Springfield (horse)
Encyclopedia
Springfield was a successful English Thoroughbred
racehorse that won 14 consecutive races and was a useful sire of the late 19th century. He was the grandsire of two English Triple Crown
winners: Galtee More
, who was exported to Russia, and later Germany and Rock Sand
, who was exported to the U.S.
He was a bay colt foaled in 1873 at Bushey Park Paddocks at Hampton Court. Springfield was sired by the St. Leger Stakes
winner St. Albans, his dam was Queen Victoria’s Viridis by Marsyas (who won the July Cup
, and later sired the Epsom Derby
winner George Frederick). He was sold as a yearling and purchased by J.H. Houldsworth for 320 guineas. Springfield was line-bred
to Sultan
in the fourth and fifth generation of his pedigree (5m x 4f).
. In October he had a victory in the four furlong Two Year Old Stakes at Newmarket. Following this Springfield then finished second in the Criterion Stakes
defeated by a head from Clanronald and another second in the Dewhurst Stakes
to the future Epsom Derby
winner Kisber, These were the only times that he was defeated during his racing career,
, Goodwood's Bagnor Stakes, and the Bradgate Stakes at Doncaster.
.
Springfield finished his racing career with 19 starts, 17 wins and 2 seconds for earnings of £8,920.
His progeny included:
He died on 31 March 1898, age 25.
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 that won 14 consecutive races and was a useful sire of the late 19th century. He was the grandsire of two English Triple Crown
Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing
The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing consists of three races for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accomplishment of a Thoroughbred racehorse...
winners: Galtee More
Galtee More
Galtee More was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1896 to 1897 he ran thirteen times and won eleven races. As a three-year-old in 1897 he became the seventh horse to win the English Triple Crown by winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket,...
, who was exported to Russia, and later Germany and Rock Sand
Rock Sand
Rock Sand was a brown Thoroughbred race horse who was a very good young galloper, winning six of his seven starts. Always showing great courage he won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, St. Leger Stakes and Epsom Derby which earned him the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.He was a beautifully conformed...
, who was exported to the U.S.
He was a bay colt foaled in 1873 at Bushey Park Paddocks at Hampton Court. Springfield was sired by 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...
winner St. Albans, his dam was Queen Victoria’s Viridis by Marsyas (who won the July Cup
July Cup
The July Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
, and later sired 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 George Frederick). He was sold as a yearling and purchased by J.H. Houldsworth for 320 guineas. Springfield was line-bred
Inbreeding
Inbreeding 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...
to Sultan
Sultan (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...
in the fourth and fifth generation of his pedigree (5m x 4f).
At two years
Springfield won his first start, the Prince of Wales's Plate at York and the following day won the six furlong Gimcrack StakesGimcrack Stakes
The Gimcrack Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at York over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August....
. In October he had a victory in the four furlong Two Year Old Stakes at Newmarket. Following this Springfield then finished second in the Criterion Stakes
Criterion Stakes
The Criterion Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late June or early July.The present Criterion Stakes was...
defeated by a head from Clanronald and another second in the Dewhurst Stakes
Dewhurst Stakes
The Dewhurst Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and 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 October.The event was established in 1875, and it...
to the future 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 Kisber, These were the only times that he was defeated during his racing career,
At three years
Springfield was undefeated as a three-year-old, winning nine races, two of which were walk-overs. The wins included the July CupJuly Cup
The July Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
, Goodwood's Bagnor Stakes, and the Bradgate Stakes at Doncaster.
At four years
In 1877 he was again undefeated in his five starts, which included victories in the Queen's Stand Plate, the July Cup and the 1¼ mile Champion StakesChampion 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...
.
Springfield finished his racing career with 19 starts, 17 wins and 2 seconds for earnings of £8,920.
Stud record
Springfield stood at Bushey Paddocks at Hampton Court for an initial fee of 100 guineas, later rising to 200 guineas. After the Royal Stud was dispersed Springfield was transferred to Houldsworth's Newmarket stud.His progeny included:
- Agave, dam of Galeottia (dam of Gay Laura, who produced Gay CrusaderGay CrusaderGay Crusader was a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the English Triple Crown in 1917.Owner/breeder Alfred W Cox mated his horse Bayardo with the mare Gay Laura to produce the ill-tempered colt Gay Crusader...
, winner of the English Triple Crown. - Briar Root, won 1,000 Guineas Stakes, second dam of Prunus (German St. Leger, sire in Germany)
- Morganette, a roarerLaryngeal paralysisLaryngeal paralysis in animals is a condition in which the nerves and muscles that control the movements of one or both arytenoid cartilages of the larynx cease to function, and instead of opening during inspiration and closing during swallowing, the arytenoids remain stationary in a somewhat...
, dam of Galtee More (winner of the Triple Crown), Ard PatrickArd PatrickArd Patrick was a British Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1902 Epsom Derby and the 1903 Eclipse Stakes.-Pedigree:...
(Epsom Derby, the Princess of Wales's Stakes and Eclipse Stakes) and Blairfinde (Irish Derby) - Pastorella (1892), dam of the unbeaten U.S. galloper ColinColin (horse)Colin was one of America's greatest Thoroughbred racehorses. He retired undefeated after 15 starts and as a sire appears in the pedigree of the champion racehorse, Alsab.-Pedigree:...
- Ponza, winner of six races, dam of Positano, sire in AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. - Sainfoin, won Epsom Derby Stakes, sire of Triple Crown winner, Rock SandRock SandRock Sand was a brown Thoroughbred race horse who was a very good young galloper, winning six of his seven starts. Always showing great courage he won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, St. Leger Stakes and Epsom Derby which earned him the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.He was a beautifully conformed...
- Sierra, dam of Sundridge (won July Cup three times, the King's Stand Stakes three times, the Teddington Plate, twice, and a leading sire)
- Speedwell, won Middle Park StakesMiddle Park StakesThe 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...
- Sunshower, dam of Spartivento (Gran Premio di MilanoGran Premio di MilanoThe Gran Premio di Milano is a Group 1 flat horse race in Italy open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Milan over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
winner)
He died on 31 March 1898, age 25.