George Frederick (horse)

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George Frederick
George Frederick4.jpg
George Frederick, painting by an unknown artist.
SireMarsyas
Grandsire Orlando
DamPrincess of Wales
Damsire Stockwell
Sex Stallion
Foaled1871
Country United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour Bay
BreederW. S. Cartwright
OwnerW. S. Cartwright
Trainer Thomas Leader
Record10:5-0-2
Earnings£
Major wins
Newmarket Stakes (1874)
Epsom Derby (1874)

George Frederick (18711896) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1873 to 1874 he ran ten times and won five races. His most notable success came as a three-year-old in 1874 when he won The Derby. At the end of the season he was retired to stud where he had little success.

Thoroughbred Horse breed developed for racing

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.

Epsom Derby British Group 1 horse race for 3-year-olds over 1m 4f 10yds

The Derby Stakes, officially the Investec Derby, popularly known as the Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in England open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey over a distance of one mile, four furlongs and 6 yards, on the first Saturday of June each year.

Contents

Background

George Frederick, described by the Times of India as "a bright golden chestnut of great muscular power" [1] was bred by his owner, William Sherard Cartwright a former solicitor and mine-owner. [2] The colt was sent into training with Tom Olliver at Wroughton, near Swindon in Wiltshire but when Olliver fell ill in 1873, the stables were taken over by his twenty-six-year-old assistant, Thomas Leader. [3]

Thomas Olliver, born Oliver or Olivere, was a steeplechase jockey and racehorse trainer who won three Grand Nationals as a rider in the 1840s and 1850s.

Wroughton village in the United Kingdom

Wroughton is a large village and civil parish in northeast Wiltshire, England. It is part of the Borough of Swindon and lies along the A4361 road between Swindon and Avebury; the road into Swindon crosses the M4 motorway between junctions 15 and 16. The village is about 2.2 miles (3.5 km) south of Swindon town centre on the edge of the Marlborough Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The town of Marlborough is about 11 miles (18 km) to the south via the B4005 at Chiseldon and the A346 road. The World Heritage Site at Avebury is about 7 miles (11.3 km) to the south.

Swindon town in Wiltshire, England

Swindon is a large town in Wiltshire, South West England, situated between Bristol, 35 miles to its west, and Reading, the same distance to its east. The town is 71 miles (114 km) west of London. At the 2011 census, it had a population of 182,441. The Town Development Act 1952 led to a major increase in its population.

Cartwright sent his mare, Princess of Wales, to the stallion Marsyas for several years in succession, and named all her foals after members of the British royal family. [4] These included the colt Albert Victor, who ran second to Favonius in the 1871 Derby. George Frederick was named after Queen Victoria’s grandson, the future King George V. [5]

Favonius (horse) British racehorse

Favonius (1868–1877) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1871 to 1873 he ran ten times and won five races. In June 1871 he won The Derby on his second racecourse appearance. He went on to prove himself a top class stayer, winning the Goodwood Cup in 1872. Favonius was regarded by contemporary observers as one of the best English-trained horses of his era. At the end of the 1873 season he was retired to stud but had little chance to make an impact as a stallion before his death four years later. Favonius’s Derby win was one of the highlights of what became known as “The Baron’s Year”, in which his owner, Baron Meyer de Rothschild won four of the five British Classic Races.

Racing career

1873: two-year-old season

George Frederick was unplaced on his debut in a Biennial Stakes at York in August, when he appeared less than fully fit. At Doncaster in September he won the Municipal Stakes from the future Epsom Oaks and St Leger winner Apology and then finished third to Farnsfield in a six furlong sweepstakes at the same course. [6] He ran four times at Newmarket in autumn, winning the Boscawen Stakes and a Triennial Produce Stakes at the first October meeting but finishing unplaced in the Middle Park Plate and the Criterion Stakes. [7] The Field described him as a promising colt, but not a potential Derby winner. [8]

York Racecourse horse racing venue in England

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.

Doncaster Racecourse

Doncaster Racecourse is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 36 annual Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy.

Epsom Oaks British Group 1 horse race tor 3-year-old filles over 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards (2,423 metres)

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.

1874: three-year-old season

George Frederick began his three-year-old season at Newmarket in April, when he finished third in a Biennial Stakes. He did not run in the 2000 Guineas, but reappeared in the Newmarket Stakes, in mid-May, which he won. He then performed very impressively in a private trial gallop. [3]

In the Derby on 3 June (the eighth birthday of the prince after whom he was named), George Frederick started 9/1 in a field of twenty runners. Glenalmond started favourite, with Couronne de Fer and the 2000 Guineas winner Atlantic also strongly fancied. [9] Although the ground was softened by heavy overnight rain, the weather on Derby day was fine and the crowd was as large as usual, with both Parliament and the Stock Exchange closing down for the day. [6] Ridden by Harry Custance, George Frederick was towards the back of the field in the early stages, before moving up to sixth place at half way as the lead was held by his stable companion Volturno. [10] George Frederick was moved up to take the lead early in the straight and was never threatened, winning easily by two lengths from Couronne de Fer, with Atlantic a neck further back in third. [11]

Atlantic (horse) British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire

Atlantic (1871–1891) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from July 1873 to September 1874 he ran twelve times and won six races. After a promising, but unremarkable two-year-old season in 1873 he improved to become one of the best British colts of his generation, winning the 2000 Guineas and finishing third in The Derby. His success was achieved despite his racing career being adversely affected by his tendency to break blood vessels in his races. Atlantic was the first Classic winner ridden by Fred Archer. After his retirement, Atlantic was exported to France, where he became a successful and influential sire of winners.

There were great celebrations on George Frederick’s return to Wiltshire: there was a procession through the streets of Swindon, with a local band playing " See the Conquering Hero Comes " (a tune composed by George Frederick Handel) on the Derby winner's arrival. At Wroughton the church bells were rung and the village was decorated in the red and black colours of the winning owner. [12]

George Frederick subsequently became difficult to train and never won again. He was expected to run in the St Leger and was heavily backed, but rumours of training problems surfaced and Cartwright was forced to prove the colt’s wellbeing by inviting members of the sporting press to view the horse at his stables. On the morning of the race, it was announced that the colt had suffered a leg injury and would not run, provoking a great deal of "bitter feeling", even though a veterinary certificate was produced to prove the legitimacy of the problem. [13]

Stud career

George Frederick made little impact as a stallion but sired one very good horse in the colt Frontin, who won the Prix du Jockey Club and the Grand Prix de Paris in 1883. By 1892 George Frederick had gone blind and was sold for 65 guineas by the Marden Stud to a Mr Bevill. [14] He was exported to the United States where he died in Crescent, Missouri on September 23, 1896. [15]

Pedigree

Pedigree of George Frederick (GB), chestnut stallion, 1871
Sire
Marsyas (GB)
1851
Orlando
1841
Touchstone Camel
Banter
VultureLangar
Kite
Malibran
1830
Whisker Waxy
Penelope
GarciaOctavian
Shuttle mare
Dam
Princess of Wales (GB)
1862
Stockwell
1849
The Baron Birdcatcher
Echidna
Pocahontas Glencoe
Marpessa
The Bloomer
1850
MelbourneHumphrey Clinker
Cervantes mare
Lady SarahVelocipede
Lady Moore Carew(Family: 13-a)

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References

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  3. 1 2 Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN   0-354-08536-0.
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  5. "Papers Past — Auckland Star — 4 August 1874 — DERBY DAY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  6. 1 2 "Papers Past — Daily Southern Cross — 5 August 1874 — THE DERBY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  7. "at the Houghton meeting later in the month". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  8. "Papers Past — Otago Daily Times — 18 June 1874 — THE DERBY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  9. "Papers Past — Wanganui Chronicle — 18 June 1874 — LONDON. June 2". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  10. "Papers Past — North Otago Times — 4 September 1874 — THE ENGLISH DERBY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  11. "Papers Past — Tuapeka Times — 29 August 1874 — THE ENGLISH DERBY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
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  13. "Papers Past — Otago Witness — 28 November 1874 — THE DONCASTER ST. LEGER". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  14. "Papers Past — Otago Witness — 4 August 1892 — IN A NUTSHELL". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-12-21.
  15. Bruce, Sanders D. (1898). "Obituary". American Stud Book. 7: 1138. Retrieved 13 January 2019.