Galtee More
Encyclopedia
Galtee More was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred
racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1896 to 1897 he ran thirteen times and won eleven races. As a three-year-old in 1897 he became the seventh horse to win the English Triple Crown
by winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket
, the Derby
at Epsom
and the St Leger at Doncaster
. At the end of the season he was sold to the Russian government and went on to have a successful stud career in Russia and Germany. He died following an accident in 1917.
, County Limerick
. His sire Kendal had been a leading two-year-old in 1885 before his racing career was ended by injury. He went on to become a leading sire in both Britain and Argentina: thanks to Galtee More’s exploits he was British Champion Sire in 1897. Galtee More’s dam, Morganette, was of little use as a racehorse but became an outstanding broodmare, producing a second Derby winner in Ard Patrick
. Gubbins named the colt after Galtymore (Cnoc Mór na nGaibhlte), a mountain on the border of Limerick and County Tipperary
.
Galtee More was sent to England to be trained by Sam Darling at Beckhampton, Wiltshire
. He was ridden in his Triple Crown races by Charles Wood who won the Championship
in 1887. Wood was a controversial figure who was “warned off” (banned from racing) for almost nine years before returning to partner Galtee More. After his successes in 1897, Wood was asked to explain what things were needed to win a Derby: he replied, "a saddle, a bridle and a good horse."
) for second place, a short head behind Brigg (receiving two pounds) in the Lancashire Breeders’ Stakes at Liverpool
. He won the Molecomb Stakes
at Goodwood
before the end of July and was then given a break before the Rous Plate at Doncaster on September 10. In the latter race he impressed observers at the with his appearance and performance in giving twelve pounds
to Peacock and winning by one and a half lengths.
Galtee More was then sent to Newmarket for the year’s most important two-year-old race, the six furlong
Middle Park Plate
in which he was matched against Lord Rosebery’s undefeated colt Velasquez. The two colts had already been identified as outstanding prospects and leading contenders for the following year's Classics, and despite the presence of three other runners, the race was regarded as a virtual match, Velasquez starting the 1/5 favourite with Galtee More on 5/1. Ridden by Mornington Cannon
, Galtee More led from the start and pulled clear to win easily, beating Velasquez by six lengths. The winner impressed observers with his "substance and strength", while the only excuse offered for Velasquez was than he had been unable to cope with the very soft, muddy conditions. At the end of the year, Galtee More and Velasquez were joint favourites, on 3/1 for the 1897 Derby.
. He followed up in the Newmarket Stakes
on 19 May, in which he survived being baulked by Frisson before "sailing away" to win by two lengths. According to The Sportsman he decided the contest in two strides and won with such "incredible ease" that it could hardly be called a race.
Galtee More was then sent to Royal Ascot for the Prince of Wales's Stakes
in which he started at odds of 1/33 and won in the "commonest of canters" from three rivals who were each receiving sixteen pounds
. He then took the Sandringham Gold Cup at Sandown, winning a prize of £1,180 by beating Cortegar, the only horse to oppose him. Some disappointment was expressed around this time that there seemed little chance of a meeting between Galtee More and the outstanding four-year-old Persimmon
who had easily beaten Velasquez in the Eclipse Stakes
,.
After the St Leger, the managers of Lingfield Park Racecourse put forward a proposal for a £3,700 weight-for-age invitation match race between Galtee More and Persimmon to take place over one mile on 2 October. The invitations were not accepted and Persimmon was retired without running again. On his final start he was sent to Newmarket for the Cambridgeshire Handicap
. Entered against older horses, he was assigned a weight of 130 pounds, the highest ever given to a three-year-old, requiring him to give weight to all his rivals except the seven-year-old Clorane (136) and the five-year-old Winkfield's Pride (132). Galtee More was prepared for his Cambridgeshire challenge by running in the Sandown Park Foal Stakes. He started at odds of 8/100 and despite running in a "lazy" fashion he won with "plenty to spare" by three lengths from Cortegar and five others. Both Clorane and Winkfield's Pride were withdrawn from the Cambridgeshire, leaving Galtee More to carry top weight in a field of twenty. He started 9/2 favourite despite giving thirty-two pounds to St Cloud, who had finished a length behind him at level weights in the St Leger. He was in touch with the pace until the final quarter mile, but faded in the closing stages to finish tenth behind Comfrey, to whom he was conceding thirty-four ponds.
In October there had been widespread reports of his sale to the Hungarian government, but these proved to be inaccurate. Early the following year Gubbins sold the colt to the Russian government for £25,000 and Galtee More was exported to Russia. Negotiations had been difficult, reportedly because of the unpredictable behaviour of the Russian representative General Arapoff.
. He continued to sire good winners at his new base, being the Leading sire in Germany
in 1910. On Jan 30 he was being loaded aboard a train for a journey to the Union Stud in Hoppegarten
when he slipped and trapped his hind legs. He was returned to the stud on a sledge, but a veterinary examination revealed that he had suffered an untreatable fracture to the upper part of his leg. He was euthanized the same evening at the age of twenty-three.
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. In a career that lasted from 1896 to 1897 he ran thirteen times and won eleven races. As a three-year-old in 1897 he became the seventh horse to win the English Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
by winning the 2000 Guineas 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...
, 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...
and the St Leger at Doncaster
Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 31 Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy.- History :...
. At the end of the season he was sold to the Russian government and went on to have a successful stud career in Russia and Germany. He died following an accident in 1917.
Background
Galtee More, a big bay horse of “almost faultless conformation” was bred by his owner John Gubbins at his Knockany Stud near BrureeBruree
Bruree is a village in south-eastern County Limerick, Ireland, on the River Maigue. It takes its name from the nearby ancient royal fortress, the alternative name of which from the earliest times into the High Middle Ages was Dún Eochair Maigue or the Fortress on the Brink of the Maigue.- History...
, County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
. His sire Kendal had been a leading two-year-old in 1885 before his racing career was ended by injury. He went on to become a leading sire in both Britain and Argentina: thanks to Galtee More’s exploits he was British Champion Sire in 1897. Galtee More’s dam, Morganette, was of little use as a racehorse but became an outstanding broodmare, producing a second Derby winner in Ard Patrick
Ard Patrick
Ard Patrick was a British Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1902 Epsom Derby and the 1903 Eclipse Stakes.-Pedigree:...
. Gubbins named the colt after Galtymore (Cnoc Mór na nGaibhlte), a mountain on the border of Limerick and County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
.
Galtee More was sent to England to be trained by Sam Darling at Beckhampton, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. He was ridden in his Triple Crown races by Charles Wood who won the Championship
British flat racing Champion Jockey
The Champion Jockey of flat racing in Great Britain is the jockey who has ridden the most winning horses during a season. The list below shows the Champion Jockey and the number of winners for each year since 1840...
in 1887. Wood was a controversial figure who was “warned off” (banned from racing) for almost nine years before returning to partner Galtee More. After his successes in 1897, Wood was asked to explain what things were needed to win a Derby: he replied, "a saddle, a bridle and a good horse."
1896: two-year-old season
Galtee More made his debut in July when he beat the odds-on favourite Minstrel in the Hurstbourne Stakes at Stockbridge. On his next start he suffered his only defeat as a two-year-old when he dead heated with Glencally (who was receiving eight poundsPound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
) for second place, a short head behind Brigg (receiving two pounds) in the Lancashire Breeders’ Stakes at Liverpool
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
. He won the Molecomb Stakes
Molecomb Stakes
The Molecomb Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
at Goodwood
Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House...
before the end of July and was then given a break before the Rous Plate at Doncaster on September 10. In the latter race he impressed observers at the with his appearance and performance in giving twelve pounds
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
to Peacock and winning by one and a half lengths.
Galtee More was then sent to Newmarket for the year’s most important two-year-old race, the six furlong
Furlong
A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and U.S. customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to 220 yards, 660 feet, 40 rods, or 10 chains. The exact value of the furlong varies slightly among English-speaking countries....
Middle Park Plate
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...
in which he was matched against Lord Rosebery’s undefeated colt Velasquez. The two colts had already been identified as outstanding prospects and leading contenders for the following year's Classics, and despite the presence of three other runners, the race was regarded as a virtual match, Velasquez starting the 1/5 favourite with Galtee More on 5/1. Ridden by Mornington Cannon
Mornington Cannon
Herbert Mornington Cannon , commonly referred to as Morny Cannon, was a six-time leading jockey in the United Kingdom in the 1890s. He holds the records for the most wins by a jockey at the Craven Stakes, Coronation Stakes and Prince of Wales's Stakes. His most famous mount was Flying Fox who won...
, Galtee More led from the start and pulled clear to win easily, beating Velasquez by six lengths. The winner impressed observers with his "substance and strength", while the only excuse offered for Velasquez was than he had been unable to cope with the very soft, muddy conditions. At the end of the year, Galtee More and Velasquez were joint favourites, on 3/1 for the 1897 Derby.
2000 Guineas
Before the season began, Gubbins reportedly turned down an offer for his colt and said that £20,000 was the minimum sum he would consider. The 2000 Guineas on 5 May saw the rematch between Galtee More and Velasquez over one mile on good ground. Galtee More started 5/4 favourite for the race against seven rivals, with Velasquez on 6/4. Charles Wood tracked the leaders in the early stages as a fast pace was set by Arkle and Wreath Or. Velasquez looked to be the likely winner a quarter mile from the finish, but Galtee More accelerated past him "as if he were standing still" and drew rapidly clear to win by four lengths. After the race Gubbins turned down another offer for the colt, this time one of $125,000,000 from the "Montana Copper King" Marcus DalyMarcus Daly
Marcus Daly redirects here, see also Marcus Daly Marcus Daly was an Irish-born American businessman known as one of the three "Copper Kings" of Butte, Montana, United States.- Early life:...
. He followed up in the Newmarket Stakes
Newmarket Stakes
The Newmarket Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May.At present, the event...
on 19 May, in which he survived being baulked by Frisson before "sailing away" to win by two lengths. According to The Sportsman he decided the contest in two strides and won with such "incredible ease" that it could hardly be called a race.
Epsom Derby
The "Jubilee Derby" was run on a fine day in front of an "immense" crowd at Epsom on 2 June. Galtee More was considered virtually unbeatable and started at odds of 1/4, the second shortest in the race’s history: Velasquez was 10/1 second favourite, with the other eight runners starting at 25/1 or more. Gubbins' instructions to Charles Wood were simple: "Don't be afraid of the corner, and come home as soon as you can." Wood settled the colt in the early stages as the running was made by Prime Minister and the Prince of Wales's colt Oakdene. Early in the straight Galtee More and Velasquez moved past Oakdene and from then on the race was a match between them. Wood established a clear advantage on Galtee More and, although Velasquez ran on "bravely", the favourite won "in a canter" by two lengths with History a further eight lengths away in third. After the race the winner was surrounded by enthusiastic supporters, but reacted calmly, even when one spectator began pulling out hairs from his tail as souvenirs.Galtee More was then sent to Royal Ascot for the Prince of Wales's Stakes
Prince of Wales's Stakes
The Prince of Wales's Stakes 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 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
in which he started at odds of 1/33 and won in the "commonest of canters" from three rivals who were each receiving sixteen pounds
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
. He then took the Sandringham Gold Cup at Sandown, winning a prize of £1,180 by beating Cortegar, the only horse to oppose him. Some disappointment was expressed around this time that there seemed little chance of a meeting between Galtee More and the outstanding four-year-old Persimmon
Persimmon (horse)
Persimmon was an outstanding British-bred and British-trained Thoroughbred race horse and sire who won the Epsom Derby in 1896. This was the first horse race ever filmed, by Robert W. Paul and Birt Acres....
who had easily beaten Velasquez in the Eclipse Stakes
Eclipse Stakes
The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a...
,.
St Leger
Galtee More was instead sent to Doncaster to attempt to complete the Triple Crown in the St Leger on 8 September. Only four horses opposed him and Galtee More started at odds of 1/10. The early pace was slow, and Wood tracked the leaders before moving to the front on the turn into the straight. On this occasion however, he was apparently unable to pull clear of his rivals and was strongly challenged in the closing stages by the filly Chelandry, the winner of the 1000 Guineas. The winning margin was only half a length, with St Cloud and Silver Fox only a neck and a head further back, but Wood claimed that the colt was never extended. Some commentators felt that the slow early pace had led to a "false-run" race which had prevented Galtee More from producing his best form.After the St Leger, the managers of Lingfield Park Racecourse put forward a proposal for a £3,700 weight-for-age invitation match race between Galtee More and Persimmon to take place over one mile on 2 October. The invitations were not accepted and Persimmon was retired without running again. On his final start he was sent to Newmarket for the Cambridgeshire Handicap
Cambridgeshire Handicap
The Cambridgeshire Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 1 furlong , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event...
. Entered against older horses, he was assigned a weight of 130 pounds, the highest ever given to a three-year-old, requiring him to give weight to all his rivals except the seven-year-old Clorane (136) and the five-year-old Winkfield's Pride (132). Galtee More was prepared for his Cambridgeshire challenge by running in the Sandown Park Foal Stakes. He started at odds of 8/100 and despite running in a "lazy" fashion he won with "plenty to spare" by three lengths from Cortegar and five others. Both Clorane and Winkfield's Pride were withdrawn from the Cambridgeshire, leaving Galtee More to carry top weight in a field of twenty. He started 9/2 favourite despite giving thirty-two pounds to St Cloud, who had finished a length behind him at level weights in the St Leger. He was in touch with the pace until the final quarter mile, but faded in the closing stages to finish tenth behind Comfrey, to whom he was conceding thirty-four ponds.
In October there had been widespread reports of his sale to the Hungarian government, but these proved to be inaccurate. Early the following year Gubbins sold the colt to the Russian government for £25,000 and Galtee More was exported to Russia. Negotiations had been difficult, reportedly because of the unpredictable behaviour of the Russian representative General Arapoff.
Assessment and earnings
Galtee More was by far the biggest money winner of 1897. He topped the list of earners with £22,637, almost £10,000 clear of Persimmon. He had previously earned £4,382 as a two-year-old.Stud career
Galtee More proved to be a success in at stud, siring the winners of many important races in Russia, Hungary and Poland. In 1904 he was sold to the German government for £14,000 and relocated to GraditzGraditz
Graditz is a village of 250 inhabitants in the Nordsachsen landkreis of Saxony. Since 1994 it has been a quarter of Torgau....
. He continued to sire good winners at his new base, being the Leading sire in Germany
Leading sire in Germany
The list below shows the leading Thoroughbred sire of racehorses in Germany for each year since 1867. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :*...
in 1910. On Jan 30 he was being loaded aboard a train for a journey to the Union Stud in Hoppegarten
Hoppegarten
Hoppegarten is a municipality in the district Märkisch-Oderland, in Brandenburg, Germany.-History:The actual municipality was created in 2003 when the former municipalities of Hönow and Münchehofe were united with Dahlwitz-Hoppegarten...
when he slipped and trapped his hind legs. He was returned to the stud on a sledge, but a veterinary examination revealed that he had suffered an untreatable fracture to the upper part of his leg. He was euthanized the same evening at the age of twenty-three.