Arctic Prince
Encyclopedia
Arctic Prince was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred
racehorse and sire who was trained in England during a brief racing career which lasted from 1950 to 1951 and consisted of only five races. Arctic Prince won two races including the 1951 Epsom Derby
and was retired after breaking down at Ascot
in July of the same year.
. He was one of the first crop of foals sired by Prince Chevalier who won the Prix du Jockey Club
in 1946 before going on to a successful stud career. Apart from Arctic Prince, his most notable offspring was Charlotteville
who won the Prix du Jockey Club and the Grand Prix de Paris
and sired the 1966 Derby winner Charlottown
. Arctic Prince’s dam, Arctic Sun, was a successful racemare who won the Anglesey Stakes
in 1943.
Arctic Prince was sent into training with Willie Stephenson at Royston
, Hertfordshire
.
in which he recorded a six length victory. He was then moved up in class for the Gimcrack Stakes
at York
in which he finished unplaced behind Cortil.
without a trial race. He ran on strongly in the closing stages of the one mile Classic to finish seventh of the twenty-seven runners behind Ki Ming.
A month later, Arctic Prince started at odds of 28/1 in a field of thirty-three for the Epsom Derby, which, with a total prize of £22,625 was the most valuable race ever run in England. He was ridden by Charles “Chuck” Spares, a jockey who was best known for his successes in hurdle races and was having his first ride in the Derby. The crowd was estimated at up to 1,000,000 and included the Queen, and Princess Elizabeth, the King being too ill to attend. Ki Ming who started favourite, disputed the lead with Mystery IX until the horses turned into the straight. Arctic Prince, who was always prominent, overtook Mystery IX to take the lead early in the straight and pulled clear of the field to win easily by six lengths from Sybil’s Nephew. Spares explained that "I took the lead and then it was all over." Stephenson commented that Arctic Prince "was definitely unlucky to lose the 2000 Guineas and I thought that he would win today as I know that he stays."
In July Arctic Prince was sent to Ascot for the inaugural running of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The colt finished unplaced behind Supreme Court, sustaining an injury which ended his racing career.
awarded Arctic Prince a rating of 135, the highest for a three-year-old in 1951. A rating of 130 is considered the mark of an above average European Group One
winner.
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Arctic Prince an “average” Derby winner and the one hundred and ninth best British racehorse of the 20th Century .
winner Arctic Explorer. He was also the damsire of the 1964 Derby winner Santa Claus
.
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 who was trained in England during a brief racing career which lasted from 1950 to 1951 and consisted of only five races. Arctic Prince won two races including the 1951 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...
and was retired after breaking down at Ascot
Ascot 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...
in July of the same year.
Background
Arctic Prince was a brown horse bred in Ireland by his owner Joseph McGrathJoseph McGrath
Joseph McGrath may refer to:*Joe McGrath , New Zealand football coach*Joe McGrath , professional Canadian football player*Joseph McGrath , Irish politician...
. He was one of the first crop of foals sired by Prince Chevalier who won the Prix du Jockey Club
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
in 1946 before going on to a successful stud career. Apart from Arctic Prince, his most notable offspring was Charlotteville
Charlotteville
Charlotteville is a village lying on the north-eastern tip of Tobago on Man-o-war Bay.First European settlers to the area arrived 1633, with more settlers arrived in 1639. The history of the village is closely linked to sugar farming, and Charlotteville's deep water harbour was also of importance...
who won the Prix du Jockey Club and the Grand Prix de Paris
Grand Prix de Paris
The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
and sired the 1966 Derby winner Charlottown
Charlottown
Charlottown was a Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1966 Epsom Derby.-External links:* pedigree at pedigreequery.com...
. Arctic Prince’s dam, Arctic Sun, was a successful racemare who won the Anglesey Stakes
Anglesey Stakes
The Anglesey Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 6 furlongs and 63 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
in 1943.
Arctic Prince was sent into training with Willie Stephenson at Royston
Royston
Royston is the name of several places:* Royston, South Yorkshire, England* Royston, British Columbia, Canada* Royston, Hertfordshire England** Royston Town F.C., an English football club* Royston, Glasgow, a district of Glasgow, Scotland...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
.
1947: two-year-old season
Arctic Prince first appeared on the racecourse in a maiden race at RedcarRedcar Racecourse
Redcar Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Redcar, North Yorkshire, England.Its address is Redcar Racecourse Ltd, Thrush Road, Redcar TS10 2BYRedcar is Yorkshire's seaside track, oval-shaped and perfectly flat...
in which he recorded a six length victory. He was then moved up in class for the Gimcrack Stakes
Gimcrack 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....
at York
York Racecourse
York Racecourse is a horse racing track in the southwest of the city of York in North Yorkshire, England with a spectator capacity of 60,000. The most famous race to be held at York on an annual basis is the Ebor Handicap, which is run during the Ebor Festival meeting in August...
in which he finished unplaced behind Cortil.
1948: three-year-old season
As a three-year-old, Arctic Prince was sent directly to the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket RacecourseNewmarket 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...
without a trial race. He ran on strongly in the closing stages of the one mile Classic to finish seventh of the twenty-seven runners behind Ki Ming.
A month later, Arctic Prince started at odds of 28/1 in a field of thirty-three for the Epsom Derby, which, with a total prize of £22,625 was the most valuable race ever run in England. He was ridden by Charles “Chuck” Spares, a jockey who was best known for his successes in hurdle races and was having his first ride in the Derby. The crowd was estimated at up to 1,000,000 and included the Queen, and Princess Elizabeth, the King being too ill to attend. Ki Ming who started favourite, disputed the lead with Mystery IX until the horses turned into the straight. Arctic Prince, who was always prominent, overtook Mystery IX to take the lead early in the straight and pulled clear of the field to win easily by six lengths from Sybil’s Nephew. Spares explained that "I took the lead and then it was all over." Stephenson commented that Arctic Prince "was definitely unlucky to lose the 2000 Guineas and I thought that he would win today as I know that he stays."
In July Arctic Prince was sent to Ascot for the inaugural running of the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The colt finished unplaced behind Supreme Court, sustaining an injury which ended his racing career.
Assessment
TimeformTimeform
Timeform Publications is a publishing company in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England founded in 1948 to provide information to fans, bettors, and others involved in the horse racing industry...
awarded Arctic Prince a rating of 135, the highest for a three-year-old in 1951. A rating of 130 is considered the mark of an above average European Group One
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
winner.
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Arctic Prince an “average” Derby winner and the one hundred and ninth best British racehorse of the 20th Century .
Stud career
Arctic Prince stood as a stallion in Britain for four years before being sold for a reported $900,000 and exported to America in 1956. The best of his European progeny was the 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...
winner Arctic Explorer. He was also the damsire of the 1964 Derby winner Santa Claus
Santa Claus (horse)
Santa Claus was a Thoroughbred racehorse owned by John Ismay who raced in Ireland, England, and France.Among Santa Claus's wins were the 1963 National Stakes for two-year-olds at the Curragh and in 1964 he won the Epsom Derby, the Irish Derby and the Irish 2,000 Guineas...
.