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

Orville (horse) 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.

Meteora (horse) 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.

Oriana was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the classic Oaks Stakes at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1810. The Northern-trained filly won the Oaks on her first appearance and finished third against colts in the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster in her only other race that year. She won one of her three races in 1811 and was later exported to become a broodmare in Ireland.

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.

Wizard (horse) 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 who won the classic Oaks Stakes at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1830. The Oaks was Variation's racing debut and she went on to win a total of eight races from fifteen starts. Her other successes included three match races, the Oatlands Stakes, and two editions of the Garden Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. Her best performance was probably her win in the 1831 Garden Stakes in which she defeated a very strong field over a distance of two miles. She was retired from racing in 1833 and had some success as a broodmare.

Soothsayer (horse) 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.

Quiz (horse) British Thoroughbred racehorse

Quiz (1798–1826) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1801. Quiz was a durable, top-class performer, winning at least once a year in racing career which lasted seven seasons from August 1801 until April 1807. Apart from the St Leger he won many other important races including three Brocket Hall Gold Cups, two Oatlands Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse, a Great Subscription Purse at York, a King's Plate and the Jockey Club Plate. In all he won twenty-one times in thirty-six races for four different owners before being retired to stud, one of which was Mr Hallett Esq, where he proved to be a successful sire of winners.

Symmetry (horse) British Thoroughbred racehorse

Symmetry was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1798. Originally trained in Yorkshire won the St Leger at Doncaster on his final appearance as a three-year-old and went on to defeat The Derby winner Sir Harry in a match race at York in the following year. As a five-year-old he was transferred to race at Newmarket where he lost a rematch with Sir Harry, but won his three remaining races, including matches against Sorcerer and Diamond, two of the leading racehorses of the time. After his retirement from racing, Symmetry was sold and exported to stand as a breeding stallion in Russia.

Ambrosio (horse) 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 eightof 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.

Tartar was a British Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1792. One of the smallest horses to win a classic, he won the St Leger on his racecourse debut in September 1792. He won twice in the following season before racing without success in 1794.

Charles the Twelfth 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.

Cwrw was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire and best known for winning the classic 2000 Guineas in 1812. In a racing career which lasted from April 1812 until September 1816 he won six of his twenty-six races. He won the 2000 Guineas on his racing debut in a race which led indirectly to a change in the betting rules in the United Kingdom. Cwrw won his two other races in 1812, but the rest of his career was relatively undistinguished. He passed through the hands of various owners winning once in 1813, once in 1814 and once in 1816. He was retired from racing and exported to stand as a breeding stallion in South Africa. Cwrw is the Welsh word for beer.

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.