Pebbles (horse)
Encyclopedia
Pebbles was a champion British-bred Thoroughbred
race horse
, the first British-trained racehorse to win a Breeders' Cup
race.
She was foaled in 1981 and was initially owned by her breeder, Marcos Lemos. Lemos sold her to Sheikh Mohammed after her 1,000 Guineas win.
at York Racecourse
and a close second in the Cheveley Park Stakes
at Newmarket Racecourse
.
Pebbles began her three-year-old season in 1984 by returning to Newmarket to win the Nell Gwyn Stakes
. In her next race she won the 1,000 Guineas, beating the favourite Mahogany by three lengths with Desirable, who had won the 1983 Cheveley Park Stakes a neck further back in third. Pebbles raced twice more in 1984; she was beaten one and half lengths by Katies, winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas in the Coronation Stakes
at Royal Ascot
, and then finishing second by a neck to Palace Music in the Champion Stakes
at Newmarket. In the official International Classification for 1984 she was rated 82, 16 pounds behind the top-rated El Gran Senor
.
At four years old in 1985 Pebbles won the Eclipse Stakes, the first filly ever to win that race, beating subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
winner Rainbow Quest
. Later that season she won the Champion Stakes, beating the Derby
winner Slip Anchor
, before culminating her career with her Breeders' Cup win at Aqueduct
.
, she was his only mount of the day, they went off as the betting favorite. She was in 13th place (last) after the first 1/2 mile but worked her way up methodically to surge to the front in the final stretch.
Pebbles held off Strawberry Road
ridden by Steve Cauthen
to win by a measured neck. Her winning time of 2:27 established a new Aqueduct course record, lowering the previous mark by 1 1/5 seconds.
On the strength of that single victory in the US, she was awarded the 1985 Eclipse Award
for outstanding turf female.
The award was well deserved as her effort that year was spectacular. In 1985, Pebbles defeated the winners of the Epsom Derby, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Juddmonte International
, Irish Champion Stakes
, English Champion Stakes, Epsom Oaks
, Arlington Million
, Hollywood Gold Cup
, and Breeders' Cup Turf.
beer a day.
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...
race horse
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...
, the first British-trained racehorse to win a Breeders' Cup
Breeders' Cup
The Breeders' Cup World Championships is an annual series of Thoroughbred horse races, most but not all Grade I, operated by Breeders' Cup Limited, a company formed in 1982. From its inception in 1984 through 2006, it was a single-day event; starting in 2007, it expanded to two days. The location...
race.
She was foaled in 1981 and was initially owned by her breeder, Marcos Lemos. Lemos sold her to Sheikh Mohammed after her 1,000 Guineas win.
Racing career
As a two-year-old in 1983 Pebbles won two races and finished fourth in the Lowther StakesLowther Stakes
The Lowther Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
at York Racecourse
York Racecourse
York Racecourse is a horse racing track in the southwest of the city of York in North Yorkshire, England with a spectator capacity of 60,000. The most famous race to be held at York on an annual basis is the Ebor Handicap, which is run during the Ebor Festival meeting in August...
and a close second in the 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...
at Newmarket Racecourse
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...
.
Pebbles began her three-year-old season in 1984 by returning to Newmarket to win the Nell Gwyn Stakes
Nell Gwyn Stakes
The Nell Gwyn Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid April....
. In her next race she won the 1,000 Guineas, beating the favourite Mahogany by three lengths with Desirable, who had won the 1983 Cheveley Park Stakes a neck further back in third. Pebbles raced twice more in 1984; she was beaten one and half lengths by Katies, winner of the Irish 1,000 Guineas in the Coronation Stakes
Coronation Stakes
The Coronation Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
at Royal Ascot
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
, and then finishing second by a neck to Palace Music in the Champion Stakes
Champion Stakes
The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 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 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October...
at Newmarket. In the official International Classification for 1984 she was rated 82, 16 pounds behind the top-rated El Gran Senor
El Gran Senor
El Gran Senor was an American-bred Thoroughbred race horse, foaled at Windfields Farm in Maryland.An outstanding two-year-old who went on to win European classics over a mile and over 12 furlongs, El Gran Senor received a Timeform rated 136...
.
At four years old in 1985 Pebbles won the Eclipse Stakes, the first filly ever to win that race, beating subsequent Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
winner Rainbow Quest
Rainbow Quest (horse)
Rainbow Quest was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and Champion broodmare sire. Bred in Kentucky by British businessman, Alan Clore, he was a descendant of the great Nearco through both his dam, I Will Follow, and his Champion sire, Blushing Groom....
. Later that season she won the Champion Stakes, beating 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...
winner Slip Anchor
Slip Anchor
Slip Anchor was a Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by Shirley Heights and out oCategory:2011 racehorse deathsf Sayonara . He won the 1985 Lingfield Derby Trial by ten lengths and then the Epsom Derby...
, before culminating her career with her Breeders' Cup win at Aqueduct
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
.
1985 Breeders' Cup
In the Breeders' Cup Turf, Pebbles went up against the males in a field of 13 starters. Among the starters was Lashkari, winner of the year's prior and inaugural running of the BC Turf. This was her first attempt at the distance of 1½ miles. Ridden by Pat EdderyPat Eddery
Patrick James John "Pat" Eddery is a former flat racing jockey. Pat's father Jimmy Eddery was a jockey, as is his brother Paul Eddery.-Career:...
, she was his only mount of the day, they went off as the betting favorite. She was in 13th place (last) after the first 1/2 mile but worked her way up methodically to surge to the front in the final stretch.
Pebbles held off Strawberry Road
Strawberry Road
Strawberry Road was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who went on to race in Germany, France, the United States, and Japan...
ridden by Steve Cauthen
Steve Cauthen
Steve Cauthen is a retired American jockey.Cauthen, the son of a trainer and a farrier, grew up in Walton, Kentucky around horses, which made race-riding a logical career choice. He rode his first race on May 12, 1976 at Churchill Downs; he finished last, riding King of Swat...
to win by a measured neck. Her winning time of 2:27 established a new Aqueduct course record, lowering the previous mark by 1 1/5 seconds.
On the strength of that single victory in the US, she was awarded the 1985 Eclipse Award
Eclipse Award
The Eclipse Award is an American thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. The Eclipse Awards, honoring the champions of the sport, are sponsored by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association , Daily Racing Form and the National Turf Writers...
for outstanding turf female.
The award was well deserved as her effort that year was spectacular. In 1985, Pebbles defeated the winners of the Epsom Derby, Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Juddmonte International
International Stakes
The International Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 88 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
, Irish Champion Stakes
Irish Champion Stakes
The Irish Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Ireland which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.-History:The event was established in 1976, and...
, English Champion Stakes, 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....
, Arlington Million
Arlington Million
The Arlington Million is a Grade 1 flathorse race in the United States for thoroughbred horses aged three years and upward. It is raced over a distance of 1¼ miles on the turf at Arlington Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois in August each year...
, Hollywood Gold Cup
Hollywood Gold Cup
The Hollywood Gold Cup is an American Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions...
, and Breeders' Cup Turf.
Personality
Pebbles in addition to her success as a racer, made for an interesting media story because of her assorted unqiue quirks. She was frequently accompanied by a gelding partner Come On The Blues who escorted her to America for the first running of the Breeders' Cup. She also was known for consuming a pint of GuinnessGuinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
beer a day.