Pharos (horse)
Encyclopedia
Pharos was a British
bred Thoroughbred
racehorse
and a Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
.
, he was a brother to the stakeswinners, Fair Isle (1927) and Fairway (1925)who won 31 races and ₤71,635 between them. They were by the successful sire, Phalaris, their dam the staying mare, Scapa Flow by Chaucer. Pharos's maximum distance was approximately 1¼ miles and Fairway could stay much further and was all together a better racehorse. Both Pharos and Fairway were outstanding successes at stud where they both sired classic winners of a high standard. However, Pharos has proved the more influential in the long run and now stands four-square on the pre-eminent sire line in world racing.
in the 1923 Epsom Derby
. Racing at age four, Pharos won four of seven starts, notably beating Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
winner Parth
in the ten furlong
Champion Stakes
at Newmarket Racecourse
. Racing at age five, Pharos did not win in his first four starts but then in the last race of his career, won his second consecutive edition of the Duke of York Handicap
by six lengths.
duty having won fourteen of his thirty career starts, Pharos first stood at Woodland Stud in Newmarket for the 1926 season. In 1928 he was sent to stand at Haras d'Ouilly
in France
where he remained until his death in 1937. Pharos was the leading sire in Britain and Ireland in 1931 and the leading sire in France
in 1938.
Pharos sired 11 high class stallions including, Pharis
an undefeated galloper whose wins included the 1939 Prix du Jockey Club
and the Grand Prix de Paris
and who was the leading sire in France in 1944. However, by far his most important son was the undefeated Nearco
, described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century".
Pharos sired the winners of 181 races worth ₤152,157.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
bred 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
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...
and a Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
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:...
.
Pedigree
Bred and raced by Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of DerbyEdward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby
Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby KG, GCB, GCVO, TD, PC, KGStJ, JP , known as Lord Stanley from 1893 to 1908, was a British soldier, Conservative politician, diplomat and racehorse owner. He was twice Secretary of State for War and also served as British Ambassador to...
, he was a brother to the stakeswinners, Fair Isle (1927) and Fairway (1925)who won 31 races and ₤71,635 between them. They were by the successful sire, Phalaris, their dam the staying mare, Scapa Flow by Chaucer. Pharos's maximum distance was approximately 1¼ miles and Fairway could stay much further and was all together a better racehorse. Both Pharos and Fairway were outstanding successes at stud where they both sired classic winners of a high standard. However, Pharos has proved the more influential in the long run and now stands four-square on the pre-eminent sire line in world racing.
Racing record
Pharos won six of his nine starts at age two and three of his nine starts at age three when he also ran second to PapyrusPapyrus (horse)
Papyrus was a British Thoroughbred racehorse bred in Ireland. Out of the mare Miss Matty, he was sired by Tracery whose sire was Rock Sand....
in the 1923 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...
. Racing at age four, Pharos won four of seven starts, notably beating 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 Parth
Parth (horse)
Parth was a Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1923 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. He was sired by Polymelus, the five-time Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland. His dam was Willia, a daughter of William The Third whose wins included the 1902 Ascot Gold Cup.Parth was owned by A...
in the ten 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....
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 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...
. Racing at age five, Pharos did not win in his first four starts but then in the last race of his career, won his second consecutive edition of the Duke of York Handicap
Duke of York Stakes
The Duke of York Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.-History:...
by six lengths.
Stud record
Retired to studStud (animal)
A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...
duty having won fourteen of his thirty career starts, Pharos first stood at Woodland Stud in Newmarket for the 1926 season. In 1928 he was sent to stand at Haras d'Ouilly
Haras d'Ouilly
The Haras d'Ouilly is a renowned horse breeding farm in Pont-d'Ouilly, Calvados in the Basse-Normandie region of France established in the 19th century....
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
where he remained until his death in 1937. Pharos was the leading sire in Britain and Ireland in 1931 and the leading sire in France
Leading sire in France
The list below shows the leading Thoroughbred sire of racehorses in France for each year since 1887. This is determined by the amount of prizemoney won by the sire's progeny during the season .-----References:* -See also:*...
in 1938.
Pharos sired 11 high class stallions including, Pharis
Pharis
Pharis was a French Thoroughbred racehorse who is "considered one of the greatest French-bred runners of the century," according to Thoroughbred Heritage...
an undefeated galloper whose wins included the 1939 Prix du Jockey Club
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
and the Grand Prix de Paris
Grand Prix de Paris
The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
and who was the leading sire in France in 1944. However, by far his most important son was the undefeated 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 ,...
, described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century".
Pharos sired the winners of 181 races worth ₤152,157.