Crucifix (horse)
Encyclopedia
Crucifix was an undefeated, Classic Race winning, British
-bred Thoroughbred
racemare. She was also the dam of three sires who had a great influence on the breed.
winner, Priam; her dam was the then 21 year old, Octaviana by Octavian. Her breeder was George Stanhope, 6th Earl of Chesterfield
. Crucifix was a sister to Chesterfield, who sired the stakes-winner, The Hero. Her sire, Priam, also sired the Epsom Oaks
winners Miss Letty and Industry before he was sold for 3,500 guineas and exported in 1837 to Virginia
in the United States.
The powerful racing figure, Lord George Bentinck
, bought Crucifix as a foal at foot with her 22 year old dam for 65 guineas. At maturity, Crucifix stood nearly 16 hands high, with her body being described as "wiry", and she possessed a temperamental disposition.
she dead-heated with Gibraltar. Her prize money for that season was a record £4,587.
, One Thousand Guineas
and Epsom Oaks. The false starts resorted to at the start of the Oaks lasted about an hour and it took about 15 attempts to get the 15 runners started. As a result of these tactics to defeat favourites, Lord George introduced reforms to inhibit this practice. Welfare ran second to Crucifix and she too, was by Priam. After the running of the Oaks Crucifix pulled up lame, and was retired with earnings of £10,287.
Crucifix became shortest odds winner of the 1,000 Guineas when she was 1/10 odds on. She was also the first of only four horses to ever win both the 1,000 Guineas and the 2,000 Guineas in the same year, when the two races were run two days apart. In her dead-heat in the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse
and her win in the Oaks Stakes at Epsom, Crucifix defeated the good mare Pocahontas
and others on each occasion.
In order to pursue his political career Lord Bentinck sold his entire racing interests, including at least 60 horses along with Crucifix and her son, and future Epsom Derby winner, Surplice, for £10,000 to Edward Lloyd-Mostyn, 2nd Baron Mostyn
. Crucifix was later sold to Henry Agar-Ellis, 3rd Viscount Clifden
.
Ajax
, the undefeated French Derby
winner and sire, great broodmare Double Life (dam of Precipitation
and Persian Gulf), and a many other good horses descend from Crucifix in the distaff line. Crucifix also became the 12th dam of another great race-mare, Meld
who won the British Fillies Triple Crown
. Crucifix is the taproot mare of Family 2-i.
Crucifix died in 1857 and was buried beside Bay Middleton
at the Days' stables, Danebury, near Stockbridge, Hampshire
.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
-bred Thoroughbred
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...
racemare. She was also the dam of three sires who had a great influence on the breed.
Breeding
Crucifix was a bay filly foaled in 1837, by the Epsom DerbyEpsom 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, Priam; her dam was the then 21 year old, Octaviana by Octavian. Her breeder was George Stanhope, 6th Earl of Chesterfield
George Stanhope, 6th Earl of Chesterfield
George Stanhope, 6th Earl of Chesterfield PC , styled Lord Stanhope until 1815, was a British Tory politician, courtier and race horse owner...
. Crucifix was a sister to Chesterfield, who sired the stakes-winner, The Hero. Her sire, Priam, also sired the Epsom Oaks
Epsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
winners Miss Letty and Industry before he was sold for 3,500 guineas and exported in 1837 to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
in the United States.
The powerful racing figure, Lord George Bentinck
Lord George Bentinck
Lord George Frederick Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck , better known as simply Lord George Bentinck, was an English Conservative politician and racehorse owner, best known for his role in unseating Sir Robert Peel over the Corn Laws.Bentinck was a younger son of the 4th Duke of Portland, and elected a...
, bought Crucifix as a foal at foot with her 22 year old dam for 65 guineas. At maturity, Crucifix stood nearly 16 hands high, with her body being described as "wiry", and she possessed a temperamental disposition.
At two years: 1839
Crucifix had nine starts for wins in the Chesterfield Stakes (carrying top weight), Lavant Stakes, July Stakes and Molecombe Stakes, the Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket, the Clearwell Stakes, the Prendergast Stakes, and a walk-over in a sweepstakes at Newmarket; in the ninth race, the Criterion StakesCriterion 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...
she dead-heated with Gibraltar. Her prize money for that season was a record £4,587.
At three years: 1840
In her three starts as a three-year-old Crucifix won the Two Thousand GuineasTwo Thousand Guineas
The 2,000 Guineas 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 on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May.It is one of Britain's...
, One Thousand Guineas
One Thousand Guineas
The 1,000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. 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 late April or early May.It is the second of Britain's five Classic...
and Epsom Oaks. The false starts resorted to at the start of the Oaks lasted about an hour and it took about 15 attempts to get the 15 runners started. As a result of these tactics to defeat favourites, Lord George introduced reforms to inhibit this practice. Welfare ran second to Crucifix and she too, was by Priam. After the running of the Oaks Crucifix pulled up lame, and was retired with earnings of £10,287.
Crucifix became shortest odds winner of the 1,000 Guineas when she was 1/10 odds on. She was also the first of only four horses to ever win both the 1,000 Guineas and the 2,000 Guineas in the same year, when the two races were run two days apart. In her dead-heat in the Criterion Stakes 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...
and her win in the Oaks Stakes at Epsom, Crucifix defeated the good mare 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...
and others on each occasion.
Stud record
Crucifix was the dam of:- 1842 colt, Cowl by Bay Middleton, sire
- 1844 b colt, Crozier by Lancercost
- 1845 b colt, Surplice by Touchstone, won Epsom Derby and 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...
, sire of Florin, (won Poule d'Essai des PoulainsPoule d'Essai des PoulainsThe Poule d'Essai des Poulains, sometimes referred to as the French 2,000 Guineas, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts...
) and others, and broodmare sire of Queen Bertha - 1846 Cucullus by Bay Middleton, died
- 1847 colt, Pontifex by Touchstone
- 1849 filly, Rosary by Touchstone
- 1850 b colt, Constantine, by Cotherstone
- 1851 b colt, Cardinal, by Touchstone
- 1852 filly, Chalice by Orlando, won Royal Hunt Cup, second dam of Placida (Epsom Oaks)
In order to pursue his political career Lord Bentinck sold his entire racing interests, including at least 60 horses along with Crucifix and her son, and future Epsom Derby winner, Surplice, for £10,000 to Edward Lloyd-Mostyn, 2nd Baron Mostyn
Edward Lloyd-Mostyn, 2nd Baron Mostyn
Edward Mostyn Lloyd-Mostyn, 2nd Baron Mostyn , was a British peer and Member of Parliament .Mostyn was the son of Edward Lloyd, 1st Baron Mostyn...
. Crucifix was later sold to Henry Agar-Ellis, 3rd Viscount Clifden
Henry Agar-Ellis, 3rd Viscount Clifden
Henry Agar-Ellis, 3rd Viscount Clifden , styled the Lord Dover from 1833 to 1836, was an Irish courtier and race horse owner....
.
Ajax
Ajax (horse)
Ajax was a champion Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse and sire, who won 18 consecutive races before he was defeated at the extraordinary odds of 40/1 on, causing a huge racing sensation. He had wins from 5 furlongs to 1½ miles , equalled to Australasian record for a mile and...
, the undefeated French Derby
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...
winner and sire, great broodmare Double Life (dam of Precipitation
Precipitation (horse)
Precipitation was an influential British bred Thoroughbred stallion who is found in the pedigrees of many racehorses and sport horses today. He alone is responsible for maintaining the Matchem sireline, through Sheshoon, except for the American Fair Play branch.-Pedigree:He was by Hurry On and out...
and Persian Gulf), and a many other good horses descend from Crucifix in the distaff line. Crucifix also became the 12th dam of another great race-mare, Meld
Meld (horse)
When Meld completed the British Fillies Triple Crown by defeating Nucleus in the 1955 St. Leger, she was only the fourth filly to do so in the 20th century...
who won the British Fillies 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...
. Crucifix is the taproot mare of Family 2-i.
Crucifix died in 1857 and was buried beside Bay Middleton
Bay Middleton
Capt. William George "Bay" Middleton was a noted English horseman of the 19th century. He was equerry to John Spencer, 5th Earl Spencer, who was Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1869-1874 and 1882-1885....
at the Days' stables, Danebury, near Stockbridge, Hampshire
Stockbridge, Hampshire
Stockbridge is a small town and civil parish in Hampshire, England. It has an acreage of and a population of little under 600 people according to the 2001 census in Hampshire, England. It lies on the River Test, in the Test Valley district and renowned for trout fishing. The A30 road goes through...
.