April the Fifth
Encyclopedia
April the Fifth was a thoroughbred racehorse which was bred and trained in England
. He won the 1932 Epsom Derby
.
and runner-up by a neck in the Epsom Derby. April the Fifth was bred by Sydney McGregor and Mr G.S.L. Whitelaw from Sold Again, at a stud in Leamington Spa
. He was foaled on 5 April, which was also his breeder's birthday.
who trained him at his stables at Epsom Downs
. April the Fifth won the inaugural running of the Lingfield Derby Trial
in 1932 and went on to win the Epsom Derby itself at odds
of 100 to 6. He was ridden in the Derby by Fred Lane. April the Fifth was injured and failed in the St. Leger Stakes
and never ran again. He remains the last Epsom Derby winner trained at Epsom.
horses and Sydney McGregor bred the 1958 Ascot Gold Cup
winner Gladness from a mare
by April the Fifth.
He died in 1954.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He won the 1932 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...
.
Breeding
April the Fifth was sired by Craig an Eran, winner of the 1921 2,000 Guineas and Eclipse StakesEclipse 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 runner-up by a neck in the Epsom Derby. April the Fifth was bred by Sydney McGregor and Mr G.S.L. Whitelaw from Sold Again, at a stud in Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...
. He was foaled on 5 April, which was also his breeder's birthday.
Racing career
April the Fifth was sold as a yearling for 200 guineas to his part owner, Sydney McGregor. He raced in the name of the actor Tom WallsTom Walls
Tom Kirby Walls was a popular English stage and motion-pictures character actor, and film director. He has claim to be one of the most influential figures in British comedy.-Early career:...
who trained him at his stables at Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs is an area of chalk upland near Epsom, Surrey; in the North Downs. Part of the area is taken up by the racecourse, the gallops are part of the land purchased by Stanly Wootton in 1925 in oder that racehorses can be trained without interference. It is open to users such as ramblers,...
. April the Fifth won the inaugural running of the Lingfield Derby Trial
Lingfield Derby Trial
The Lingfield Derby Trial is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Lingfield Park over a distance of 1 mile, 3 furlongs and 106 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in May.The event was established in 1932, and...
in 1932 and went on to win the Epsom Derby itself at odds
Odds
The odds in favor of an event or a proposition are expressed as the ratio of a pair of integers, which is the ratio of the probability that an event will happen to the probability that it will not happen...
of 100 to 6. He was ridden in the Derby by Fred Lane. April the Fifth was injured and failed in 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...
and never ran again. He remains the last Epsom Derby winner trained at Epsom.
Retirement
April the Fifth spent 20 years at stud, but he was a poor sire of flat racers. He was however a useful sire of National HuntNational Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
horses and Sydney McGregor bred the 1958 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....
winner Gladness from a mare
Mare (horse)
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
by April the Fifth.
He died in 1954.