Desert Gold
Encyclopedia
Desert Gold was a famous and successful New Zealand
Thoroughbred
racehorse who raced at the time of World War I
. She raced in Australia
and New Zealand
, winning 36 races, including a still-standing record of 19 in succession (which she holds with Gloaming
).
and Royal Stakes, the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes
(in race record time) and the North Island Challenge Stakes
.
, New Zealand Derby
(taking three seconds off the record), CJC New Zealand Oaks
, CJC G.G. Stead Memorial Gold Cup, Islington Plate, ARC Great Northern Derby
, Royal Stakes (for the second time and in race record time), Wellington Stakes (in race record time), WRC North Island Challenge Stakes, Awapuni Gold Cup
, Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes
, ARC Great Northern Oaks and ARC Great Northern St. Leger
Stakes.
and Awapuni Gold Cup
.
, VRC Governor's Plate, AJC Autumn Stakes, AJC All-Aged Stakes and Awapuni Gold Cup (for the second time).
but was unplaced to the winner, Night Watch, who carried 6 stone 9 pounds. Her only principal win was when she defeated the three-year-old colt
, Gloaming in the 1919 Taranaki Stakes
. She also finished second in the Awapuni Gold Cup.
Desert Gold retired with a record of 59 Starts: 36-13-4 and earnings of £
23,239.
Her named produce are:
Her family has continued to produce many winners.
As a tribute to her ability several races have been named after her in New Zealand, including the time-honoured $100,000 Group III Sharp Desert Gold Stakes (1,600 m).
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
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...
racehorse who raced at the time of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. She raced in Australia
Australia
Australia , 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...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, winning 36 races, including a still-standing record of 19 in succession (which she holds with Gloaming
Gloaming
Gloaming may refer to:* Gloaming, or twilight, the time after sunset and before dark* Gloaming , a famous Australian-bred racehorse who was owned, trained and based in New Zealand...
).
Racing record
She was owned by T. H. Lowry and trained by Fred Davis for whom she won many good races.At two years: 1914-1915
In 1914, she won the Great Northern Foal StakesGreat Northern Foal Stakes
Great Northern Foal Stakes is a major horse race in New Zealand. It is a listed 2 year-old race run at Ellerslie in late May. Past winners include Desert Gold won the race in 1914....
and Royal Stakes, the Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes
Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes
The Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes is a horse race held for thoroughbred two year-olds in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Run over 1400 metres in late March or early April, it is regarded as New Zealand's best two year-old race....
(in race record time) and the North Island Challenge Stakes
North Island Challenge Stakes
North Island Challenge Stakes was a major thoroughbred horse race in New Zealand. It was run at Trentham Racecourse, Wellington, New Zealand over a sprint distance of 7 furlongs....
.
At three years: 1915-1916
Desert Gold had 14 starts and won all of them, five of them in race record time. These races included the Hawke's Bay GuineasHawke's Bay Guineas
The Hawke's Bay Guineas is a major Thoroughbred horserace in New Zealand for three year old horses. In 2003 the stake was boosted to $100,000 and the race was moved to the first Saturday in October, meaning that it is run on the same day as the Spring Classic....
, New Zealand Derby
New Zealand Derby
The New Zealand Derby is a set-weights Thoroughbred horserace for three-year-old, run over a distance of 2,400 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. It is held on the first Saturday in March, as the opening day of Auckland Cup Week. From 2009, it was run for a purse of $2.2...
(taking three seconds off the record), CJC New Zealand Oaks
New Zealand Oaks
The New Zealand Oaks is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three year-old fillies run at set weights over a distance of 2400 metres on the third Saturday of March every year at Trentham racecourse in Wellington, New Zealand....
, CJC G.G. Stead Memorial Gold Cup, Islington Plate, ARC Great Northern Derby
Great Northern Derby
The Great Northern Derby is a harness racing event for 3 year old standardbreds. It is a major event for 3 year old colts and geldings in New Zealand. It is run at Alexandra Park in Auckland, on the same night as the Auckland Cup in early March...
, Royal Stakes (for the second time and in race record time), Wellington Stakes (in race record time), WRC North Island Challenge Stakes, Awapuni Gold Cup
Awapuni Gold Cup
The Awapuni Gold Cup is held annually in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It is run at weight-for-age over 2,000 metres and is worth $100,000. It is notable as even though it is only worth $100,000, it has been won by many of New Zealand's most famous racehorses. These horses have gone on to become...
, Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes
Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes
The Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes is a horse race held for thoroughbred two year-olds in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Run over 1400 metres in late March or early April, it is regarded as New Zealand's best two year-old race....
, ARC Great Northern Oaks and ARC Great Northern St. Leger
Great Northern St. Leger
The Great Northern St. Leger was a horse race for three year old racehorses held over 2700 meters in Auckland, New Zealand....
Stakes.
At four years: 1916-1917
As four-year-old Desert Gold had seven starts and won five of them and was second and third in the other two races. Her wins included the WRC Champion Plate, Islington Plate (for the second time), Wellington Stakes, WRC North Island Challenge StakesNorth Island Challenge Stakes
North Island Challenge Stakes was a major thoroughbred horse race in New Zealand. It was run at Trentham Racecourse, Wellington, New Zealand over a sprint distance of 7 furlongs....
and Awapuni Gold Cup
Awapuni Gold Cup
The Awapuni Gold Cup is held annually in Palmerston North, New Zealand. It is run at weight-for-age over 2,000 metres and is worth $100,000. It is notable as even though it is only worth $100,000, it has been won by many of New Zealand's most famous racehorses. These horses have gone on to become...
.
At five years: 1917-1918
Desert Gold had 13 starts as five-year-old and won nine of them, and was second in two and third in the other two races. Her wins included the WRC Champion Plate, CJC G.G. Stead Memorial Stakes, 1917 Islington Plate (for the third time), VATC St George StakesSt George Stakes
The St George Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions, for horses aged two years old and upwards, over a distance of 1800 metres. It is held at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne every February. Total prize money is A$200,000.-Distance:1900 -...
, VRC Governor's Plate, AJC Autumn Stakes, AJC All-Aged Stakes and Awapuni Gold Cup (for the second time).
At six years: 1918-1919
As six-year-old Desert Gold had 10 race starts for 2 wins and 5 seconds. She was allotted a handicap weight of 9 stone 6 pounds in the Melbourne CupMelbourne Cup
The 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...
but was unplaced to the winner, Night Watch, who carried 6 stone 9 pounds. Her only principal win was when she defeated the three-year-old colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
, Gloaming in the 1919 Taranaki Stakes
Taranaki Stakes
Taranaki Stakes was a horse race for thoroughbred racehorses held in New Zealand....
. She also finished second in the Awapuni Gold Cup.
At seven years: 1919-1920
In her final season of racing, Desert Gold three starts for a third in the G.G. Stead Memorial Stakes which was won by Gloaming.Desert Gold retired with a record of 59 Starts: 36-13-4 and earnings of £
New Zealand pound
The pound was the currency of New Zealand between 1840 and 1967. Like the British pound, it was subdivided into 20 shillings each of 12 pence. As a result of the great depression of the early 1930s, the New Zealand agricultural export market to the UK was badly affected...
23,239.
Stud record
Desert Gold was successful broodmare that produced a total of nine foals, of which six raced and three were winners.Her named produce are:
- 1921 filly, Desert Land by Finland (AUS)
- 1922 filly, Oreum by King John (IRE), dam of the brilliant Gold Rod, won 14 stakes races including AJC Epsom HandicapEpsom HandicapThe Epsom Handicap is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held over 1,600 metres at Randwick Racecourse. It is one of the major races of the Sydney Spring Carnival. Many great milers have won the race, including Chatham, Gunsynd, and Super Impose, who was also a dual winner of the...
and AJC Doncaster HandicapDoncaster HandicapThe Doncaster Mile is a Group One Thoroughbred horse race held at Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney. Although the race has traditionally been held on Easter Monday, the race is now run on the third Saturday in April. The race is contested over 1,600 metres . The prizemoney in 2010 was A$1,510,000... - 1924 filly, Auratum by Absurd (GB)
- 1925 filly, Pure Gold by Psychology (GB), dam of Gold Trail (won Auckland CupAuckland CupThe Stella Artois Auckland Cup is an annual race held by the Auckland Racing Club . It is an Open Handicap for thoroughbred racehorses competed on the flat turf over 3200 metres at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand. The race is graded as a Group One and was first contested in 1874...
etc). - 1927 stallion, Chrysology (by Psychology), won Timaru Cup
- 1928 filly, Sahara by Grandcourt (GB), dam of stakes winner, Karachi and others
- 1930 filly, Fintry by Chief Ruler (GB)
- 1932 filly, Treasure Trove by Gainscourt (GB)
Her family has continued to produce many winners.
As a tribute to her ability several races have been named after her in New Zealand, including the time-honoured $100,000 Group III Sharp Desert Gold Stakes (1,600 m).