.gif)
Herod (horse)
Encyclopedia
Herod formerly King Herod, later shortened to just Herod in common usage, was a Thoroughbred
racehorse. He was one of the three foundation sires of the modern Thoroughbred
racehorse, along with Matchem
and Eclipse
. Herod was the foundation sire responsible for keeping the Byerley Turk sire line alive.
) and a mare (1757) (dam of Clay Hall Marske) by Regulus.
His career began to close at this point, as he lost to Ascham, then to Turf, and then finished last in a race at York, after a bleeding attack
. He started twice the following year, before retiring to stud.
eight times, (1777 to 1784), before his son, Highflyer
(1785 to 1796, 1798) and grandson Sir Peter Teazle
(1799 to 1802, and 1804 to 1809) took over. Herod's male line continues today in the pedigree of the 2007 Eclipse Stakes
winner, Notnowcato. His most important offspring include:
Herod sired the winners of 497 races worth ₤201,505.
He was still covering mares until his death, at age 22, at Netherhall (written as Neather Hall in the old calendars) on 12 May 1780.
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. He was one of the three foundation sires of the modern 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, along with Matchem
Matchem
Matchem was a Thoroughbred racehorse who had a great influence on the breed, and was the earliest of three 18th century stallions that produced the Thoroughbred sire-lines of today, in addition to Eclipse and Herod...
and Eclipse
Eclipse (horse)
Eclipse was an outstanding, undefeated 18th-century British Thoroughbred racehorse who was later a phenomenal success as a sire.-Breeding:...
. Herod was the foundation sire responsible for keeping the Byerley Turk sire line alive.
Pedigree
Bred by Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, he was by the stallion Tartar, a very good racehorse, who won many races including the King's plate at Litchfield, the King's plate at Guildford, and the King's Plate at Newmarket. In addition to Herod, Tartar sired Thais (dam of Silvertail), Fanny (second dam of King Fergus), the O'Kelly Old Tartar mare (dam of Volunteer), and others. Herod's dam, Cypron (1750 bay filly), was bred by Sir W. St Quintin. Herod was a half-brother Lady Bolingbroke (dam of Tetotum, Epsom OaksEpsom 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 a mare (1757) (dam of Clay Hall Marske) by Regulus.
Description
Herod was a fine, bay horse standing 15.3 hands high with a small star and no white on his legs. He was a powerful horse that was especially good at four-mile distances.Racing career
Herod began racing at five, the usual age to begin training for this period, in October 1763 winning a race on the four mile Beacon course at Newmarket. At age six, he won another race at Newmarket, followed by a four-miler at Ascot and a match against Antinous over the Beacon course. When he was seven, his owner died and he was sold in a dispersal sale to Sir John Moore, and it wasn't until 1766 that he returned to the track, where won again against Antinous in a match over the same course.His career began to close at this point, as he lost to Ascham, then to Turf, and then finished last in a race at York, after a bleeding attack
Exercise Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage
Exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage , also known as "bleeding" or a "bleeding attack", refers to the presence of blood in the airways of the lung in association with exercise. EIPH is common in horses undertaking intense exercise, but it has also been reported in human athletes, racing camels and...
. He started twice the following year, before retiring to stud.
Breeding career
Herod retired in 1770 and stood at the stud of Sir John Moore at Neather Hall, for a fee of 10 guineas, later raised to 25 guineas. He was the leading sire in Great BritainLeading 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:...
eight times, (1777 to 1784), before his son, Highflyer
Highflyer (horse)
Highflyer was an undefeated Thoroughbred racehorse and a very successful and influential sire of the 18th century.-Breeding:Bred by Sir Charles Bunbury, the fifth Baronet, the colt was foaled at Great Barton, in 1774...
(1785 to 1796, 1798) and grandson Sir Peter Teazle
Sir Peter Teazle
Sir Peter Teazle was a good British bred Thoroughbred racehorse, a Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland nine times, and carried on the sire line of Herod.- Breeding :...
(1799 to 1802, and 1804 to 1809) took over. Herod's male line continues today in the pedigree of the 2007 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...
winner, Notnowcato. His most important offspring include:
- FlorizelFlorizelFlorizel was a Thoroughbred racehorse.Florizel was a good sire, producing 175 winners who won a total of 75,901 pounds. Offspring included Eager , Tartar , Ninety-Three , Brilliant, Diomed , Ulysses, Moustrap, and Admiral...
: 1768 bay colt, won 16 races out of 23 starts. Sired DiomedDiomedDiomed, foaled in 1777, was an English-bred Thoroughbred race horse who won the inaugural running of the Epsom Derby and was subsequently a successful sire in the United States of America.-Bright Beginnings:...
, winner of the first Derby and incredibly influential sire in America. - Fortitude: sire of John Bull
- HighflyerHighflyer (horse)Highflyer was an undefeated Thoroughbred racehorse and a very successful and influential sire of the 18th century.-Breeding:Bred by Sir Charles Bunbury, the fifth Baronet, the colt was foaled at Great Barton, in 1774...
: 1774 bay colt, the most important son of Herod. Unbeaten in 14 races, leading sire several times, one of the 4 foundation lines of the classic Thoroughbred. Got Sir Peter TeazleSir Peter TeazleSir Peter Teazle was a good British bred Thoroughbred racehorse, a Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland nine times, and carried on the sire line of Herod.- Breeding :...
, Rockingham, Delpini, Escape, St. George, and broodmare Prunella. - Justice: sired Rhadamanathus, Daedalus, and Trifle
- Phoenomenon: won the St. Leger, leading sire
- Woodpecker: 1773 chestnut colt, won the Craven Stakes in 1778, 1779 and 1781, and a 1,400 guineas handicap sweep in 1780 and 140 guineas purse at Newmarket in 1781, both times beating PotooooooooPotooooooooPotoooooooo or Pot-8-Os was a famous 18th century Thoroughbred racehorse who defeated some of the greatest racehorses and later became an influential sire....
. Sired Buzzard (sire of Selim, sire of SultanSultan (horse)Sultan was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and a leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland for six successive seasons.-Breeding:He was by Selim , out of Bacchante by Williamson's Ditto. Sultan was inbred to three great sires, Herod , Eclipse , to Herod's best son, Highflyer...
, sire of Glencoe), Chanticleer, and Ephemera (winner of the Oaks).
Herod sired the winners of 497 races worth ₤201,505.
He was still covering mares until his death, at age 22, at Netherhall (written as Neather Hall in the old calendars) on 12 May 1780.