Federico Tesio
Encyclopedia
Federico Tesio was an Italian
statesman and one of the most important breeders
of Thoroughbred
s in the history of horse racing
.
Born in Turin
, Federico Tesio obtained a degree in science and architecture. He served in the Italian Army
during World War I
and in 1939 was appointed to the Italian Senate
.
In 1898 he and his wife Lydia Tesio established the Dormello Stud in Dormelletto
, Novara
on 19 hectares on the banks of Lake Maggiore
in northern Italy
. While much of the credit for breeding successes is given to him, his wife played an important role in the operation. An owner/breeder who also trained
many of his horses, Tesio was a leading horse breeder
in Europe for fifty years. He bred several undefeated champions including Nearco
, Ribot
, Braque and Cavaliere d’Arpino, whom he considered the best horse that he ever bred. Donatello II was a certain winner of the Prix du Jockey Club but in his only defeat for Tesio, the jockey was instructed to take the lead, and lost. He bred 22 winners of the Derby Italiano
, and was either an owner or part-owner of 16 of them. http://www.godolphin.com/BigRaceFocusDetail.aspx?id=460
One of the most important facts seems, that Federico Tesio was not only the breeder and owner of the horses, but also the trainer. Probably, there is no owner-trainer in the world with the same record in classic races and big international races like Tesio is. And there is also no second trainer in the world with a record of probably 21 trained derby winners.
In 1947, Federico Tesio published a book titled Puro-Sangue - Animale da Esperimento (The Pure Blood - An Animal of Experimentation) , It was reissued in 2005 in an English translation titled Tesio: In His Own Words which was published by Russell Meerdink Co. Ltd (ISBN 978-0929346762).
The Federico Tesio Stakes
at Pimlico Race Course
in Baltimore, Maryland is named in his honor. The Premio Lydia Tesio
race at the Capannelle Racecourse
in Rome
is named for his wife and the Premio Federico Tesio
for him at San Siro Racecourse in Milan
.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
statesman and one of the most important breeders
Horse 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...
of 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...
s in the history of horse racing
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...
.
Born in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, Federico Tesio obtained a degree in science and architecture. He served in the Italian Army
Italian Army
The Italian Army is the ground defence force of the Italian Armed Forces. It is all-volunteer force of active-duty personnel, numbering 108,355 in 2010. Its best-known combat vehicles are the Dardo infantry fighting vehicle, the Centauro tank destroyer and the Ariete tank, and among its aircraft...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and in 1939 was appointed to the Italian Senate
Italian Senate
The Senate of the Republic is the upper house of the Italian Parliament. It was established in its current form on 8 May 1948, but previously existed during the Kingdom of Italy as Senato del Regno , itself a continuation of the Senato Subalpino of Sardinia-Piedmont established on 8 May 1848...
.
In 1898 he and his wife Lydia Tesio established the Dormello Stud in Dormelletto
Dormelletto
Dormelletto is a comune in the Province of Novara in the Italian region of Piedmont, located about 100 km northeast of Turin and about 30 km north of Novara...
, Novara
Province of Novara
Novara is a province in the Piedmont region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Novara.It has an area of 1,339 km², and a total population of 365.156 . There are 88 communes in the province.-External links:*...
on 19 hectares on the banks of Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore is a large lake located on the south side of the Alps. It is the second largest of Italy and largest of southern Switzerland. Lake Maggiore is the most westerly of the three great prealpine lakes of Italy, it extends for about 70 km between Locarno and Arona.The climate is mild...
in northern Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. While much of the credit for breeding successes is given to him, his wife played an important role in the operation. An owner/breeder who also trained
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
many of his horses, Tesio was a leading horse breeder
Horse 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...
in Europe for fifty years. He bred several undefeated champions including Nearco
Nearco
Nearco was an Italian bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He was not only unbeaten, winning 14 races at distances from 5 furlongs to 1 mile 7 furlongs ,...
, Ribot
Ribot (horse)
Ribot was an Italian bay Thoroughbred racehorse, considered the strongest horse of all time.Undefeated in 16 races, he won over distances ranging from 5 furlongs to 1m 7f , in three different countries and in all types of track conditions...
, Braque and Cavaliere d’Arpino, whom he considered the best horse that he ever bred. Donatello II was a certain winner of the Prix du Jockey Club but in his only defeat for Tesio, the jockey was instructed to take the lead, and lost. He bred 22 winners of the Derby Italiano
Derby Italiano
The 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 was either an owner or part-owner of 16 of them. http://www.godolphin.com/BigRaceFocusDetail.aspx?id=460
One of the most important facts seems, that Federico Tesio was not only the breeder and owner of the horses, but also the trainer. Probably, there is no owner-trainer in the world with the same record in classic races and big international races like Tesio is. And there is also no second trainer in the world with a record of probably 21 trained derby winners.
In 1947, Federico Tesio published a book titled Puro-Sangue - Animale da Esperimento (The Pure Blood - An Animal of Experimentation) , It was reissued in 2005 in an English translation titled Tesio: In His Own Words which was published by Russell Meerdink Co. Ltd (ISBN 978-0929346762).
The Federico Tesio Stakes
Federico Tesio Stakes
The Federico Tesio Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Contested over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on dirt, it is open to three-year-olds horses....
at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
in Baltimore, Maryland is named in his honor. The Premio Lydia Tesio
Premio Lydia Tesio
The Premio Lydia Tesio is a Group 1 flat horse race in Italy which is open to thoroughbred fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Capannelle, Rome, over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.The event is named in honour of Lydia...
race at the Capannelle Racecourse
Capannelle Racecourse
Capannelle Racecourse, also known as Ippodromo Capannelle, is a horse racing venue in Rome, Italy. The course was first constructed in 1881, and it was rebuilt in 1926....
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
is named for his wife and the Premio Federico Tesio
Premio Federico Tesio
The Premio Federico Tesio is a Group 3 flat horse race in Italy which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at San Siro, Milan, over a distance of 2,200 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event is named in honour of...
for him at San Siro Racecourse in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
.