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Stockwell (horse)
Encyclopedia
Stockwell was a British Thoroughbred
racehorse and a Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
seven times; he was second on the sires' list a further four times during a 14-year period.
, England, at the stud farm of William Theobald. His sire, The Baron
was a successful racehorse and sire. His dam Pocahontas
was a roarer
– a trait never demonstrated in Stockwell himself, but passed to several of his descendants. Pocahontas later also produced the successful sires, Rataplan and King Tom.
The chestnut was not a particularly pretty horse; he was described by one turf writer as "the very incarnation of ugliness," possessing a plain head with a slight Roman nose and hindquarters like a carthorse. He had good feet, strong legs and was very powerful, however, giving him the ability to carry high weights. Although a poor mover he was very fast; his speed made up for his terrible temperament, which was considered "a bit savage". Stockwell stood over 16 hands
high with a stripe on his nose, a sock on his off (right) hind leg, another mid-cannon sock on his near (left) hind leg and Bend-Or spots
on his coat.
Although the colt was thought to be "over-large," Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter
purchased the yearling for 180 sovereigns, with the contingency that he would pay £500 more if Stockwell won the Epsom Derby
.
Stockwell began his racing career during the fall of his two-year-old year. He ran twice, finishing second by a head in the Prendergast Stakes for two-year-olds and fourth in the six-furlong Criterion Stakes.
Stockwell's three-year-old year was his greatest, and provided him with the reputation he would need to secure mares. His first race was the Craven Stakes
at Newmarket Racecourse
, where he finished second in a three-horse field by a neck. He won his next race, the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, at 10-1 odds before winning the Newmarket Stakes. He finished eighth in the Epsom Derby
, although some believe that the colt had a tooth abscess lanced just prior to the race which would have affected his running. However, he finished his three-year-old season spectacularly with eight successive wins (including two walkovers).
Stockwell ran once as a four-year-old, finishing second by a head in the Emperor of Russia's Plate (Ascot Gold Cup
). He then went "amiss," and was sidelined for the rest of the 1853 season and most of the 1854 season.
As a five-year-old he ran once in the Whip, beating Kingston (who broke down during the race), by 30 lengths. He was then retired to stud.
in England seven times (from 1860 to 1862 and 1864 to 1867) and finishing second several times (1863, 1868, 1872, 1873).
His progeny won a total of 1,147 races, earning £362,451. 209 of his 412 foals were winners. Twelve of his offspring won 17 classic races, and 13 placed in one or more classic races. His sons were also successful sires, including Doncaster
, sire of Bend Or
. Many of his daughters were also good producers. Perhaps one of the best-known descendants of Stockwell is Man o' War
.
Lord Exeter sent Stockwell to his stud at Burghley. The stallion was sold at Tattersall's after his first season (for 3,000 guineas) to Albert Denison, 1st Baron Londesborough
. Stockwell was then sent to Kirkby Farm (later renamed Stockwell Stud), where he stood for a fee of 30 guineas. It was here that he sired his first eight classic winners and headed the top of the sire list. However, the death of the Baron in 1860 led to a sale of all stock; Stockwell was purchased for 4,500 guineas by Richard C. Naylor of Cheshire, and sent to Rawcliffe Stud for his 1861 and 1862 seasons to stand for a fee of 40 guineas. He was fully booked to 50 mares, and led the sire list for two more years.
After the 1862 season, Stockwell was moved to Naylor's stud farm at Hooton Park, where he lived for the final eight years of his life in relative luxury. He went on 15-mile walks in good weather, and lived in a barn "big enough for him to run about in". By the end of his stud career his fee had risen to 300 guineas, and most of his breedings were to Naylor's own mares. Stockwell stood at stud from 1855 until his death, at the age of 21, due to an accident in the breeding shed.
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 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:...
seven times; he was second on the sires' list a further four times during a 14-year period.
Breeding
Stockwell was foaled in StockwellStockwell
Stockwell is a district in inner south west London, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth.It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross. Brixton, Clapham, Vauxhall and Kennington all border Stockwell...
, England, at the stud farm of William Theobald. His sire, The Baron
The Baron (horse)
The Baron was a Thoroughbred racehorse from Ireland, who also raced in England. Sired by Birdcatcher out of Echidna , he was also an influential sire in England, France and Australia.-Racing career:...
was a successful racehorse and sire. His dam Pocahontas
Pocahontas (horse)
Pocahontas was an English Thoroughbred racehorse and the dam of three sires who had a great influence on the breed. Although mares are not generally considered to be as influential as sires, Thoroughbred Heritage refers to Pocahontas as "one of the most influential Thoroughbreds of all time, male...
was a roarer
Laryngeal paralysis
Laryngeal 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...
– a trait never demonstrated in Stockwell himself, but passed to several of his descendants. Pocahontas later also produced the successful sires, Rataplan and King Tom.
The chestnut was not a particularly pretty horse; he was described by one turf writer as "the very incarnation of ugliness," possessing a plain head with a slight Roman nose and hindquarters like a carthorse. He had good feet, strong legs and was very powerful, however, giving him the ability to carry high weights. Although a poor mover he was very fast; his speed made up for his terrible temperament, which was considered "a bit savage". Stockwell stood over 16 hands
Hand (unit)
The hand is a non-SI unit of measurement of length, now used only for the measurement of the height of horses in some English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. With origins in ancient Egypt, it was originally based on the breadth of a human hand...
high with a stripe on his nose, a sock on his off (right) hind leg, another mid-cannon sock on his near (left) hind leg and Bend-Or spots
Bend-Or spots
Bend-Or spots are a type of spotted marking found on horses. They are fairly rare and range in color from slightly darker than the horse's coat to an almost-black shade. These random spots are most commonly seen on palominos, chestnuts, and darker horses, and may not appear until the horse is...
on his coat.
Although the colt was thought to be "over-large," Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter
Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter
Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter KG, PC , styled Lord Burghley until 1804, was a British peer, courtier and Tory politician...
purchased the yearling for 180 sovereigns, with the contingency that he would pay £500 more if Stockwell 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...
.
Two-year-old
- Prendergast Stakes: 2nd by a head
- Criterion Stakes: 4th
Stockwell began his racing career during the fall of his two-year-old year. He ran twice, finishing second by a head in the Prendergast Stakes for two-year-olds and fourth in the six-furlong Criterion Stakes.
Three-year-old
- Newmarket Craven: second by a neck
- 2,000 Guineas Stakes: won at 10-1 odds
- Newmarket StakesNewmarket StakesThe Newmarket Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May.At present, the event...
: won, defeating Maidstone, Father Thames (winner of the Newmarket Handicap), and three others - Goodwood: won, defeating Harbinger (by Touchstone) by a half-length
- Racing Stakes Handicap: won by two lengths, carrying top weight
- Great Yorkshire Stakes: won by a length, defeating Longbow, Hex and nine others
- Doncaster St. Leger StakesSt. Leger StakesThe 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...
: won by 10 lengths, defeating Harbinger, Daniel O'Rourke, Songstress (Oaks winner), and two others - Foal Stakes: won in a walkoverWalkoverIn British English, a walkover or W.O. is the awarding of a victory to a contestant because there are no other contestants, or because the other contestants have been disqualified or have forfeited. The term can apply in sport, but can also apply to elections...
- Grand Duke Michael Stakes: won by three lengths "in a canter", beating Muscovite (the Cesarewitch HandicapCesarewitch HandicapThe Cesarewitch Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Newmarket over a distance of 2 miles and 2 furlongs , and the latter part is on the Rowley Mile. It is scheduled to take place each year in October.The event was...
winner) - Newmarket St. Leger: won by two lengths
Stockwell's three-year-old year was his greatest, and provided him with the reputation he would need to secure mares. His first race was the Craven Stakes
Craven Stakes
The Craven Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in mid April.The event serves as a trial for the first...
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...
, where he finished second in a three-horse field by a neck. He won his next race, the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, at 10-1 odds before winning the Newmarket Stakes. He finished eighth in 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...
, although some believe that the colt had a tooth abscess lanced just prior to the race which would have affected his running. However, he finished his three-year-old season spectacularly with eight successive wins (including two walkovers).
Four-year-old
- Emperor of Russia's Plate (Ascot Gold CupAscot Gold CupThe 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....
): 2nd
Stockwell ran once as a four-year-old, finishing second by a head in the Emperor of Russia's Plate (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....
). He then went "amiss," and was sidelined for the rest of the 1853 season and most of the 1854 season.
Five-year-old
- The Whip: won
As a five-year-old he ran once in the Whip, beating Kingston (who broke down during the race), by 30 lengths. He was then retired to stud.
Stud record
Stockwell was sent to Exeter's stud farm at Newmarket. Known as "The Emperor of Stallions" in his own time, Stockwell was a leading sire throughout the 1860s, Champion SireLeading 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:...
in England seven times (from 1860 to 1862 and 1864 to 1867) and finishing second several times (1863, 1868, 1872, 1873).
His progeny won a total of 1,147 races, earning £362,451. 209 of his 412 foals were winners. Twelve of his offspring won 17 classic races, and 13 placed in one or more classic races. His sons were also successful sires, including Doncaster
Doncaster (horse)
Doncaster was an English Thoroughbred racehorse, winner of the Epsom Derby and sire of the great stallion Bend Or.-Breeding:...
, sire of Bend Or
Bend Or
Bend Or was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1880 Epsom Derby. His regular jockey Fred Archer, winner of thirteen consecutive British jockey titles, said Bend Or was probably the greatest horse he had ever ridden....
. Many of his daughters were also good producers. Perhaps one of the best-known descendants of Stockwell is Man o' War
Man O' War (horse)
Man o' War, is considered one of the greatest Thoroughbred racehorses of all time. During his career just after World War I, he won 20 of 21 races and $249,465 in purses....
.
Lord Exeter sent Stockwell to his stud at Burghley. The stallion was sold at Tattersall's after his first season (for 3,000 guineas) to Albert Denison, 1st Baron Londesborough
Albert Denison, 1st Baron Londesborough
Albert Denison Denison, 1st Baron Londesborough, KCH, FRS, FSA was a British Liberal Party politician and diplomat, known as Lord Albert Conyngham from 1816-49.-Early life and career:...
. Stockwell was then sent to Kirkby Farm (later renamed Stockwell Stud), where he stood for a fee of 30 guineas. It was here that he sired his first eight classic winners and headed the top of the sire list. However, the death of the Baron in 1860 led to a sale of all stock; Stockwell was purchased for 4,500 guineas by Richard C. Naylor of Cheshire, and sent to Rawcliffe Stud for his 1861 and 1862 seasons to stand for a fee of 40 guineas. He was fully booked to 50 mares, and led the sire list for two more years.
After the 1862 season, Stockwell was moved to Naylor's stud farm at Hooton Park, where he lived for the final eight years of his life in relative luxury. He went on 15-mile walks in good weather, and lived in a barn "big enough for him to run about in". By the end of his stud career his fee had risen to 300 guineas, and most of his breedings were to Naylor's own mares. Stockwell stood at stud from 1855 until his death, at the age of 21, due to an accident in the breeding shed.
Notable progeny:
- Achievement: 1864 brown filly. Won the Woodcote Stakes, New Stakes, July Stakes, Chesterfield Stakes, Criterion Stakes, Lavant Stakes, Champagne Stakes, One Thousand Guineas Stakes, Coronation Stakes, Great Yorkshire Stakes, St. Leger Stakes, and the Doncaster Cup
- Asteroid: 1858 bay colt, winner of Ascot Gold Cup and Chester Cup
- Bathilde: 1858 chestnut filly, winner of the Cambridgeshire Stakes
- Belladrum: 1866 brown filly, winner of the New and Woodcote Stakes
- Blair Athol: 1861 chestnut colt, winner of the Epsom Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes; second in the Grand Prix de Paris, and a champion sire
- Bothwell: 1868 brown colt, winner of the Gimcrack Stakes and the 2,000 Guineas
- Breadalbane: 1862 chestnut colt, winner of the Prince of Wales Stakes
- Caller Ou: 1858 brown filly; won 51 out of 101 starts including the St. Leger and the Northumberland Plate; second in the Oaks Stakes
- Cantiniere: 1870 brown filly, winner of the Lavant, Woodcote, Chesterfield and Hurstbourne Stakes
- Cherie: 1866 bay filly, winner of the Cesarewitch Handicap
- Chevisaunce: 1868 brown filly, winner of the Acorn Stakes
- Devotion: 1869 chestnut filly, winner of the Free Handicap and second in the Chichester Stakes
- DoncasterDoncaster (horse)Doncaster was an English Thoroughbred racehorse, winner of the Epsom Derby and sire of the great stallion Bend Or.-Breeding:...
: 1870 chestnut colt, great sire - Gang Forward: 1870 chestnut colt, winner of the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, Jockey Club Cup, St. James' Palace Stakes, and Ascot Derby
- Grimston: 1860 chestnut colt, winner of the Henckel Rennen
- Highland Lassie: 1869 brown filly, winner of the Coronation Stakes
- Lady Augusta: 1860 chestnut filly, winner of the 1,000 Guineas Stakes
- Lady Chester: 1870 chestnut mare, exported to 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...
; dam of three stakes winners, including ChesterChester (horse)Chester was a good Australian Thoroughbred racehorse and a leading sire. He defeated some of the best horses in training over distances ranging from five furlongs to three miles. He was the Leading sire in Australia on four occasions.-Breeding:...
– winner of the AJC Champagne Stakes, Breeders' Plate, Sires' Produce Stakes, Spring Stakes (twice), Craven Plate, Cumberland Stakes (twice), AJC Plate, Randwick Plate, Autumn Stakes, Victoria DerbyVictoria DerbyThe Victoria Derby is an Australian Thoroughbred horse race held annually on the first day of Melbourne's annual Spring Racing Carnival, Victorian Derby Day, held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. A Group One race for three-year-old horses, it is raced on a left-handed turf course at a...
, Melbourne CupMelbourne CupThe Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
, Town Plate, and Melbourne Stakes - Lord Lyon: 1863 bay colt, English Triple CrownTriple Crown of Thoroughbred RacingThe 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...
champion, winner of the Champagne and Criterion Stakes - Princess of Wales: 1862 chestnut filly, winner of the Beaufort Cup and the third Coronation Cup
- Regalia: 1862 chestnut filly; won the Oaks Stakes, the Edinburgh Cup and the Queen's Plate. Second in the St. Leger Stakes. Dam of Zut (winner of the Prix du Jockey Club) and Clementine (winner of Poule d'Essai des Pouliches)
- Repulse: 1863 brown filly, won the 1,000 Guineas Stakes, the Richmond Cup, and the Zetland Plate
- St. Albans: 1857 chestnut colt, winner of the St. Leger Stakes, Great Metropolitan Handicap, Chester Cup, and Newmarket Stakes
- Sweet Katie: 1861 chestnut filly, winner of Preis der Diana; foundation mare in Germany, produced 3 classic winners and the influential sire Flibustier
- The Marquis: bay colt, 1859, winner of Champagne Stakes, 2,000 Guineas Stakes, St. Leger Stakes. Stud success in Australia.
- Vaga: 1858 bay filly, third place in the Champagne Stakes