Birdcatcher
Encyclopedia
Birdcatcher or Irish Birdcatcher, was a good Thoroughbred
racehorse and a leading sire.
, who lost only once at St. Leger in 1829. Birdcatcher's dam, Guiccioli, who had a successful career as a racehorse, foaled the chestnut colt when she was 10. She was also the granddam of another well-known racehorse, Selim, and dam to a full-brother of Birdcatcher, Faugh-a-Ballagh
.
Birdcatcher had a large star and narrow blaze, white half-way up to the hock on the left hind. He also had ticking, or white hairs scattered throughout his flanks and at the base of the tail. He passed this trait onto many offspring, including Daniel O'Rourke, so often that the marking became to be called to Birdcatcher ticks. This marking differs from the small white spots known as Birdcatcher spots.
throughout his career. He broke his maiden at the Madrid Stakes, and then won the Milltown Stakes and fourteen-furlong Peel Stakes, and came second in the ten-furlong Wellington Stakes. His four-year-old career was also quite impressive, with a win in the Kildare and Wellington Stakes (where he walked over the finish line). He finished second after Harkaway in the Northumberland Handicap. In his final race, the Doris Stakes, Birdcatcher was unplaced.
The chestnut colt ended his career with 15 starts and 7 wins, before the horse went on to have a successful breeding career.
Three-year-old ~raced exclusively at the Curragh
Four-year-old ~raced exclusively at the Curragh
in Yorkshire. The stallion then returned home to Brownstown for 1850, and was sent back to England for the 1852 season, and returned home to Ireland for the 1859 season.
Birdcatcher's English offspring did well, and earned him the Champion Sire
title for 1852 and 1856. He was among the top sires 15 times during his breeding career. Birdcatcher was the first Irish-bred stallion to sire winners of English classic races, including seven offspring accounting for three St. Leger wins, two One Thousand Guineas wins, and a win at the Derby and the Oaks. Birdcatcher also founded two male lines, one with Oxford, and another with The Baron
, from whom most Thoroughbreds descend today.
Birdcatcher sired:
His death was accounted by Patrick Connolly. "Among the mares sent to the son of Sir Hercules that year was Mr Michael Dunne's Queen Bee. She was a mare of good size, and when Birdcatcher attempted to serve her, he failed to do so. Mr Disney, who owned the stallion, thereupon decided that he should no longer survive. At once a messenger was dispatched to the local police station with orders to bring back with him a constable with a loaded gun, as a horse was required to be destroyed. The police officer - his name was Preston - reported himself to Mr Disney, who gave the necessary directions for the destruction of Birdcatcher. The horse was placed on the brink of a sandpit situated on the flat opposite Conyngham Lodge, Curragh; without any ceremony he was shot and his carcass tumbled into the pit. Thus ended the career of a good racehorse and a mighty sultan at the age of twenty-seven years. His head was afterwards presented to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Dublin."
Thoroughbred
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...
racehorse and a leading sire.
Breeding
Foaled in 1833 at the Brownstown Stud, in Ireland, Birdcatcher was by the Irish Thoroughbred stallion Sir HerculesSir Hercules
Sir Hercules was an Irish bred Thoroughbred racehorse, and was later a successful sire.-Pedigree:Sir Hercules was by the great sire Whalebone, winner of the Epsom Derby, out of Peri by Wanderer. Peri was bred to Whalebone at the age of three and Sir Hercules, her first foal, was born in 1826 at...
, who lost only once at St. Leger in 1829. Birdcatcher's dam, Guiccioli, who had a successful career as a racehorse, foaled the chestnut colt when she was 10. She was also the granddam of another well-known racehorse, Selim, and dam to a full-brother of Birdcatcher, Faugh-a-Ballagh
Faugh-a-Ballagh
Faugh-a-Ballagh was a Thoroughbred racehorse. A brother to Birdcatcher, Faugh-a-Ballagh was sold to E. J. Erwin in 1842. He ran once as a two-year-old at the Doncaster's Champagne Stakes, finishing third to The Cure and Sorella. He then began his three-year-old season as the first Irish-bred horse...
.
Description
Birdcatcher was said to have a small, only 15.3 hh, but had an expressive head, a well-arched neck, and nicely sloping shoulder. His back was short and compact, his loin was deep, and his hindquarters were strong and muscular. His forearms and thighs were large and strong, and attached to fine, light legs. He had an elastic stride, that no doubt helped him to win as many races as he did.Birdcatcher had a large star and narrow blaze, white half-way up to the hock on the left hind. He also had ticking, or white hairs scattered throughout his flanks and at the base of the tail. He passed this trait onto many offspring, including Daniel O'Rourke, so often that the marking became to be called to Birdcatcher ticks. This marking differs from the small white spots known as Birdcatcher spots.
Racing career
William Disney bought the colt, and raced him once as a 2-year-old before beginning seriously as a three-year-old. The young Thoroughbred raced only at CurraghCurragh Racecourse
The Curragh Racecourse, usually abbreviated to The Curragh, is Ireland's most important Thoroughbred race track. It is situated on the Curragh plain near Newbridge, County Kildare, Ireland.- History :...
throughout his career. He broke his maiden at the Madrid Stakes, and then won the Milltown Stakes and fourteen-furlong Peel Stakes, and came second in the ten-furlong Wellington Stakes. His four-year-old career was also quite impressive, with a win in the Kildare and Wellington Stakes (where he walked over the finish line). He finished second after Harkaway in the Northumberland Handicap. In his final race, the Doris Stakes, Birdcatcher was unplaced.
The chestnut colt ended his career with 15 starts and 7 wins, before the horse went on to have a successful breeding career.
Race record
Two-Year-Old- Paget Stakes at the Curragh, unplaced
Three-year-old ~raced exclusively at the Curragh
- Madrid Stakes: won, beating Maria (b.f. by Sir HerculesSir HerculesSir Hercules was an Irish bred Thoroughbred racehorse, and was later a successful sire.-Pedigree:Sir Hercules was by the great sire Whalebone, winner of the Epsom Derby, out of Peri by Wanderer. Peri was bred to Whalebone at the age of three and Sir Hercules, her first foal, was born in 1826 at...
), Langford (br.c. by Sir HerculesSir HerculesSir Hercules was an Irish bred Thoroughbred racehorse, and was later a successful sire.-Pedigree:Sir Hercules was by the great sire Whalebone, winner of the Epsom Derby, out of Peri by Wanderer. Peri was bred to Whalebone at the age of three and Sir Hercules, her first foal, was born in 1826 at...
), Quicksilver (b.c. by Memnon), and five other entries - Miltown Stakes: won, beating Cushneiche (ch.c. by Roller)
- Wellington Stakes: came 2nd, after Maria, beating Whim (gr.f. by Drone), and eight others
- Challenge Stakes: 2nd, after Whim, beating Maria
- November Mulgrave Handicap: 3rd, after winner Water Witch (bl.f. by Sir HerculesSir HerculesSir Hercules was an Irish bred Thoroughbred racehorse, and was later a successful sire.-Pedigree:Sir Hercules was by the great sire Whalebone, winner of the Epsom Derby, out of Peri by Wanderer. Peri was bred to Whalebone at the age of three and Sir Hercules, her first foal, was born in 1826 at...
) and Blackfoot (b.c. by Young Blacklock), beating Fusileer (ch.c. by The Colonel), Whim, and three other entries - October Mulgrave Handicap: unplaced, won by Langford followed by Whim
Four-year-old ~raced exclusively at the Curragh
- Kildare Stakes: won, beating Thump (b.c. Humphrey Clinker), Aigirio (gr.c. Roller), Quicksilver, and two others
- King's Plate: Croughpatrick (br.c. Blacklock) and five others
- Wellington Stakes: won (walked over)
- April Challenge Stakes: 2nd, after Blackfoot, beat four others
- King's Plate: 2nd to Freney
- King's Plate: 3rd, after winner Harkaway, and Gipsy (bl.f. Sir HerculesSir HerculesSir Hercules was an Irish bred Thoroughbred racehorse, and was later a successful sire.-Pedigree:Sir Hercules was by the great sire Whalebone, winner of the Epsom Derby, out of Peri by Wanderer. Peri was bred to Whalebone at the age of three and Sir Hercules, her first foal, was born in 1826 at...
) - September Challenge Stakes: 3rd, after winner Mercury (gr.c. Drone), and Austerlitz (br.c. Napoleon)
- Wellington Stakes: unplaced, won by Harkaway
- Doris Stakes: unplaced, won by Maria
Stud record
The stallion retired to stud at his place of foaling, Brownstown, beginning his breeding career as a five-year-old in 1838. Birdcatcher's first crop of foals did well, and he was moved to Barrow's Paddock in Newmarket for 1846 and 1847, before he was leased for 1848 and 1849 to Easby AbbeyEasby Abbey
Easby Abbey or the Abbey of St Agatha is an abandoned Premonstratensian abbey on the eastern bank of the River Swale on the outskirts of Richmond in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire. The site is maintained by English Heritage and can be reached by a pleasant riverside walk from...
in Yorkshire. The stallion then returned home to Brownstown for 1850, and was sent back to England for the 1852 season, and returned home to Ireland for the 1859 season.
Birdcatcher's English offspring did well, and earned him the Champion Sire
Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
The list below shows the leading sire of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1751. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
title for 1852 and 1856. He was among the top sires 15 times during his breeding career. Birdcatcher was the first Irish-bred stallion to sire winners of English classic races, including seven offspring accounting for three St. Leger wins, two One Thousand Guineas wins, and a win at the Derby and the Oaks. Birdcatcher also founded two male lines, one with Oxford, and another with The Baron
The Baron (horse)
The Baron was a Thoroughbred racehorse from Ireland, who also raced in England. Sired by Birdcatcher out of Echidna , he was also an influential sire in England, France and Australia.-Racing career:...
, from whom most Thoroughbreds descend today.
Birdcatcher sired:
- Ayacanora, dam of Talk O' The Hill a good sire in Australia
- Bird on the Wing: winner of the Parks Hill Stakes, second to Songstress in the Oaks
- Chanticleer: winner of the Doncaster CupDoncaster CupThe Doncaster Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 2 miles and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
- Daniel O'Rourke: Winner of the 1852 Derby
- England's Beauty, dam of Kingston a good sire in Australia
- Foninnualla: dam of Mincepie, who won the Oaks
- Hebena: winner of the 1855 1,000 Guineas
- Knight of St. George: winner of the 1854 St. Leger
- Lady Trespass: winner of the Park Hill Stakes
- Manganese: winner of the 1856 1,000 Guineas
- Marquis
- Mickey Free
- Miss Agnes
- Mrs. Ridgway
- Oxford
- Partlet: dam of Jeune Premier, winner of the Prix de Diane
- Red Eagle
- Reine Blanche: dam of Florentin, winner of Prix du Jockey Club
- Saunterer: winner of the Goodwood Cup
- Songstress: winner of the 1982 Oaks
- The BaronThe Baron (horse)The Baron was a Thoroughbred racehorse from Ireland, who also raced in England. Sired by Birdcatcher out of Echidna , he was also an influential sire in England, France and Australia.-Racing career:...
: winner of the 1845 St. Leger; very successful sire - Warlock: winner of the 1856 St. Leger
The death of Birdcatcher
Despite his success as a sire Birdcatcher met with an undeserved execution after he was unable to cover a mare.His death was accounted by Patrick Connolly. "Among the mares sent to the son of Sir Hercules that year was Mr Michael Dunne's Queen Bee. She was a mare of good size, and when Birdcatcher attempted to serve her, he failed to do so. Mr Disney, who owned the stallion, thereupon decided that he should no longer survive. At once a messenger was dispatched to the local police station with orders to bring back with him a constable with a loaded gun, as a horse was required to be destroyed. The police officer - his name was Preston - reported himself to Mr Disney, who gave the necessary directions for the destruction of Birdcatcher. The horse was placed on the brink of a sandpit situated on the flat opposite Conyngham Lodge, Curragh; without any ceremony he was shot and his carcass tumbled into the pit. Thus ended the career of a good racehorse and a mighty sultan at the age of twenty-seven years. His head was afterwards presented to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Dublin."