider, beating her more fancied stable companion. The filly won only one of her remaining seven races, and was retired from racing at the end of 1810.

Sorcery was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the classic Oaks Stakes at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1811. In a racing career which lasted from April 1811 to July 1814 the filly ran twenty-six times, winning twelve races and finishing placed on eleven occasions. Sorcery won the Oaks on her third racecourse appearance and went on to win other important races including the Epsom Gold Cup, the Trial Stakes, two editions of the Oatlands Stakes, a King's Plate and several match races. After her retirement from racing she became a successful broodmare, being the dam of the 1828 Epsom Derby winner Cadland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medora (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Medora (1811–1835) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the classic Oaks Stakes at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1814. In a racing career which lasted from April 1814 to May 1816, she ran thirteen times, won four races, and twice "received forfeit" when her opponent did not appear for a scheduled match race. Unraced as a two-year-old, Medora produced her best form in the first half of 1814, she finished third in the inaugural 1000 Guineas, won the Oaks and then claimed two races at Royal Ascot. She remained in training for two more seasons but was less successful, winning only one competitive race. She was retired to stud where she became a highly successful and influential broodmare, whose direct descendants won many major races throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wizard (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Wizard was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He won seven of his ten races, with all his wins coming at Newmarket. In 1809 he won the 2000 Guineas Stakes, before finishing second in the Derby Stakes. The following year he won a match race against his Derby conqueror Pope. Throughout his racing career he was owned by Christopher Wilson and trained by Tom Perren. Wizard only stood as a stallion for two years before dying in an accident in 1813. His son Young Wizard won the Riddlesworth Stakes and was the runner-up in the Derby in 1817.

Variation (1827–1847) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare that achieved success in the racing world. In 1830, Variation made her racing debut by winning the classic Oaks Stakes at Epsom Downs Racecourse. Throughout her career, she participated in fifteen races and emerged victorious in eight of them. Her achievements included three match races, the Oatlands Stakes, and two editions of the Garden Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. One of her notable victories came in the 1831 Garden Stakes, where she triumphed over a formidable field across a two-mile distance. Following her racing career, Variation retired in 1833 and subsequently displayed promise as a broodmare.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barefoot (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Barefoot (1820–1840) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning a chaotic and controversial race for the classic St Leger Stakes in 1823. Bred and originally trained in Yorkshire, Barefoot was beaten on his debut but began a seven race winning sequence when successful in a minor race at Pontefract in September 1822. As a three-year-old he was unbeaten in five starts including the Spring St Leger at York and the Great St Leger at Doncaster. In the latter event, he finished second in a race which was declared void after a false start before winning a re-run. Barefoot was later sold to William Vane, 1st Duke of Cleveland and competed for three further seasons with mixed results, his best efforts being wins in the Lancaster Gold Cups of 1825 and 1826. After his retirement from racing he was exported to the United States where he had limited success as a sire of winners before dying as a result of a snake bite in 1840.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soothsayer (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Soothsayer (1808–1827) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1811. Bred and originally trained in Yorkshire he won the St Leger on his third racecourse appearance when still unnamed. He was later sold and trained for the remainder of his racing career at Newmarket where he won a valuable sweepstakes in 1812 and a match race against the Derby winner Phantom in 1813. He later became a successful breeding stallion, siring two classic winners and being the Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1819. He was later exported to Russia where he died in 1827.

Otterington was a British Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1812. He was one of the least successful of classic winners, winning only one other race from sixteen starts between May 1812 and June 1815. His St Leger victory was the only one of his three-year-old season, and was achieved at odds of 50/1. He subsequently won one two-runner race in eight attempts in 1813 and after missing the whole of following season he was beaten in all four of his starts as a six-year-old. Otterington's fate after his retirement from racing is unknown.

William was a British Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1814. In a racing career which lasted from May 1813 until May 1815 he contested eight races and won four times. After winning his last two starts as a two-year-old, he fell on his first appearance of 1814 and was beaten in his next race before winning the St Leger at odds of 7/1. He was beaten in his only race as a four-year-old and was sold and gelded before returning for two unsuccessful efforts in 1817.

Octavian (1807–1833) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1810. Despite suffering from hoof problems he was beaten only twice in a nine race career which lasted from April 1810 until September 1812, and which was conducted entirely in Yorkshire. Apart from his classic success, his most important win came in 1812, when he won a division of the Great Subscription Purse at York. He was retired to stud, where he had an early success by siring the St Leger winner Antonio, but his subsequent record was disappointing. Octavian died in 1833 at the age of twenty-six.

Cockfighter (1796–1807) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1799. In a racing career which lasted from May 1799 until August 1802 he won ten of his eighteen races. Originally named Abraham Newland, he was renamed to reflect the sporting interests of Henry Tempest Vane who bought the horse in the summer of his three-year-old season. After bolting on his racecourse debut, Cockfighter was undefeated for more than two years, winning the St Leger, the Doncaster Cup, and three divisions of the Great Subscription Purse at York, and was regarded as the best horse in Northern England. He won the Craven Stakes in 1802, but was retired from racing after a run of defeats later that year. He had little opportunity to establish himself as a breeding stallion, dying in 1807 after four seasons at stud.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ambrosio (horse)</span> British Thoroughbred racehorse

Ambrosio was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1796. In a racing career which lasted from May 1796 until September 1799 he won fifteen of his twenty-three races. As a three-year-old he was based in Yorkshire, where he won his first three races before justifying his position as odds-on favourite for the St Leger, beating six opponents. In the next two years he competed mainly at Newmarket, where his victories three divisions of the Oatlands Stakes and the Jockey Club Plate. He returned to Yorkshire as a six-year-old to win a division of the Great Subscription Purse at York before being retired to stud. Ambrosio stood as a breeding stallion in Great Britain and Ireland, but had little success as a sire of winners.

Beningbrough (1791–1815) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1794. In a racing career which lasted from May 1794 until August 1797 he won eight of his twelve races. After being beaten on his first appearance, he won his remaining four races as a three-year-old, including the St Leger and the Gold Cup at Doncaster Racecourse in September. He was lightly campaigned thereafter but three times in 1795 and once in 1796. He was then retired to stud where he became a highly successful breeding stallion being the sire and grandsire of many important winners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don John (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Don John (1835–1857) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1838. In a racing career which lasted from May 1837 until April 1839 he ran ten times and won nine races, although three of his victories were walkovers when no rival appeared to oppose him. He was one of the leading British two-year-olds of 1837, when his three wins included the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse. In the following year he returned to Doncaster where he recorded an emphatic win in the St Leger and then defeated a strong field of older horses in the Doncaster Cup. In the following year he was campaigned at Newmarket where he was beaten for the first time by Grey Momus in the Port Stakes. After one more win he suffered serious leg injuries which ended his racing career. He was retired to stud where he became a successful breeding stallion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles the Twelfth</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Charles the Twelfth (1836–1859) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1839. He ran a dead-heat with Euclid in the classic before winning the prize in a deciding heat.

Trophonius was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire and best known for winning the classic 2000 Guineas in 1811. Trophonius won his first three races at Newmarket Racecourse in the spring of 1811, including the Guineas and the Newmarket Stakes on the following afternoon, but ran disappointingly when favourite for The Derby. He never recovered his best form and was beaten in his remaining seven races. Shortly after his retirement he was sold and exported to stand as a breeding stallion in Russia.

References

  1. "Early Studbook A". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  2. The General stud book. Vol. 2. C, J, E and JP Weatherby. 1869. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
  3. "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Cypher - Family 3-b". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  4. "The Dukes of Grafton: The Racing". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
  5. Edward and James Weatherby (1811). "Racing calendar. 1810". Racing Calendar, Containing an Account of Plates, Matches, and Sweepstakes Run for in Ireland. H Reynell: 2. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  6. Sporting magazine (Apr. -Sept. 1810). J Wheble. 1810. p. 355. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  7. Edward and James Weatherby (1811). "Racing calendar. 1810". Racing Calendar, Containing an Account of Plates, Matches, and Sweepstakes Run for in Ireland. H Reynell: 24. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  8. Edward and James Weatherby (1811). "Racing calendar. 1810". Racing Calendar, Containing an Account of Plates, Matches, and Sweepstakes Run for in Ireland. H Reynell: 48. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  9. Hunter, Robert J. "Racing calendar". Racing Calendar, Containing an Account of Plates, Matches, and Sweepstakes Run for in Ireland.
  10. Edward and James Weatherby (1812). "Racing calendar. 1811". Racing Calendar, Containing an Account of Plates, Matches, and Sweepstakes Run for in Ireland. H Reynell: 117. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
  11. Edward and James Weatherby (1812). "Racing calendar. 1811". Racing Calendar, Containing an Account of Plates, Matches, and Sweepstakes Run for in Ireland. H Reynell: 122. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
  12. Edward and James Weatherby (1812). "Racing calendar. 1811". Racing Calendar, Containing an Account of Plates, Matches, and Sweepstakes Run for in Ireland. H Reynell: 143. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
  13. Edward and James Weatherby (1812). "Racing calendar. 1811". Racing Calendar, Containing an Account of Plates, Matches, and Sweepstakes Run for in Ireland. H Reynell: 151. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
  14. Edward and James Weatherby (1812). "Racing calendar. 1811". Racing Calendar, Containing an Account of Plates, Matches, and Sweepstakes Run for in Ireland. H Reynell: 173. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
  15. Edward and James Weatherby (1813). "Racing calendar. 1812". Racing Calendar, Containing an Account of Plates, Matches, and Sweepstakes Run for in Ireland. C H Reynell: 39. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
  16. Edward and James Weatherby (1813). "Racing calendar. 1812". Racing Calendar, Containing an Account of Plates, Matches, and Sweepstakes Run for in Ireland. C H Reynell: 127. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
  17. "Olivia pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2013-04-24.