Doncaster (horse)

Doncaster
Sire Stockwell
Grandsire The Baron
Dam Marigold (1860)
Damsire Teddington[1]
Sex Stallion
Foaled 1870
Country United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour Chestnut
Breeder Sir Tatton Sykes
Owner 1. James Merry; 2. Robert Peck 3. Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster
Trainer Robert Peck
Record 10: 4 wins
Earnings ₤4,825 (for the Derby)
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1873)
Goodwood Cup (1874)
Ascot Gold Cup (1875)
Alexandra Plate (1875)
Last updated on 21 February 2011

Doncaster (1870 – January 1892) was an English Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was the winner of the 1873 Epsom Derby and the sire of the great stallion Bend Or. Through Bend Or he is the direct male-line ancestor of most modern thoroughbreds.

Breeding

Doncaster was foaled at the Sledmere Stud, Yorkshire, Great Britain and was sired by "The Emperor of Stallions", Stockwell, who had won both the 2,000 Guineas and the St. Leger Stakes; Stockwell was a leading sire during his later years, producing many classic winners. Doncaster's dam Marigold had a fairly good career on the track, and was sired by the Epsom Derby winner Teddington.[2]

Doncaster, a chestnut with a white blaze originally named "All Heart and No Peel", was raised at the Sledmere Stud before he was sent to the Tattersalls auction. James Merry bought the colt for 950 guineas, changed his name to Doncaster (after the racecourse), and sent him to trainer Robert Peck.

Racing career

The colt did not compete as a two-year-old, partially due to a kick to the stifle. Doncaster began racing as a three-year-old, first appearing at the 2,000 Guineas (where he was unplaced to winner Gang Forward). He won his next race (the Derby) easily. He then raced in the Grand Prix de Paris, finishing third to winner Boiard, before being beaten by a head at the St. Leger. He did not do well in his next run, the Grand Duke Michael Stakes, but finished his season second in the Newmarket Derby.

His four-year-old career was respectable, with a dead heat second place with Flageolet in the Ascot Gold Cup (won by Boiard), before a win at the Goodwood Cup. As a five-year-old, he won both the Ascot Gold Cup and the Alexandra Plate; the races were two days apart.[2]

At stud

Doncaster was then retired. Peck purchased him for £10,000 and immediately selling the stallion to the Duke of Westminster (for whom he was also a trainer) for £14,000. The Duke had been searching for a stallion prospect, with a good pedigree and racing record, to stand at his Eaton Stud in Cheshire. Doncaster was bred to the mare Lily Agnes (by Macaroni), who produced the filly Farewell, a 1,000 Guineas winner. Doncaster's most famous son was Bend Or, the Derby winner and prolific sire. He also sired Sir Reuben and Cambusmore. Other noted offspring were:

Empress Elisabeth of Austria saw Doncaster while visiting Eaton, and reportedly fell in love with him. She eventually purchased him, for £5,000, and he lived at her Kisber Stud until his death at the age of 22 in January 1892. His blood lives on through his son, Bend Or.[3]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Doncaster chestnut stallion, 1870[1]
Sire
Stockwell
Ch. 1849　		 The Baron
Ch. 1842　		 Birdcatcher Sir Hercules
Guiccioli
Echidna Economist
Miss Pratt
Pocahontas
B. 1837　		 Glencoe Sultan
Trampoline
Marpessa Muley
Clare
Dam
Marigold
Ch. 1860		 Teddington
1848		 Orlando Touchstone
Vulture
Miss Twickenham Rockingham
Electress
Ratan mare Ratan Buzzard
Picton Mare
Melbourne Mare Melbourne
Lisbeth (F-No.5-e)[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Doncaster pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
  2. 1 2 3 Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), “Thoroughbred Breeding of the World”, Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970
  3. 1 2 Thoroughbred Heritage. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
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