Potoooooooo
Encyclopedia
Potoooooooo or Pot-8-Os (foaled in 1773) was a famous 18th century Thoroughbred
racehorse who defeated some of the greatest racehorses and later became an influential sire.
Pot-8-Os was a chestnut colt bred by Willoughby Bertie, 4th Earl of Abingdon
, in 1773. He was sired by Eclipse, his dam Sportsmistress traced to Thwaites' Dun Mare from the number 38 family and she was sired by Warren's Sportsman. He was the first foal of Sportsmistress, who also produced the Epsom Derby
winner Sir Thomas along with the winners Jocundo, Roscius and Sulky.
Pot-8-Os acquired the strange spelling of his nickname, Potatoes, when a stable lad was asked to write it on a feed bin. The lad's version, Potoooooooo, was said to amuse his lordship so he kept it, and it appears in the General Stud Book
.
He was a horse of quality and endurance with many of his races being run over the Beacon Course, upwards of four miles. Pot-8-Os won thirty-four races over the span of seven years, including the Jockey Club Purse three times, and the Craven Stakes. In 1778 he was sold to Richard, 1st Earl Grosvenor, for 1,500 guineas, plus an agreed percentage of Pot-8-Os' future winnings.
Pot-8-Os was retired in 1783 to stand at Oxcroft Farm near Balsham, Cambridgeshire, for a fee of 20 guineas, before being moved to Upper Hare Park near Newmarket in 1796. A great success in the stud, he sired 172 winners of £61,971 and three cups. His offspring included Champion, the first horse to win both the Derby and the St. Leger Stakes
(in 1800); Waxy, who won the Derby Stakes in 1793 and ten other races (and later became the sire line's principal progenitor). Others were Asparagus (1787), Tyrant (1799, Derby winner), Parasol, won many races and a dam of Classic winners; and Mandane, dam of Manuella (1812 Oaks Stakes).
Pot-8-Os died at Upper Hare Park in November of 1800.
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 who defeated some of the greatest racehorses and later became an influential sire.
Pot-8-Os was a chestnut colt bred by Willoughby Bertie, 4th Earl of Abingdon
Willoughby Bertie, 4th Earl of Abingdon
Willoughby Bertie, 4th Earl of Abingdon was an English peer and music patron.Bertie was born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, the son of Willoughby Bertie, 3rd Earl of Abingdon and Anna Maria Collins....
, in 1773. He was sired by Eclipse, his dam Sportsmistress traced to Thwaites' Dun Mare from the number 38 family and she was sired by Warren's Sportsman. He was the first foal of Sportsmistress, who also produced 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...
winner Sir Thomas along with the winners Jocundo, Roscius and Sulky.
Pot-8-Os acquired the strange spelling of his nickname, Potatoes, when a stable lad was asked to write it on a feed bin. The lad's version, Potoooooooo, was said to amuse his lordship so he kept it, and it appears in the General Stud Book
General Stud Book
The General Stud Book was the original breed registry of the United Kingdom for horses. It specifically was used to document the breeding of Thoroughbreds and related foundation bloodstock such as the Arabian horse....
.
He was a horse of quality and endurance with many of his races being run over the Beacon Course, upwards of four miles. Pot-8-Os won thirty-four races over the span of seven years, including the Jockey Club Purse three times, and the Craven Stakes. In 1778 he was sold to Richard, 1st Earl Grosvenor, for 1,500 guineas, plus an agreed percentage of Pot-8-Os' future winnings.
Pot-8-Os was retired in 1783 to stand at Oxcroft Farm near Balsham, Cambridgeshire, for a fee of 20 guineas, before being moved to Upper Hare Park near Newmarket in 1796. A great success in the stud, he sired 172 winners of £61,971 and three cups. His offspring included Champion, the first horse to win both the Derby and the St. Leger Stakes
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
(in 1800); Waxy, who won the Derby Stakes in 1793 and ten other races (and later became the sire line's principal progenitor). Others were Asparagus (1787), Tyrant (1799, Derby winner), Parasol, won many races and a dam of Classic winners; and Mandane, dam of Manuella (1812 Oaks Stakes).
Pot-8-Os died at Upper Hare Park in November of 1800.