Sir Hugo
Encyclopedia
Sir Hugo was a British Thoroughbred
racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1891 to 1894 he ran eight times and won three races. As a three-year old in 1892 he won the Epsom Derby
at odds of 40/1. He was a consistent performer in top class races, but certainly inferior to his contemporaries Orme and La Fleche.
, bred by his owner Orlando Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford
. The colt was sent to the Earl’s private establishment at Weston Park
in Shropshire
where he was trained by Tom Wadlow.
Sir Hugo’s sire Wisdom, who died in 1893, was a failure as a racehorse but became a highly successful stallion, siring good horses such as Love Wisely (Ascot Gold Cup
), La Sagesse (Oaks
) and Surefoot (2000 Guineas, Eclipse Stakes
). His dam Manouevre was a good stayer who was placed in the St Leger
. Apart from Sir Hugo, the best of her progeny was the mare Flying Column, a leading steeplechaser.
where he finished third to Polyglot and St Damien in a Triennial Stakes. On 30 July Sir Hugo ran in a Rous Memorial Stakes at Goodwood
in which he started the 2/1 favourite in a field of five and won “cleverly” by two lengths from Kyle
In September Sir Hugo was sent to Doncaster
for the Champagne Stakes. He started at 9/1 and finished third of the five runners behind the outstanding filly La Fleche. In October he won the Boscawen Stakes at Newmarket
, beating "nothing of note". Two weeks later Sir Hugo contested the year’s most important two-year-old race, the Middle Park Plate
over six furlong
s at the same course. He was not strongly fancied and finished fifth of the ten runners behind the odds-on favourite Orme.
Sir Hugo was not considered a serious contender for the following season's Classics
Sir Hugo began his three-year-old season on 4 May by running in the 2000 Guineas a race which was considered very open after the withdrawal of the favourite Orme. He raced prominently, showing in third place at one stage, before finishing sixth of the fourteen runners behind Bona Vista
In the Derby on 1 June at Epsom Sir Hugo started at odds of 40/1 in a field of thirteen with La Fleche, who had won the 1000 Guineas being made the 11/10 favourite. He was ridden by the lightweight jockey Fred Allsopp, who had to carry more than 28 pounds
of "dead weight" to make the stipulated 126 pounds. The weather was "gloriously fine" and the crowd was larger then usual. After several false starts which delayed the race by half an hour, the early running was made by Thessalian and Persistive with Sir Hugo just behind the leaders. The French-trained colt Bucentaur took the lead turning into the straight. Sir Hugo moved past Bucentaur a furlong from the finish and was strongly challenged by La Fleche. Cheered on by the bookmakers, Sir Hugo prevailed by three quarters of a length from the filly after a "desperate struggle", with Bucentaur a length further back in third Lord Bradford received £7,000 in prize money, but far more in winning bets, having backed Sir Hugo for the race at 100/1 before he ever ran. There were many observers who considered Sir Hugo's win to have been a "fluke". George Barrett, the rider of La Fleche, was criticised for giving the filly too much ground to make up while others drew attention to a collision between St. Angelo and Rueil at Tattenham corner which ended both colts' chances.
Sir Hugo was then sent to Royal Ascot where he started 4/6 favourite for the St. James's Palace Stakes
over one mile. He led into the straight but was overtaken in the last quarter mile and finished third behind St Angelo, who won easily by three quarters of a length, and Watercress.
Sir Hugo returned on September 7 for the St Leger at Doncaster
. He was third choice in the betting behind Orme, who had returned from training problems (he had allegedly been poisoned) to win the Eclipse Stakes
and La Fleche, who had won the Oaks two days after her defeat in the Derby. On a wet day in front of a huge crowd, Sir Hugo broke quickly but was then held up as Orme made the early running. Orme was a beaten horse by the time the field turned into the straight when La Fleche went into the lead. Sir Hugo produced a strong finish and ran on in "dogged fashion" to prove the best of the colts but could never get on terms with the filly and finished second, beaten two lengths, with Orme well beaten in fifth.
On September 27 Sir Hugo again challenged La Fleche in the £10,000 Lancashire Plate over one mile at Manchester Racecourse, but was never a threat and finished fifth of the eleven runners At Newmarket on 11 October he produced an excellent performance in defeat in the ten furlong Lowther Stakes, losing by a neck in a a "close set-to" with El Diablo, to whom he was conceding fifteen pounds. In the Limekiln Stakes over one mile at the Newmarket Houghton meeting, Sir Hugo was provided with a pacemaker named Flank March, but the tactic failed as he was well beaten, finishing third to Orme and El Diablo.
He did not stand up to further training and was retired in autumn. It was announced that he would go to stud with a fee of 150 guineas
.
Sir Hugo's win prize money of £6,960 in 1892 placed him fourth on the list of highest earners behind La Fleche, Orme and the two-year-old Milford.
.
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 1891 to 1894 he ran eight times and won three races. As a three-year old in 1892 he won 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...
at odds of 40/1. He was a consistent performer in top class races, but certainly inferior to his contemporaries Orme and La Fleche.
Background
Sir Hugo was a big, "very-finely made" chestnut horse with a white blazeHorse markings
Markings on horses usually are distinctive white areas on an otherwise dark base coat color. Most horses have some markings, and they help to identify the horse as a unique individual. Markings are present at birth and do not change over the course of the horse's life...
, bred by his owner Orlando Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford
Orlando Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford
Orlando George Charles Bridgeman, 3rd Earl of Bradford PC DL , styled Viscount Newport between 1825 and 1865, was a British courtier and Conservative politician...
. The colt was sent to the Earl’s private establishment at Weston Park
Weston Park
Weston Park is a country house in Weston-under-Lizard, Staffordshire, England, set in more than of park landscaped by Capability Brown. The park is located north-west of Wolverhampton, and north-east of Telford, close to the border with Shropshire...
in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
where he was trained by Tom Wadlow.
Sir Hugo’s sire Wisdom, who died in 1893, was a failure as a racehorse but became a highly successful stallion, siring good horses such as Love Wisely (Ascot Gold Cup
Ascot Gold Cup
The Gold Cup 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 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
), La Sagesse (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....
) and Surefoot (2000 Guineas, 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...
). His dam Manouevre was a good stayer who was placed in the St Leger
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...
. Apart from Sir Hugo, the best of her progeny was the mare Flying Column, a leading steeplechaser.
1891: two-year-old season
Sir Hugo was a successful two-year-old, winning two of his five starts. He made his first appearance at AscotAscot 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...
where he finished third to Polyglot and St Damien in a Triennial Stakes. On 30 July Sir Hugo ran in a Rous Memorial Stakes 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...
in which he started the 2/1 favourite in a field of five and won “cleverly” by two lengths from Kyle
In September Sir Hugo was sent to 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 :...
for the Champagne Stakes. He started at 9/1 and finished third of the five runners behind the outstanding filly La Fleche. In October he won the Boscawen Stakes 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...
, beating "nothing of note". Two weeks later Sir Hugo contested the year’s most important two-year-old race, the 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...
over 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....
s at the same course. He was not strongly fancied and finished fifth of the ten runners behind the odds-on favourite Orme.
Sir Hugo was not considered a serious contender for the following season's Classics
1892: three-year-old season
In the Derby on 1 June at Epsom Sir Hugo started at odds of 40/1 in a field of thirteen with La Fleche, who had won the 1000 Guineas being made the 11/10 favourite. He was ridden by the lightweight jockey Fred Allsopp, who had to carry more than 28 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...
of "dead weight" to make the stipulated 126 pounds. The weather was "gloriously fine" and the crowd was larger then usual. After several false starts which delayed the race by half an hour, the early running was made by Thessalian and Persistive with Sir Hugo just behind the leaders. The French-trained colt Bucentaur took the lead turning into the straight. Sir Hugo moved past Bucentaur a furlong from the finish and was strongly challenged by La Fleche. Cheered on by the bookmakers, Sir Hugo prevailed by three quarters of a length from the filly after a "desperate struggle", with Bucentaur a length further back in third Lord Bradford received £7,000 in prize money, but far more in winning bets, having backed Sir Hugo for the race at 100/1 before he ever ran. There were many observers who considered Sir Hugo's win to have been a "fluke". George Barrett, the rider of La Fleche, was criticised for giving the filly too much ground to make up while others drew attention to a collision between St. Angelo and Rueil at Tattenham corner which ended both colts' chances.
Sir Hugo was then sent to Royal Ascot where he started 4/6 favourite for the St. James's Palace Stakes
St. James's Palace Stakes
The St. James's Palace Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
over one mile. He led into the straight but was overtaken in the last quarter mile and finished third behind St Angelo, who won easily by three quarters of a length, and Watercress.
Sir Hugo returned on September 7 for 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 :...
. He was third choice in the betting behind Orme, who had returned from training problems (he had allegedly been poisoned) to win 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...
and La Fleche, who had won the Oaks two days after her defeat in the Derby. On a wet day in front of a huge crowd, Sir Hugo broke quickly but was then held up as Orme made the early running. Orme was a beaten horse by the time the field turned into the straight when La Fleche went into the lead. Sir Hugo produced a strong finish and ran on in "dogged fashion" to prove the best of the colts but could never get on terms with the filly and finished second, beaten two lengths, with Orme well beaten in fifth.
On September 27 Sir Hugo again challenged La Fleche in the £10,000 Lancashire Plate over one mile at Manchester Racecourse, but was never a threat and finished fifth of the eleven runners At Newmarket on 11 October he produced an excellent performance in defeat in the ten furlong Lowther Stakes, losing by a neck in a a "close set-to" with El Diablo, to whom he was conceding fifteen pounds. In the Limekiln Stakes over one mile at the Newmarket Houghton meeting, Sir Hugo was provided with a pacemaker named Flank March, but the tactic failed as he was well beaten, finishing third to Orme and El Diablo.
1893: four-year-old season
Sir Hugo was kept in training as a four-year-old and made his debut in a Biennial Stakes over two miles at Newmarket on 20 April. He made the running and after a brief challenge from Barrow, won "in a canter" by three lengths. Although the opposition was not strong, he was described as having won "in the style of a good horse."He did not stand up to further training and was retired in autumn. It was announced that he would go to stud with a fee of 150 guineas
Guinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
.
Assessment and earnings
The general opinion of Sir Hugo during his career was that he had been a sub-standard, and rather fortunate Derby winner. At the end of his three-year-old season one commentator pointed out that although Sir Hugo lacked acceleration ("that dash of speed"), he had shown stamina, strength and an "equable temper", making him a good stallion prospect.Sir Hugo's win prize money of £6,960 in 1892 placed him fourth on the list of highest earners behind La Fleche, Orme and the two-year-old Milford.
Stud career
Sir Hugo was not a success at stud. His best achievement was to sire the mare Ravello, who produced the 2000 Guineas winner Sweeper. His last known foals were conceived in 1906. Sir Hugo died in February 1910 at the Jockey Hall Stud in CurraghCurragh
The Curragh is a flat open plain of almost 5,000 acres of common land in County Kildare, Ireland, between Newbridge and Kildare. This area is well-known for Irish horse breeding and training. The Irish National Stud is located on the edge of Kildare town, beside the famous Japanese Gardens. Also...
.
Pedigree
- Sir Hugo's pedigree contains a notable amount of inbreedingInbreedingInbreeding is the reproduction from the mating of two genetically related parents. Inbreeding results in increased homozygosity, which can increase the chances of offspring being affected by recessive or deleterious traits. This generally leads to a decreased fitness of a population, which is...
. He was inbred 3x3 to Rataplan, meaning that this horse appears twice in the third generation of his pedigree. Also in the third generation was Rataplan's full brother Stockwell. Sir Hugo was therefore inbred 4x4x4 to both The Baron and Pocahontas.