Stockwell (horse)

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Stockwell was a Thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire in the Thoroughbred breed.

Lived: 1849-1871
Sex: stallion
Color: chestnut
Markings: stripe, sock right hind, mid-cannon left hind, Bend-Or spots
Height: over 16 hh
Breed: English Thoroughbred
Breeding: by The Baron, out of Pocahontas by Glencoe
Place of Birth: Stockwell, England

Pedigree for Stockwell
1849 Chestnut colt

Pedigree of Stockwell
Sire The Baron ch. 1842	Birdcatcher ch. 1833	Sir Hercules blk. 1826	Whalebone
		Sir Hercules blk. 1826	Peri
		Guiccioli ch. 1823	Bob Booty
		Guiccioli ch. 1823	Flight
	Echidna b. 1838	Economist br. 1825	Whisker
		Economist br. 1825	Floranthe
		Miss Pratt br. 1825	Blacklock
		Miss Pratt br. 1825	Gadabout
Dam Pocahontas br. 14hh 1837	Glencoe ch. 15.2hh 1831	Sultan b. 1816	Selim
		Sultan b. 1816	Bacchante
		Trampoline ch. 1825	Tramp
		Trampoline ch. 1825	Web
	Marpessa br. 1830	Muley b. 1810	Orville
		Muley b. 1810	Eleanor
		Clare b. 1824	Marmion
		Clare b. 1824	Harpalice

Stockwell was born in Stockwell, England, at the stud farm of William Theobald. His sire, The Baron was a successful racehorse and sire. His dam, Pocahontas was a roarer, a trait that never showed in Stockwell himself, but was passed on to several of his descendants.

The chestnut was not a particularly pretty horse, described by one turf writer as "the very incarnation of ugliness," possessing a plain head with a slight Roman nose, and a hindend like a carthorse. However, he had good feet and strong legs, and was very powerful, which made him a great weight carrier. Although a poor mover, he was very fast, and his speed made up for his terrible temperament, which was considered "a bit savage". This temperament was not surprising, as both his sire and dam were known for their aggression.

Although the colt was thought to be "over-large," Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter purchased the yearling for 180 sovereigns, with the contingency that he would pay £500 more if Stockwell won the Derby. Stockwell was sent to Exeter's stud farm at Newmarket.

Stockwell began his racing career during the fall of his two-year-old year. He ran twice, finishing second by a head at the Prendergast Stakes for two-year-olds and fourth at the Criterion Stakes (6 furlongs).

His three-year-old year was his greatest season, and provided him with the reputation he would need to book mares. His first race was the Newmarket Craven, where he finished second out of three horses by a neck. H is next race, the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, he won with odds of 10 to 1, before winning the Newmarket Stakes. He finished eighth at the Epsom Derby, although some believe that the colt had a gumboil lanced just prior to the race, which might have affected his running. However, he finished his three-year-old season spectacularily, with 8 successive wins, including two walk-overs.

Stockwell ran once as a four-year-old, coming second by a head for the Emperor of Russia's Plate (Ascot Gold Cup). He then went "amiss," and was out for the rest of the 1853 season, and most of the 1854 season. A s a five-year-old, he ran once at the Whip, beating Kingston (who broke down during the race), by a sound 30 lengths. He was then retired to stud.

[edit] Stockwell's race record

Two-Year-Old

Prendergast Stakes: 2nd by a head
Criterion Stakes: 4th

Three-Year-Old

Newmarket Craven: 2nd by a neck
Two Thousand Guineas Stakes: won, with odds at 10 to 1
Newmarket Stakes: won, beating Maidstone, Father Thames (winner of the Newmarket Handicap), and three others
Goodwood: won, beating Harbinger (by Touchstone) by 1/2 a length
Racing Stakes Handicap: won, by two lengths, carrying the heaviest weight
Great Yorkshire Stakes: won, by a length, over Longbow, Hex and nine others
Doncaster St. Leger: won by 10 lengths over Harbinger, Daniel O'Rourke, Songstress (Oaks winner), and two others
Foal Stakes: won, with a walk-over
Grand Duke Michael Stakes: won, by a three-length victory "in a canter", beating Muscovite (Cesarewitch winner)
Newmarket St. Leger: won, by two lengths

Four-Year-Old

Emperor of Russia's Plate (Ascot Gold Cup): 2nd

Five-Year-Old

The Whip: won

[edit] Stockwell's stud career and influence on the breed

Known as "The Emperor of Stallions" in his own time, Stockwell was a leading sire throughout the 1860s, Champion Sire in England seven times (1860-1862 and 1864-1867) and coming second several times (1863, 1868, 1872, 1873). His progeny include Phalaris, and the incredibly influential Northern Dancer and Nasrullah. Over 70% of stakes winning horses in the late 1990s descend from Phalaris, through Northern Dancer, Nasrullah, Turn-To, and Raise a Native, so Stockwell's influence still lives on.

Stockwell stood at stud from 1855 until his death at the age of 21 (due to an accident in the breeding shed). His off-spring won a total of 1,150 races, earning £362,451. 208 of his 412 foals were winners. 12 of his offspring won 17 classic races, 13 placed in one or more classic races. His sons bred back his talent, including Doncaster, the sire of Bend Or. Many of his daugthers were also good producers. Perhaps one of the most well-known descendants of Stockwell is the legendary Man O' War.

Lord Exeter sent Stockwell to his stud at Burghley. The stallion was sold at Tattersall's after his first season, for 3,000 guineas, to Albert Denison, 1st Baron Londesborough. Stockwell was sent to Kirkby Farm, which was later re-named Stockwell Stud, where he stood for a fee of 30 guineas. It was here that he sired his first 8 classic winners, and he headed the top of the sires list. However, the death of the Baron in 1860 led to a sale of all stock, and Stockwell was purchased for 4,500 guineas by Richard C. Naylor of Cheshire, and sent to Rawcliffe Stud for his 1861 and 1862 seasons to stand for a fee of 40 guineas. He was booked full to 50 mares, and he led the sires list for two more years.

After the 1862 season, Stockwell was moved to Naylor's stud farm at Hooton Park, where he lived for the final eight years of his life in considerable luxury. He received 15 mile walks in good weather, and lived in a barn "big enough for him to run about in." By the end of his stud career, his fee had shot up to an incredible 300 guineas, and most of his breedings were to Naylor's own mares.

Achievement: 1864 brown filly. Won the Woodcote Stakes, New Stakes, July Stakes, Chesterfield Stakes, Criterion Stakes, Lavant Stakes, Champagne Stakes, One Thousand Guineas Stakes, Coronation Stakes, Great Yorkshire Stakes, St. Leger Stakes, and the Doncaster Cup.
Asteroid: 1858 bay colt, winner of Ascot Gold Cup and Chester Cup
Bathilde: 1858 chestnut filly, winner of Cambridgeshire Stakes
Belladrum: 1866 brown filly, winner of New Stakes and Woodcote Stakes
Blair Athol: 1861 chestnut colt, winner of Derby Stakes, St. Leger Stakes, 2nd Grand Prix de Paris, and was a Champion Sire
Bothwell: 1868 brown colt, winner of Gimcrack Stakes and Two Thousand Guineas Stakes
Breadalbane: 1862 chestnut colt, winner of Prince of Wales' Stakes
Caller Ou: 1858 brown filly, won 51 races from 101 starts, including the St. Leger and the Northumberland Plate, 2nd in the Oaks Stakes.
Cantiniere: 1870 brown filly, winner of Lavant Stakes, Woodcote Stakes, Chesterfield Stakes, and Hurstbourne Stakes
Cherie: 1866 bay filly, winner of Cesarewitch Stakes
Chevisaunce: 1868 brown filly, winner of Acorn Stakes
Devotion: 1869 chestnut filly, winner of Free Handicap and 2nd in Chichester Stakes
Doncaster: 1870 chestnut colt, great sire
Gang Forward: 1870 chestnut colt, winner of Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, Jockey Club Cup, St. James' Palace Stakes, and Ascot Derby
Grimston: 1860 chestnut colt, winner of Henckel Rennen
Highland Lassie: 1869 brown filly, winner of Coronation Stakes
Lady Augusta: 1860 chestnut filly, winner of One Thousand Guineas Stakes
Lady Chester: 1870 chestnut filly, winner of AJC Champagne Stakes, Breeders' Plate, Sires' Produce Stakes, Spring Stakes (twice), Craven Plate, Cumberland Stakes twice, AJC Plate, Randwick Plate, Autumn Stakes, VRC Derby, Melbourne Cup, Town Plate, and Melbourne Stakes
Lord Lyon: 1863 bay colt, winner of Champagne Stakes, Criterion Stakes, and Triple Crown
Princess of Wales: 1862 chestnut filly, winner of Beaufort Cup and the 3rd Coronation Cup
Regalia: 1862 chestnut filly, won the Oaks Stakes, the Edinburgh Cup, nine Queen's Plates, 2nd in the St. Leger Stakes. Dam of Zut (winner of Prix du Jockey Club) and Clementine (winner of Poule d'Essai des Pouliches)
Repulse: 1863 brown filly, won the One Thousand Guineas Stakes, the Richmond Cup, and the Zetland Plate
St. Albans: 1857 chestnut colt, winner of St. Leger Stakes, Great Metropolitan Handicap, Chester Cup, and Newmarket Stakes
Sweet Katie: 1861 chestnut filly, winner of Preis der Diana
The Marquis: 1859 bay colt, winner of Champagne Stakes, Two Thousand Guineas Stakes, St. Leger Stakes
Vaga: 1858 bay filly, 3rd place at the Champagne Stakes