Blakeney (horse)
Encyclopedia
Blakeney was a British Thoroughbred
racehorse and sire. He won the Derby
at Epsom
as a three-year-old in 1969 and was one of the few winners of the race to campaign successfully at four. He later had a successful stud career.
at Kirtlington
, Oxfordshire
. He was the first of two Derby winners produced by the Oaks
runner-up Windmill Girl, the other being Morston
who won the race in 1973. His sire, Hethersett, was a top class racehorse who won the St Leger in 1962. Hethersett and Blakeney are representatives of the Byerley Turk sire line, unlike more than 95% of modern thoroughbreds, who descend directly from the Darley Arabian
.
Blakeney, who was named after a village
in Norfolk
, was sent to the Newmarket Sales as a yearling. Shortly before the sale the colt was kicked by another horse and the reulting swelling deterred potential buyers so that he failed to reach his reserve price of 5,000gns
. Budgett therefore decided to train the colt himself at his Whatcombe Stables near Wantage
. The colt's one eccentricity was that he refused to enter a horse box in the usual way, preferring to go in backwards.
behind the future Coronation Cup
winner Caliban. A month later, Blakeney, ridden by Ernie Johnson
recorded his first victory by winning the twenty-seven runner race at Newmarket
.
During the winter, Budgett claimed that he turned down a "big American offer" for the colt and backed him for the Derby at odds of 100/1.
. Ridden by Geoff Lewis
, he had problems finding a clear run, but then finished strongly to finish second to The Elk. The performance convinced some observers that the colt had been a "desperately unlucky" loser and was a serious contender for the Derby.
At Epsom, Blakeney was reunited with the twenty-one year old Ernie Johnson, who had been promised the ride after the win at Newmarket, and started at odds of 15/2. He was held up in the early stages as the pace was set by Moon Mountain. In the straight, Johnson made his challenge on the inside and drove Blakeney through a gap along the rails to take the lead inside the final furlong. The colt ran on strongly to win by a length from Shoemaker, with Prince Regent third. After the race, Budgett described himself as "the luckiest man in the world."
In his three remaining starts in 1969, Blakeney failed to reproduce his Derby-winning form. In the Irish Derby at the end of June he finished fourth of the fifteen runners behind Prince Regent. Blakeney did not have a particularly clear run in the St Leger in September, but his fifth place behind Intermezzo was a disappointment. On his final start he ran unplaced behind Levmoss
in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
.
at Newmarket in April. In May he recorded his first win since the Derby when taking the Ormonde Stakes
at Chester
. Budgett then took the unusual decision to move Blakeney up in distance for the two and a half mile Ascot Gold Cup
, a race which had not been won by a Derby winner since Ocean Swell
in 1945. He appeared to cope with the extreme distance, but finished second, beaten three quarters of a length by Precipice Wood.
Blakeney’s best performance of the year came in defeat, when he ran in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July. Although he was no threat to the odds on favourite Nijinsky
he kept on well under pressure to finish second, four lengths clear of the other runners who included Caliban, Intermezzo and the Washington, D.C. International winner Karabas. On his final start he improved on his 1969 effort in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, finishing fifth of the twenty-four runners behind Sassafras
.
rated Blakeney at 123 as a three-year-old (their lowest rating for a Derby winner) and 126 as a four-year-old.
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Blakeney a “poor” Derby winner. Randall, writing in the Racing Post
, rated Blakeney the third worst Derby winner since 1945.
Arthur Budgett called him "a bloody good horse."
and Grundy
. He made a successful start to his stud career, getting the Oaks
winner Juliette Marny in his first crop of foals. His other notable winners included Julio Mariner (St Leger), Tyrnavos
(Irish Derby), Roseate Tern (Yorkshire Oaks). Through his daughter Percy’s Lass, he is the broodmare sire of the Derby winner Sir Percy
.
Blakeney died in 1992 and is buried at the National Stud.
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 sire. He won the Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
at Epsom
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half...
as a three-year-old in 1969 and was one of the few winners of the race to campaign successfully at four. He later had a successful stud career.
Background
Blakeney was bred by his owner and trainer Arthur BudgettArthur Budgett
Arthur Budgett was a British Thoroughbred racehorse trainer who was one of only two people to have bred, owned and trained two English Derby winners....
at Kirtlington
Kirtlington
Kirtlington is a village and civil parish in Oxfordshire about west of Bicester.-Archaeology:The Portway is a pre-Roman road running parallel with the River Cherwell on high ground about east of the river. It bisects Kirtlington parish and passes through the village. A short stretch of it is now...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. He was the first of two Derby winners produced by the Oaks
Epsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
runner-up Windmill Girl, the other being Morston
Morston (horse)
Morston was a French-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse. He is best known for winning the 1973 Epsom Derby on his second racecourse appearance. He was then injured, and retired undefeated.-Background:...
who won the race in 1973. His sire, Hethersett, was a top class racehorse who won the St Leger in 1962. Hethersett and Blakeney are representatives of the Byerley Turk sire line, unlike more than 95% of modern thoroughbreds, who descend directly from the Darley Arabian
Darley Arabian
The Darley Arabian was one of three dominant foundation sires of modern Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock, the other two being the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerley Turk. This bay Arabian horse was bought in Aleppo, Syria by Thomas Darley in 1704 and shipped back to Aldby Park in England, where...
.
Blakeney, who was named after a village
Blakeney, Norfolk
Blakeney is a coastal village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk. Blakeney lies within the Norfolk Coast AONB and the North Norfolk Heritage Coast. The North Norfolk Coastal Path passes through the village...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
, was sent to the Newmarket Sales as a yearling. Shortly before the sale the colt was kicked by another horse and the reulting swelling deterred potential buyers so that he failed to reach his reserve price of 5,000gns
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
. Budgett therefore decided to train the colt himself at his Whatcombe Stables near Wantage
Wantage
Wantage is a market town and civil parish in the Vale of the White Horse, Oxfordshire, England. The town is on Letcombe Brook, about south-west of Abingdon and a similar distance west of Didcot....
. The colt's one eccentricity was that he refused to enter a horse box in the usual way, preferring to go in backwards.
1968: two-year-old season
Blakeney did not appear on the racecourse until the autumn of his first season. In September he finished fourth in the Clarence House Stakes at AscotAscot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
behind the future Coronation Cup
Coronation Cup
The Coronation Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
winner Caliban. A month later, Blakeney, ridden by Ernie Johnson
Ernie Johnson
Ernie Johnson may refer to:*Ernie Johnson *Ernie Johnson , running back at UCLA*Ernie Johnson **Ernie Johnson, Jr. , son and sports commentator...
recorded his first victory by winning the twenty-seven runner race at Newmarket
Newmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
.
During the winter, Budgett claimed that he turned down a "big American offer" for the colt and backed him for the Derby at odds of 100/1.
1969: three-year-old season
Blakeney took time to reach his peak in the spring of 1969, and did not appear until two weeks before the Derby, when he ran in the Lingfield Derby TrialLingfield Derby Trial
The Lingfield Derby Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 106 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.The event was established in 1932, and...
. Ridden by Geoff Lewis
Geoff Lewis
Geoff Lewis is a Welsh retired jockey who was born in Talgarth, .He moved to London with his family in 1946. He came from a large family and started his career with Ron Smyth, who was a trainer in Epsom. He will be best remembered as the jockey that won the 1,000 Guineas, 2,000 Guineas, Oaks ,...
, he had problems finding a clear run, but then finished strongly to finish second to The Elk. The performance convinced some observers that the colt had been a "desperately unlucky" loser and was a serious contender for the Derby.
At Epsom, Blakeney was reunited with the twenty-one year old Ernie Johnson, who had been promised the ride after the win at Newmarket, and started at odds of 15/2. He was held up in the early stages as the pace was set by Moon Mountain. In the straight, Johnson made his challenge on the inside and drove Blakeney through a gap along the rails to take the lead inside the final furlong. The colt ran on strongly to win by a length from Shoemaker, with Prince Regent third. After the race, Budgett described himself as "the luckiest man in the world."
In his three remaining starts in 1969, Blakeney failed to reproduce his Derby-winning form. In the Irish Derby at the end of June he finished fourth of the fifteen runners behind Prince Regent. Blakeney did not have a particularly clear run in the St Leger in September, but his fifth place behind Intermezzo was a disappointment. On his final start he ran unplaced behind Levmoss
Levmoss
Levmoss was an Irish-bred and Irish-trained thoroughbred racehorse whose career lasted from 1967 to 1969.His defeat of Park Top in the 1969 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe was a bodyblow to those who claim that horses who win long-distance races are too slow to do anything else...
in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
.
1970: four-year-old season
Blakeney started his four-year-old season disappointingly, finishing fifth in the Jockey Club StakesJockey Club Stakes
The Jockey Club Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs at Newmarket, and the final part of the race is on the Rowley Mile...
at Newmarket in April. In May he recorded his first win since the Derby when taking the Ormonde Stakes
Ormonde Stakes
The Ormonde Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Chester over a distance of 1 mile, 5 furlongs and 89 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
at Chester
Chester Racecourse
Chester Racecourse, known as the Roodee, is according to official records the oldest racecourse still in use in England. Horse racing at Chester dates back to the early sixteenth century. It is also thought to be the smallest racecourse of significance in England at 1 mile and 1 furlong ...
. Budgett then took the unusual decision to move Blakeney up in distance for the two and a half mile Ascot Gold Cup
Ascot Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
, a race which had not been won by a Derby winner since Ocean Swell
Ocean Swell
Ocean Swell was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1943 to 1945 he ran fifteen times and won six races. As a three-year-old 1944 he won the New Derby, a wartime substitute for the Epsom Derby run at Newmarket...
in 1945. He appeared to cope with the extreme distance, but finished second, beaten three quarters of a length by Precipice Wood.
Blakeney’s best performance of the year came in defeat, when he ran in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot in July. Although he was no threat to the odds on favourite Nijinsky
Nijinsky II
The racehorse Nijinsky was one of the greatest horses in Thoroughbred horse-racing history. He won the U.K. Triple Crown of racing. Retired to stud he became the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland and the Leading broodmare sire in North America.He was bred at E. P...
he kept on well under pressure to finish second, four lengths clear of the other runners who included Caliban, Intermezzo and the Washington, D.C. International winner Karabas. On his final start he improved on his 1969 effort in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, finishing fifth of the twenty-four runners behind Sassafras
Sassafras
Sassafras is a genus of three extant and one extinct species of deciduous trees in the family Lauraceae, native to eastern North America and eastern Asia.-Overview:...
.
Assessment
TimeformTimeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
rated Blakeney at 123 as a three-year-old (their lowest rating for a Derby winner) and 126 as a four-year-old.
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Blakeney a “poor” Derby winner. Randall, writing in the Racing Post
Racing Post
The Racing Post is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing and sports betting newspaper, appearing in print form and online.From 30 May 2011 - 3 July 2011 it had a circulation of 56,507.-History:...
, rated Blakeney the third worst Derby winner since 1945.
Arthur Budgett called him "a bloody good horse."
Stud career
Blakeney stood as a stallion at the National Stud at Newmarket, where was later joined by his fellow Derby winners Mill ReefMill Reef
Mill Reef was a Champion Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was bred in the United States but was trained in the United Kingdom throughout his racing career which lasted from 1970 to 1972. Mill Reef won twelve of his fourteen races and finished second in the other two...
and Grundy
Grundy (horse)
Grundy was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred Champion racehorse. He was a leading two-year-old in 1974 and went on to win the Epsom Derby in 1975...
. He made a successful start to his stud career, getting the Oaks
Epsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
winner Juliette Marny in his first crop of foals. His other notable winners included Julio Mariner (St Leger), Tyrnavos
Tyrnavos
Tyrnavos is a municipality in the Larissa regional unit, of the Thessaly region of Greece. Tyrnavos is the prefecture's third largest community within the Larissa prefecture. The town is near the mountains and the Thessalian Plain. The river Titarisios, a tributary of the Pineios, flows through...
(Irish Derby), Roseate Tern (Yorkshire Oaks). Through his daughter Percy’s Lass, he is the broodmare sire of the Derby winner Sir Percy
Sir Percy
Sir Percy is a race horse foaled on January 27, 2003, winner of the 2006 Epsom Derby.-Breeding and pedigree:Sir Percy was bred by Harry Ormesher at the Old Suffolk Stud in Hundon, Suffolk. His sire Mark of Esteem won the 1996 2,000 Guineas, his dam Percy's Lass won the Group 3 September Stakes in...
.
Blakeney died in 1992 and is buried at the National Stud.