Blue Peter III
Encyclopedia
Blue Peter was a British
bred Thoroughbred
racehorse
whose career was cut short by the outbreak of World War II
. He won the Epsom Derby
and was later a Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
.
Bred and owned by Lord Rosebery
, his sire was the good racehorse, Fairway and his dam Fancy Free was by Stefan the Great, a son of The Tetrarch
.
behind the British Two-Year-Old Champion Colt, Foxborough.
In 1939, three-year-old Blue Peter went undefeated in all four of his races. He captured the Blue Riband Trial Stakes
, a prep race
for the ensuing Triple Crown series. In May, the colt won the 2,000 Guineas and then June's Epsom Derby
, defeating Heliopolis by four lengths. While Blue Peter was clearly the best three-year-old in Britain in 1939. The onset of World War II
ended his chance to win the Triple Crown as the St. Leger Stakes
was cancelled. Cancelled as well, was a planned match race
against the brilliant French
colt Pharis
who had won the Prix du Jockey Club
and France's most important race at the time, the Grand Prix de Paris
.
at his owner's Mentmore Stud
on the Mentmore Towers
estate in Buckinghamshire
. Successful, he was near the top on the British General Sires List
three times and in 1954 was leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
.
His notable offspring included:
Other successful Blue Peter sons that were exported into Australasia include Blueskin II, Blue Coral, Bold Buccaneer, Sabaean, Messmate and Wateringbury.
Blue Peter died in 1957 and is buried in the grounds of Mentmore Towers close to a statue of his ancestor King Tom
.
Blue Peter was the horse his owner loved best, shortly after his death Lord Rosebery described him thus: "He was just like a human being although a placid animal. Blue Peter was particular about what he ate. Give him something he didn't like and he would take one look at it and turn away. He was the best horse I ever had and was the best I had ever seen and he had only half a career as a racehorse"
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
bred Thoroughbred
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
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
whose career was cut short by the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He won the Epsom 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...
and was later a Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
The list below shows the leading sire of broodmares in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1899. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won during the year by racehorses which were foaled by a daughter of the sire.-----References:*...
.
Bred and owned by Lord Rosebery
Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery
Albert Edward Harry Meyer Archibald Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery and 2nd Earl of Midlothian , known by his third name of Harry, was a UK politician who briefly served as Secretary of State for Scotland in 1945...
, his sire was the good racehorse, Fairway and his dam Fancy Free was by Stefan the Great, a son of The Tetrarch
The Tetrarch
The Tetrarch was an undefeated Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and an influential sire, who was voted Britain's Two-Year-Old of the 20th Century.-Breeding:...
.
Racing record
At age two, Blue Peter raced twice without winning. He was unplaced in one outing and second in the Middle Park StakesMiddle Park Stakes
The Middle Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was established...
behind the British Two-Year-Old Champion Colt, Foxborough.
In 1939, three-year-old Blue Peter went undefeated in all four of his races. He captured the Blue Riband Trial Stakes
Blue Riband Trial Stakes
The Investec Derby Trial, formerly known as the Blue Riband Trial Stakes, is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbreds...
, a prep race
Trial races for the Epsom Derby
Trial races for the Epsom Derby are horse races during April and May which are contested by three-year-olds likely to run in the Epsom Derby in early June....
for the ensuing Triple Crown series. In May, the colt won the 2,000 Guineas and then June's Epsom 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...
, defeating Heliopolis by four lengths. While Blue Peter was clearly the best three-year-old in Britain in 1939. The onset of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
ended his chance to win the Triple Crown as the St. Leger Stakes
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
was cancelled. Cancelled as well, was a planned match race
Match race
A match race is a race between two competitors, going head-to-head.The term may be best known as a race between two sailing boats racing around a course...
against the brilliant French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
colt Pharis
Pharis
Pharis was a French Thoroughbred racehorse who is "considered one of the greatest French-bred runners of the century," according to Thoroughbred Heritage...
who had won the Prix du Jockey Club
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
and France's most important race at the time, the Grand Prix de Paris
Grand Prix de Paris
The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
.
Stud record
Blue Peter was retired to stud dutyHorse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
at his owner's Mentmore Stud
Mentmore and Crafton Studs
Mentmore Stud and Crafton Stud were thoroughbred horse breeding operations that were part of the Mentmore Towers estate on the Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire borders, England....
on the Mentmore Towers
Mentmore Towers
Mentmore Towers is a 19th century English country house in the village of Mentmore in Buckinghamshire. The house was designed by Joseph Paxton and his son-in-law, George Henry Stokes, in the revival Elizabethan and Jacobean style of the late 16th century called Jacobethan, for the banker and...
estate in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
. Successful, he was near the top on the British General Sires List
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:...
three times and in 1954 was leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
The list below shows the leading sire of broodmares in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1899. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won during the year by racehorses which were foaled by a daughter of the sire.-----References:*...
.
His notable offspring included:
- Botticelli (ITY) was a winner of the 1954 Italian DerbyDerby ItalianoThe Derby Italiano is a Group 2 flat horse race in Italy open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Capannelle over a distance of 2,200 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May....
and 1955 Ascot Gold CupAscot Gold CupThe 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....
. - First Consul (1946) - 1950 Ayr Gold CupAyr Gold CupThe Ayr Gold Cup is a flat horse race in Scotland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older...
winner - Masthead was a stakeswinner that was exported to Australia where he sired 10 stakeswinners for 21 stakeswins.
- Ocean SwellOcean SwellOcean 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...
(b. h. 1941), winner of the 1944 Epsom DerbyEpsom DerbyThe 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...
, Jockey Club CupJockey Club CupThe British Champions Long Distance Cup, formerly known as the Jockey Club Cup, is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles...
and 1945 Ascot Gold CupAscot Gold CupThe 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....
. - Peter Flower (1946) - multiple stakes raceGraded stakes raceA graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
winner - Unknown Quantity (1946) - fillyFillyA filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
who won the 1949 Yorkshire OaksYorkshire OaksThe Yorkshire Oaks is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
Other successful Blue Peter sons that were exported into Australasia include Blueskin II, Blue Coral, Bold Buccaneer, Sabaean, Messmate and Wateringbury.
Blue Peter died in 1957 and is buried in the grounds of Mentmore Towers close to a statue of his ancestor King Tom
King Tom
King Tom was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and a Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland.-Pedigree:He was a bay horse foaled in 1851, sired by Harkaway and out of the exceptional mare Pocahontas by Glencoe...
.
Blue Peter was the horse his owner loved best, shortly after his death Lord Rosebery described him thus: "He was just like a human being although a placid animal. Blue Peter was particular about what he ate. Give him something he didn't like and he would take one look at it and turn away. He was the best horse I ever had and was the best I had ever seen and he had only half a career as a racehorse"