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Fifinella (horse)
Encyclopedia
Fifinella was a British
Thoroughbred
who is the last racemare
to ever win both the Epsom Derby
and Epsom Oaks
and the last filly to ever win the Epsom Derby
.
Bred and raced by Sir Edward Hulton
, Fifinella was a daughter of Champion Sire
Polymelus
and out of the mare, Silver Fowl. Conditioned by Dick Dawson
, on the track at age two the frequently raucous Fifinella won two races including the important Cheveley Park Stakes
under jockey Steve Donoghue
.
As a three-year-old, Fifinella was ridden by Joe Childs. Racing against mostly colt
s, after acting up at the starting gate, Fifinella finished second by a neck in the 1916 1,000 Guineas. However, the "flying" filly came back to win England's most prestigious race, the Epsom Derby
, followed by the country's most prestigious race for females, the Epsom Oaks
.
Retired at the end of the 1916 season, Fifinella met with only modest success as a broodmare. The most notable of the eight race winners she produced was the colt Press Gang (b. 1927), who won the juvenile Middle Park
and Rous Memorial Stakes and at age three the Princess of Wales
and Gordon Stakes
.
Author Roald Dahl
, born the year of Fifinella's great racing successes, used her name
for his female characters in his 1943 book, The Gremlins
.
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...
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...
who is the last racemare
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...
to ever win both 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 Epsom 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....
and the last filly to ever win 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...
.
Bred and raced by Sir Edward Hulton
Edward Hulton
Edward Hulton was a British newspaper publisher and thoroughbred racehorse owner. He founded the Daily Sketch in 1909.-Biography:...
, Fifinella was a daughter of 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:...
Polymelus
Polymelus
Polymelus was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who was the leading sire of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland for five years . Among his most famous descendants are Secretariat and Northern Dancer. However, it was through his son Phalaris that he will forever be remembered...
and out of the mare, Silver Fowl. Conditioned by Dick Dawson
Richard C. Dawson
Richard Cecil "Dick" Dawson was an Irish-born owner and trainer of racehorses.From his home in Cloghran, Dawson went to Lambourn, England in 1897 and set up shop at Whatcombe Stables in Wantage, Oxfordshire. He brought with him the steeplechase horse Drogheda who won the 1898 Grand National...
, on the track at age two the frequently raucous Fifinella won two races including the important Cheveley Park Stakes
Cheveley Park Stakes
The Cheveley Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. 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...
under jockey Steve Donoghue
Steve Donoghue
Steve Donoghue was a leading English flat-race jockey in the 1910s and 1920s. He was Champion Jockey 10 times between 1914 and 1923 and was one of the most celebrated horse racing sportsmen after Fred Archer, arguably only Sir Gordon Richards eclipsing him.-Background:Born in Warrington, Cheshire,...
.
As a three-year-old, Fifinella was ridden by Joe Childs. Racing against mostly colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
s, after acting up at the starting gate, Fifinella finished second by a neck in the 1916 1,000 Guineas. However, the "flying" filly came back to win England's most prestigious race, 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...
, followed by the country's most prestigious race for females, the Epsom 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....
.
Retired at the end of the 1916 season, Fifinella met with only modest success as a broodmare. The most notable of the eight race winners she produced was the colt Press Gang (b. 1927), who won the juvenile Middle Park
Middle 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...
and Rous Memorial Stakes and at age three the Princess of Wales
Princess of Wales's Stakes
The Princess of Wales's Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:The event is named in...
and Gordon Stakes
Gordon Stakes
The Gordon Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August....
.
Author Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short story writer, fighter pilot and screenwriter.Born in Wales to Norwegian parents, he served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, in which he became a flying ace and intelligence agent, rising to the rank of Wing Commander...
, born the year of Fifinella's great racing successes, used her name
Fifinella
Fifinella was a female gremlin designed by Walt Disney for a proposed film from Roald Dahl's book The Gremlins. During World War II, the Women Airforce Service Pilots asked permission to use the image as their official mascot, and the Disney Company granted them the rights.-Origins:The story of...
for his female characters in his 1943 book, The Gremlins
The Gremlins
The Gremlins is a children's book, written by Roald Dahl and published in 1943. It was Dahl's first children's book, and was written for Walt Disney Productions, as a promotional device for a feature-length animated film that was never made...
.