St. Simon was an undefeated British Thoroughbred racehorse and one of the most successful sires in the history of the Thoroughbred. In May 1886 The Sporting Times' carried out a poll of one hundred experts to create a ranking of the best British racehorses of the 19th century. St. Simon was ranked fourth, having been placed in the top ten by 53 of the contributors.
Isinglass (1890–1911) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career which lasted from 1892 until 1895 he ran twelve times and won eleven races. He was the best British two-year-old of 1892 and went on to become sixth winner of the English Triple Crown by winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, The Derby and the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster in the following year. He was undefeated in his last two seasons, setting a world record for prize money and gaining recognition from contemporary experts as one of the best horses seen in England up to that time.
Ladas (1891–1914) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. His career attracted an unusual amount of attention as his owner, Lord Rosebery, became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom at the height of his success.
Sir Hugo (1889–1910) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1891 to 1894 he ran eight times and won three races. As a three-year-old in 1892 he won The Derby at odds of 40/1. He was a consistent performer in top class races, but certainly inferior to his contemporaries Orme and La Fleche.
Donovan (1886–1905) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1888 to 1889, he ran twenty-one times and won eighteen races. He was the leading British two-year-old of 1888 when he won eleven of his thirteen starts. At the age of three Donovan won The Derby and the St Leger: he failed to win the English Triple Crown owing to a narrow and probably unlucky defeat in the 2000 Guineas. He set a world record by earning a total of £55,443 in win prize money. Donovan was a modest success as a stallion. He died after being injured in an accident in 1905.
Ayrshire (1885–1910) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1887 to 1889 he ran sixteen times and won eleven races. After winning five races as a two-year-old he became the leading British three-year-old colt of 1888 when he won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Derby at Epsom. He failed in his bid to win the English Triple Crown when beaten in the St Leger at Doncaster but returned in 1889 for a successful campaign which included a win in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. He was retired to stud at the end of the year and had a modestly successful career as a stallion. He died in 1910.
La Fleche (1889–1916) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After being sold for a world record price as a yearling in 1890, she was undefeated as a two-year-old in 1891, winning races against her own sex and defeating some of the year's leading colts. She went on to become the dominant British three-year-old of 1892, claiming the Fillies’ Triple Crown by winning the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Oaks at Epsom and the St Leger at Doncaster. Her only defeat of the year came when she finished second when starting favourite for The Derby.
Orme was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was trained at Kingsclere by John Porter for the 1st Duke of Westminster. As a two-year-old he won the Middle Park and Dewhurst Stakes. As a three-year-old he was not well enough to take part in the 2000 Guineas and Epsom Derby, but came back to win the Eclipse Stakes. Orme stayed in training as a four-year-old and won another Eclipse Stakes, becoming the first horse to win the race twice, a feat that has only been repeated four times since. After he had retired from racing, he became a successful sire and was Champion sire of Great Britain in 1899. His son Flying Fox won the Triple Crown and the Eclipse Stakes. Orme also sired Epsom Derby winner Orby and 1000 Guineas winner Witch Elm. His regular jockeys were George Barrett and Morny Cannon.
Bona Vista (1889–1909) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. As a two-year-old he won the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom Downs. As a three-year-old he won the Newmarket Biennial Stakes, before winning the 2000 Guineas Stakes by one and a half lengths. He was trained by William Jarvis and owned by Charles Day Rose. After retiring from racing Bona Vista became a successful stallion, siring Ascot Gold Cup winner Cyllene. Through his son Cyllene and grandson Polymelus, Bona Vista's sire line is the most dominant in Thoroughbred racehorses today.
Friar's Balsam (1885–1899) was an English Thoroughbred racehorse. He was the outstanding British two-year-old of 1887, when he was unbeaten in seven races. He was a sick horse when a beaten favourite in the following year's 2000 Guineas, but returned in the autumn to beat Minting in the Champion Stakes. Friar's Balsam was retired to stud where he had some success as a sire of winners. He was trained at Kingsclere by John Porter for Lord Alington and Sir Frederick Johnstone.
Seabreeze was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She won several races as a two-year-old including the Ascot Biennial Stakes, but was overshadowed by Friar's Balsam. As a three-year-old she was even better. After finishing as the runner-up in the 1000 Guineas, she won the Oaks Stakes, Coronation Stakes, Lancashire Plate, St. Leger Stakes and Newmarket Oaks. Seabreeze stayed in training as a four-year-old, when she ran in top-class races, but didn't win. She was owned by Frederick Henry William Gough-Calthorpe, 5th Baron Calthorpe, and trained by James Jewitt. As a broodmare she produced some high class runners, but none met with the same success as their dam.
Amphion was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He won some minor races as a two-year-old, but was not entered into any of the Classics. As a three-year-old he won several races including the Great Jubilee Stakes. He improved again as a four-year-old, winning the Hardwicke Stakes, Lancashire Plate and Champion Stakes, beating several classic winners in the process. He remained in training as a five-year-old, winning the March Stakes and Rous Memorial Stakes. Amphion was trained by Mr. Chandler and owned by General Byrne. As a stallion he sired several top class horses including the sprinter Sundridge, Champion Stakes winner Dieudonne and Eclipse Stakes winner Lally.
Mrs Butterwick was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She spent most of her racing career competing in sprint races but recorded her biggest victory over a distance of one and a half miles when she won the Oaks Stakes in 1893. She showed good form as a two-year-old, winning three races and finishing second against older horses in the July Cup. In the following year she began her campaign with a defeat over five furlongs before being stepped up in distance for her upset win in the Oaks three days later. She spent the rest of her career competing in handicap races and won at least twice under big weights in 1894. After her retirement from racing she had considerable success as a dam of winners.
Mimi was a dual classic-winning British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 1890 she showed very promising form to win her first four starts but was well beaten when stepped up in class to contest the Middle Park Plate and the Dewhurst Plate. She established herself as the best filly of her generation in May 1891 with three wins in 26 days, taking the 1000 Guineas over one mile, the Newmarket Stakes over ten furlongs and the Oaks Stakes over one and a half miles. She was subsequently beaten in the Prince of Wales Stakes at Leicester and was no match for Common in the St Leger. She was retired from racing at the end of the year and went on to have some success as a dam of winners.
Memoir was a dual classic-winning British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. As a two-year-old in 1889 she showed considerable promise as she won the last three of her six races. In the following spring she appeared an unfortunate loser when stable arrangements prevented her from beating Semolina in the 1000 Guineas but she went on to win the Newmarket Stakes, Oaks Stakes, Nassau Stakes, St Leger and Newmarket Oaks. She added a win in the July Cup before being retired at the end of 1891. Although she produced no major winners, she had an enduring influence through her daughter, Miss Gunning.
Surefoot was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire whose exceptional racing ability was combined with a violent and unpredictable temperament. As a juvenile in 1889 he was regarded as the best colt of his generation in England after winning three of his four races including the Woodcote Stakes and New Stakes. He also demonstrated his precocity by reportedly siring a foal as a two-year-old. In 1890 he was an emphatic winner of the 2000 Guineas but despite being regarded as a near certainty for the Epsom Derby he finished fourth after spending much of the race attempting to savage other horses and jockeys. He went on to win a minor race at Royal Ascot and later defeated a strong field to take the valuable Prince of Wales' Stakes at Leicester Racecourse. As a four-year-old he showed little worthwhile form early in the season but returned to his best to win the Eclipse Stakes. After his retirement from racing he stood as a breeding stallion in England and France but had limited success as a sire of winners.
Semolina was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. Bred and owned by the 6th Duke of Portland, she was one of the best two-year-olds in England in 1889 when she won thirteen times from fifteen races. In the following spring she recorded her biggest success when she won the 1000 Guineas. She went on to run fourth in the Oaks Stakes and third in the Coronation Stakes, but never won again and was retired from racing at the end of the year. She had modest success as a dam of winners.
Enthusiast was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for his upset victory over Donovan in the 2000 Guineas. As a two-year-old he failed to win a race but showed considerable promise when finishing second in the Dewhurst Plate. He was still a maiden when he won the Guineas which proved to be his only victory over Donovan in eight meetings. He went on to win the Sussex Stakes as well as finishing third in the Prince of Wales's Stakes and fourth in the St Leger. After his retirement from racing he had some success as a breeding stallion.
Enterprise was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a two-year-old in 1886 he was one of the best horses of his generation in England, winning the New Stakes and the July Stakes as well as finishing second in the Middle Park Plate and the Dewhurst Plate. In the following spring he recorded his biggest victory when winning the 2000 Guineas as the 2/1 favourite. He was one of the leading fancies for the Epsom Derby but missed the race after sustaining an injury in training. He remained in training until the end of 1888 but failed to recover his best form. He made no impact as a breeding stallion.
Reve d'Or was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won two British Classic Races in 1887. She ran nine times as a juvenile in 1886, winning three races including an upset victory in the Dewhurst Plate in October. In the following year she won nine races including the 1000 Guineas, Oaks Stakes, Sussex Stakes, York Queen's Plate, Yorkshire Oaks, Great Foal Stakes and Newmarket Oaks. She remained in training until the age of seven, winning the Jockey Club Cup in 1888 and the City and Suburban Handicap in 1890. She had limited success as a broodmare in France.
