Meteora (horse)

Meteora

Sire	Meteor
Grandsire	Eclipse
Dam	Maid of All Work
Damsire	Highflyer
Sex	Mare
Foaled	1802
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	2nd Earl Grosvenor
Owner	Lord Grosvenor
Trainer	Robert Robson
Record	36: 24-5-3
Major wins
Oaks Stakes (1805) Match against Lyncaeus (1805) Chelmsford Gold Cup (1805) Match against Merryman (1805) Match against Staveley (1806) Oatlands Stakes (1807, 1809) Match against Cardinal Beaufort (1807) Stamford Gold Cup (1807, 1808, 1810) Match against Pipylina (1807) Audley End Stakes (1807) Somerset Stakes (1808) Brighton Gold Cup (1808) Jockey Club Plate (1810)

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 (three times), 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.

Background

Meteora was a bay mare bred by her owner Robert Grosvenor, 2nd Earl Grosvenor, later 1st Marquess of Westminster. Her sire Meteor, a son of Eclipse, was also bred by Grosvenor's father and finished second in the 1786 Epsom Derby before winning his next 21 races.^[1] He dam, Maid of All Work was an influential broodmare, being the Foundation mare of Thoroughbred family 17-a and the direct female ancestor of many successful modern racechorses including Lyphard, Decidedly and Danzig Connection.^[2]

Racing career

1805: three-year-old season

Meteora's racing career was scheduled to begin with a 200 guinea match race against a filly owned by Mr Sitwell at Newmarket on 13 May. She won the prize money without having to compete when her opponent failed to appear for the race. On 31 May Meteora made her competitive debut in the Oaks Stakes at Epsom. In a field of eight she was the third choice in the betting at odds of 7/2 behind the Duke of Grafton's filly Dodona. Ridden by Francis Buckle, she won the classic from Dodona and Sir Frank Standish's unnamed sister to Duxbury.^[3]

Meteora won her remaining five race in 1805. At Ascot in June she won a Sweepstakes over the New Mile course despite carrying a seven pound weight penalty for her win in the Oaks. At the Newmarket July meeting she won a match race against the four-year-old colt Lyncaeus and in August she appeared at Chelmsford in Essex where she walked over for the Gold Cup. At Newmarket in October she won a subscription race over the two mile "Ditch-In" course and a 100 guinea match over the Rowley Mile against Merryman.^[4]

1806: four-year-old season

Robert Grosvenor, who bred and owned Meteora

At the Newmarket Craven meeting in April 1806 Meteora's owner received 200 guineas without having to race his filly when Lord Barrymore withdrew his four-year-old Gratitude from a match over the Abington Mile. Three days later Meteora ran a match against the St Leger winner Staveley over ten furlongs and defeated the colt to win a prize of 200 guineas. In May Meteora again "received forfeit" when Lord Osborne withdrew his horse Superstition from a match against the Oaks winner over the four mile Beacon Course.^[5] Meteora's unbeaten run came to an end on 15 July at Preston. She started favourite for the four mile Union Cup, but finished fifth of the eight runners behind Mr Clifton's colt Warrior. Two weeks later at Knutsford in Cheshire she finished third in a Sweepstakes over three miles.^[6]

1807: five-year-old season

Meteora won six times from ten starts in 1807. At the Craven meeting she won a division of the Oatlands Stakes, a two-mile handicap race in which she conceded weight to all but one of her rivals. Two weeks later at Newmarket's First Spring meeting she finished last of the three runners behind her stable companion Violante and Staveley in the Free Handicap Sweepstakes. At the Second Spring she was matched against the Derby winner Cardinal Beaufort over the two mile Ditch-In course. Meteora defeated the colt to win a prize of 200 guineas.^[7] Three days later she was beaten when attempting to concede 11 pounds to Lord Sackville's horse Witchcraft over the same course and distance. In the summer Meteora was sent to compete at Stamford where she won the four mile Gold Cup on 1 July and a Sweepstakes on the following afternoon.^[8] At the Newmarket July meeting two weeks later Meteora returned to a sprint distance and successfully conceded ten pounds to Pipylina in a match over five furlongs. Meteora returned to Newmarket in autumn for three races. On 1 October she was beaten in a five furlong match by Mr Shakspear's horse Wormwood and two weeks later she finished third to L'Huile de Venus and Mouse in the October Oatlands Stakes. On 30 September started at odds of 5/1 in the Audley End Stakes over ten furlongs and won from the 1806 Oaks winner Bronze to whom she was conceding eighteen pounds.^[9]

1808: six-year-old season

In 1808, Meteora won six of her eight races. She began her season by finishing second under top weight of 121 pounds in the Oatlands Stakes at the Craven meeting and then ran second again when attempting to concede nine pounds to Cardinal Beaufort in a four-mile Sweepstakes two weeks later. At the same meeting she ran a dead heat when conceding sixteen pounds to Brighton, a horse who went on to win the Ascot Gold Cup in June.^[10] Meteora won her remaining five races of 1808 outright. On 29 June she won a second Stamford Gold Cup, beating Lydia and Clinker. At Brighton in August she won the Somerset Stakes over four miles and the Brighton Gold Cup over the same distance two days later.^[11] At Newmarket she defeated the Duke of Grafton's horse Musician in a subscription race over the Beacon Course on 3 October and Lord Lowther's Brainworm in a similar event two weeks later.

1809: seven-year-old season

Meteora began her fifth season by carrying a weight of 133 pounds in the Oatlands Stakes on 4 April at the Craven meeting. She started 6/4 favourite and won from Lord Foley's colt Weaver and four others.^[12] On 1 May at the Second Spring meeting she finished last of the four runners when favourite for a Sweepstakes and did not appear again on the racecourse until the autumn meetings at Newmarket. On 16 October she started 10/11 favourite and won a Sweepstakes over the Beacon Course from Nymphina and L'Huile de Venus. Two weeks later she was beaten when attempting to concede five pounds to Musician in a 400 guinea match. Meteora ended her season by finishing unplaced behind Nymphina when carrying a weight of 136 pounds in a two-mile handicap.^[13]

1810: eight-year-old season

Meteora began her last season of competition by finishing unplaced under a weight of 130 pounds in the Oatlands Stakes on 25 April. At the next Newmarket meeting she "received forfeit" when Lord Lowther's Hylas, her only rival, was withdrawn from a Free Handicap Sweepstakes. Two days later the mare defeated six opponents to win the four mile Jockey Club Plate, a race restricted to horses owned by members of the Jockey Club.^[14] Meteora ended her racing career at Stamford on 4 July. She defeated three opponents to win the Stamford Gold Cup for the third time and reappeared later the same afternoon to carry top weight to victory in a Sweepstakes.^[15]

Stud record

Meteora was retired from racing to become a broodmare at Lord Grosvenor's Eaton stud. She produced four foals who lived to maturity: Larissa (1813, by Trafalagar), Tybalt (1817 by Thunderbolt), Capulet (1818 by Thunderbolt) and Juliet (1819 by Thunderbolt). She died in 1821.^[16]^[17]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Meteora (GB), bay mare, 1802^[18]
Sire Meteor (GB) 1783	Eclipse 1764	Marske	Squirt
		Marske	Ruby Mare
		Spilletta	Regulus
		Spilletta	Mother Western
	Merlin Mare 1765	Merlin	Second
		Merlin	Sister to Blank
		Mother Pratt	Marksman
		Mother Pratt	Mixbury Mare
Dam Maid of All Work 1786	Highflyer 1774	Herod	Tartar
		Herod	Cypron
		Rachel	Blank
		Rachel	Regulus mare
	sister to Tandem 1771	Syphon	Squirt
		Syphon	Patriot mare
		Regulus mare	Regulus
		Regulus mare	Snip mare (Family 17-a)^[2]

References

↑ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third Edition). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
1 2 "Maid of all Work - Family 17-a". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ James and Edward Weatherby (1806). Racing calendar. 1805. H Reynell. p. 33. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ James and Edward Weatherby (1806). Racing calendar. 1805. H Reynell. p. 137. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1807). Racing calendar. 1806. H Reynell. p. 27. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1807). Racing calendar. 1806. H Reynell. p. 80. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1808). Racing calendar. 1807. H Reynell. p. 25. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1808). Racing calendar. 1807. H Reynell. p. 69. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1808). Racing calendar. 1807. H Reynell. p. 176. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1809). Racing calendar. 1808. Reynell, Sons and Wales. p. 40. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1809). Racing calendar. 1808. Reynell, Sons and Wales. p. 98. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1810). Racing calendar. 1809. H Reynell. p. 5. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1810). Racing calendar. 1809. H Reynell. p. 201. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1811). Racing calendar. 1810. H Reynell. p. 37. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1811). Racing calendar. 1810. H Reynell. p. 77. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ The General stud book 1. J S Skinner. 1834. p. 431. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ "Family 17 Descent Chart". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
↑ "Meteora pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-11-27.

Epsom Oaks winners

1779 Bridget 1780 Tetotum 1781 Faith 1782 Ceres 1783 Maid of the Oaks 1784 Stella 1785 Trifle 1786 Yellow Filly 1787 Annette 1788 Nightshade 1789 Tag 1790 Hippolyta 1791 Portia 1792 Volante 1793 Caelia 1794 Hermione 1795 Platina 1796 Parisot 1797 Nike 1798 Bellissima 1799 Bellina 1800 Ephemera 1801 Eleanor † 1802 Scotia 1803 Theophania 1804 Pelisse 1805 Meteora 1806 Bronze 1807 Briseis 1808 Morel 1809 Maid of Orleans 1810 Oriana 1811 Sorcery 1812 Manuella 1813 Music 1814 Medora 1815 Minuet 1816 Landscape 1817 Neva 1818 Corinne 1819 Shoveler 1820 Caroline 1821 Augusta 1822 Pastille ‡ 1823 Zinc 1824 Cobweb 1825 Wings 1826 Lilias 1827 Gulnare 1828 Turquoise 1829 Green Mantle 1830 Variation 1831 Oxygen 1832 Galata 1833 Vespa 1834 Pussy 1835 Queen of Trumps 1836 Cyprian 1837 Miss Letty 1838 Industry 1839 Deception 1840 Crucifix ‡ 1841 Ghuznee 1842 Our Nell 1843 Poison 1844 The Princess 1845 Refraction 1846 Mendicant 1847 Miami 1848 Cymba 1849 Lady Evelyn 1850 Rhedycina 1851 Iris 1852 Songstress 1853 Catherine Hayes 1854 Mincemeat 1855 Marchioness 1856 Mincepie 1857 Blink Bonny † 1858 Governess 1859 Summerside 1860 Butterfly 1861 Brown Duchess 1862 Feu de Joie 1863 Queen Bertha 1864 Fille de l'Air 1865 Regalia 1866 Tormentor 1867 Hippia 1868 Formosa ₩ ‡ 1869 Brigantine 1870 Gamos 1871 Hannah ₩ 1872 Reine 1873 Marie Stuart 1874 Apology ₩ 1875 Spinaway 1876 Camelia (dh) 1876 Enguerrande (dh) 1877 Placida 1878 Jannette 1879 Wheel of Fortune 1880 Jenny Howlet 1881 Thebais 1882 Geheimniss 1883 Bonny Jean 1884 Busybody 1885 Lonely 1886 Miss Jummy 1887 Reve d'Or 1888 Seabreeze 1889 L'Abbesse de Jouarre 1890 Memoir 1891 Mimi 1892 La Fleche ₩ 1893 Mrs Butterwick 1894 Amiable 1895 La Sagesse 1896 Canterbury Pilgrim 1897 Limasol 1898 Airs and Graces 1899 Musa 1900 La Roche 1901 Cap and Bells II 1902 Sceptre ₩ ‡ 1903 Our Lassie 1904 Pretty Polly ₩ 1905 Cherry Lass 1906 Keystone II 1907 Glass Doll 1908 Signorinetta † 1909 Perola 1910 Rosedrop 1911 Cherimoya 1912 Mirska 1913 Jest 1914 Princess Dorrie 1915 Snow Marten 1916 Fifinella † 1917 Sunny Jane 1918 My Dear 1919 Bayunda 1920 Charlebelle 1921 Love in Idleness 1922 Pogrom 1923 Brownhylda 1924 Straitlace 1925 Saucy Sue 1926 Short Story 1927 Beam 1928 Toboggan 1929 Pennycomequick 1930 Rose of England 1931 Brulette 1932 Udaipur 1933 Chatelaine 1934 Light Brocade 1935 Quashed 1936 Lovely Rosa 1937 Exhibitionnist 1938 Rockfel 1939 Galatea II 1940 Godiva 1941 Commotion 1942 Sun Chariot ₩ 1943 Why Hurry 1944 Hycilla 1945 Sun Stream 1946 Steady Aim 1947 Imprudence 1948 Masaka 1949 Musidora 1950 Asmena 1951 Neasham Belle 1952 Frieze 1953 Ambiguity 1954 Sun Cap 1955 Meld ₩ 1956 Sicarelle 1957 Carrozza 1958 Bella Paola 1959 Petite Etoile 1960 Never Too Late 1961 Sweet Solera 1962 Monade 1963 Noblesse 1964 Homeward Bound 1965 Long Look 1966 Valoris 1967 Pia 1968 La Lagune 1969 Sleeping Partner 1970 Lupe 1971 Altesse Royale 1972 Ginevra 1973 Mysterious 1974 Polygamy 1975 Juliette Marny 1976 Pawneese 1977 Dunfermline 1978 Fair Salinia 1979 Scintillate 1980 Bireme 1981 Blue Wind 1982 Time Charter 1983 Sun Princess 1984 Circus Plume 1985 Oh So Sharp ₩ 1986 Midway Lady 1987 Unite 1988 Diminuendo 1989 Snow Bride 1990 Salsabil 1991 Jet Ski Lady 1992 User Friendly 1993 Intrepidity 1994 Balanchine 1995 Moonshell 1996 Lady Carla 1997 Reams of Verse 1998 Shahtoush 1999 Ramruma 2000 Love Divine 2001 Imagine 2002 Kazzia 2003 Casual Look 2004 Ouija Board 2005 Eswarah 2006 Alexandrova 2007 Light Shift 2008 Look Here 2009 Sariska 2010 Snow Fairy 2011 Dancing Rain 2012 Was 2013 Talent 2014 Taghrooda 2015 Qualify

Legend - ₩ = Fillies Triple Crown Winners, † = Epsom Derby Winners, ‡ = 2,000 Guineas Stakes Winners

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