Cameronian (horse)
Encyclopedia
Cameronian was a British Thoroughbred
racehorse and sire. He won the 2000 Guineas and the Derby
in 1932 but finished unplaced in the St Leger
in his attempt to win the English Triple Crown. He returned as a four-year-old to win the Champion Stakes
in 1933.
whisky
distiller Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar
and on Lord Dewar’s death in 1930, the unraced two-year-old colt was inherited inherited by his nephew John Arthur “Lucky” Dewar. The death of an owner had traditionally canceled all of a horse's entries, but a rule change in 1929 meant that Cameronian's status was not affected, allowing him to take part in the Classics.
Cameronian’s sire, Pharos
was a top class racehorse who won the Champion Stakes and went on to become a highly successful stallion. He sired many good winners including the French champion Pharis
and the unbeaten Nearco
, who became one of the most influential stallions of the 20th Century.
Cameronian was the third of seven Derby winners trained by Fred Darling
at Beckhampton, Wiltshire
.
. He was not rated in that year's Free Handicap, a rating of the leading two-year-olds.
at Newmarket
, beaten just over a length. His effort was attracted attention and he was introduced in to the Derby betting as second favourite. In the 2000 Guineas three weeks later he started at 100/8 and was ridden by Joe Childs, as the stable jockey Fred Fox rode the more fancied Lemnarchus.On heavy ground which had forced the withdrawal of the likely favourite Jacopo.Cameronian won by two lengths from the French colt Goyescas
At Epsom
a month later Cameronian started 7/2 favourite. Ridden by Fox he broke quickly and was then steadied to track the leaders in the early stages before moving into the lead as the field entered the straight. Orpen emerged as his main challenger, moving alongside Cameronian two furlongs out but after a "terrific struggle" Cameronian prevailed by by three quarters of a length. Sandwich, who had been badly drawn and been hampered during the race finished strongly to take third. The win for the favourite was extremely popular with the public, though not with the bookmakers, several of whom "welshed" (failed to pay out winning bets) on the race. At the victory celebration, Dewar, who described himself as "the most delighted man in the world", decorated the Savoy Hotel with a hundred miles of tartan ribbon.
Cameronian was sent to Royal Ascot two weeks later for the St. James's Palace Stakes
over one mile. He recorded a popular victory, winning by three lengths from Trinidad in "brilliant" style.
The colt was then rested until the September, when he started odds-on favourite for the St Leger at Doncaster Racecourse
, despite doubts from some experts about his ability to stay the one and three quarter mile distance. His attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner since Rock Sand
in 1903 however, ended in failure. He pulled hard on the way to the start where, according to Fred Fox, he "went mad", becoming higly agitated and kicking out at other horses. In the race the colt fought Fox's attempts to settle him. By the straight he was exhausted and dropped out to finish last of the ten runners behind behind Sandwich. Although Cameronian was found to be running a temperature after the race he soon recovered. His connections were unable to explain his poor effort, with Darling explicitly ruling out the possibility of the horse having been "got at". Plans to retire the colt at the end of the season were revised.
In September he ran a close third to Firdaussi, when attempting to give the winner twelve pounds in the Jockey Club Stakes. On his final start he recorded his most important victory since the Derby by beating the three-year-old Dastur in the Champion Stakes.
Gold Cup
in 1941, but in the same year Cameronian was sold and exported to Argentina, where he died in 1955.
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. He won the 2000 Guineas and the 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...
in 1932 but finished unplaced 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...
in his attempt to win the English Triple Crown. He returned as a four-year-old to win the Champion Stakes
Champion 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...
in 1933.
Background
Cameronian was a small bay horse, bred by his first owner, the ScottishScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
distiller Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar
Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar
Thomas Robert "Tommy" Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar was a Scottish whisky distiller who, along with his brother John Dewar, built their family label, Dewar's, into an international success...
and on Lord Dewar’s death in 1930, the unraced two-year-old colt was inherited inherited by his nephew John Arthur “Lucky” Dewar. The death of an owner had traditionally canceled all of a horse's entries, but a rule change in 1929 meant that Cameronian's status was not affected, allowing him to take part in the Classics.
Cameronian’s sire, Pharos
Pharos (horse)
Pharos was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse and a Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland.-Pedigree:Bred and raced by Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby, he was a brother to the stakeswinners, Fair Isle and Fairway who won 31 races and ₤71,635 between them...
was a top class racehorse who won the Champion Stakes and went on to become a highly successful stallion. He sired many good winners including the French champion Pharis
Pharis
Pharis was a French Thoroughbred racehorse who is "considered one of the greatest French-bred runners of the century," according to Thoroughbred Heritage...
and the unbeaten Nearco
Nearco
Nearco was an Italian bred Thoroughbred racehorse described by Thoroughbred Heritage as "one of the greatest racehorses of the Twentieth Century" and "one of the most important sires of the century." He was not only unbeaten, winning 14 races at distances from 5 furlongs to 1 mile 7 furlongs ,...
, who became one of the most influential stallions of the 20th Century.
Cameronian was the third of seven Derby winners trained by Fred Darling
Fred Darling
Frederick Darling was a British Thoroughbred racehorse trainer who trained a record-equalling seven English Derby winners.Fred’s father, Sam Darling senior, was a trainer at Beckhampton, Wiltshire who trained two Derby winners himself...
at Beckhampton, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
1930: two-year-old season
Cameronian was slow to mature as a two-year-old and ran only once, winning a minor race at SalisburySalisbury Racecourse
Salisbury Racecourse is a flat racecourse in the United Kingdom featuring thoroughbred horse racing. It is located four miles from Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Fifteen races a year are held here between early May and mid-October...
. He was not rated in that year's Free Handicap, a rating of the leading two-year-olds.
1931: three-year-old season
Cameronian began his three-year-old season by running third to Philae in the Craven StakesCraven 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
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...
, beaten just over a length. His effort was attracted attention and he was introduced in to the Derby betting as second favourite. In the 2000 Guineas three weeks later he started at 100/8 and was ridden by Joe Childs, as the stable jockey Fred Fox rode the more fancied Lemnarchus.On heavy ground which had forced the withdrawal of the likely favourite Jacopo.Cameronian won by two lengths from the French colt Goyescas
At Epsom
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half...
a month later Cameronian started 7/2 favourite. Ridden by Fox he broke quickly and was then steadied to track the leaders in the early stages before moving into the lead as the field entered the straight. Orpen emerged as his main challenger, moving alongside Cameronian two furlongs out but after a "terrific struggle" Cameronian prevailed by by three quarters of a length. Sandwich, who had been badly drawn and been hampered during the race finished strongly to take third. The win for the favourite was extremely popular with the public, though not with the bookmakers, several of whom "welshed" (failed to pay out winning bets) on the race. At the victory celebration, Dewar, who described himself as "the most delighted man in the world", decorated the Savoy Hotel with a hundred miles of tartan ribbon.
Cameronian was sent to Royal Ascot two weeks later 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 recorded a popular victory, winning by three lengths from Trinidad in "brilliant" style.
The colt was then rested until the September, when he started odds-on favourite for the St Leger at Doncaster Racecourse
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 :...
, despite doubts from some experts about his ability to stay the one and three quarter mile distance. His attempt to become the first Triple Crown winner since 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...
in 1903 however, ended in failure. He pulled hard on the way to the start where, according to Fred Fox, he "went mad", becoming higly agitated and kicking out at other horses. In the race the colt fought Fox's attempts to settle him. By the straight he was exhausted and dropped out to finish last of the ten runners behind behind Sandwich. Although Cameronian was found to be running a temperature after the race he soon recovered. His connections were unable to explain his poor effort, with Darling explicitly ruling out the possibility of the horse having been "got at". Plans to retire the colt at the end of the season were revised.
1932: four-year-old season
At four, Cameronian began in June by finishing third in a "stirring" finish to the Coronation Cup at Epsom, beaten a head and a short-head by the five-year-old Salmon Leap and Goyescas.In September he ran a close third to Firdaussi, when attempting to give the winner twelve pounds in the Jockey Club Stakes. On his final start he recorded his most important victory since the Derby by beating the three-year-old Dastur in the Champion Stakes.
Assessment
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Cameronian as a “average” Derby winner.Stud career
Cameronian made a promising start to his stud career by siring the St Leger winner Scottish Union in his first crop of foals. His son Finis won the wartimeWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
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....
in 1941, but in the same year Cameronian was sold and exported to Argentina, where he died in 1955.