Doncaster (horse)
Encyclopedia
Doncaster was an English Thoroughbred
racehorse, winner of the Epsom Derby
and sire of the great stallion Bend Or
.
, who had won both the 2,000 Guineas and the St. Leger Stakes
; Stockwell was a leading sire during his later years, producing many classic winners. Doncaster's dam Marigold had a fairly good career on the track, and was sired by the Epsom Derby
winner Teddington.
Doncaster, chestnut with a blaze and originally named All Heart and No Peel, was raised at the Sledmere Stud before he was sent to the Tattersalls auction. James Merry bought the colt for 950 guineas, changed his name to Doncaster (after the racetrack), and sent him to trainer Robert Peck.
His four-year-old career was respectable, with a dead heat
second place with Flageolet in the Ascot Gold Cup (won by Boiard), before a win at the Goodwood Cup
. As a five-year-old, he won both the Ascot Gold Cup
and the Alexandra Plate
; the races were two days apart.
, the Derby winner and prolific sire. He also sired Sir Reuben and Cambusmore. Other noted offspring were:
Empress Elisabeth of Austria saw Doncaster while visiting Eaton, and reportedly fell in love with him. She eventually purchased him, for £5,000, and he lived at her Kisber Stud until his death at the age of 22 in January 1892. His blood lives on through his son, Bend Or.
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, winner of the 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 sire of the great stallion Bend Or
Bend Or
Bend Or was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1880 Epsom Derby. His regular jockey Fred Archer, winner of thirteen consecutive British jockey titles, said Bend Or was probably the greatest horse he had ever ridden....
.
Breeding
Doncaster was foaled at the Sledmere Stud in Great Britain and was sired by "The Emperor of Stallions", StockwellStockwell (horse)
Stockwell was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and a Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland seven times; he was second on the sires' list a further four times during a 14-year period.-Breeding:...
, who had won both the 2,000 Guineas and 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...
; Stockwell was a leading sire during his later years, producing many classic winners. Doncaster's dam Marigold had a fairly good career on the track, and was sired by the 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...
winner Teddington.
Doncaster, chestnut with a blaze and originally named All Heart and No Peel, was raised at the Sledmere Stud before he was sent to the Tattersalls auction. James Merry bought the colt for 950 guineas, changed his name to Doncaster (after the racetrack), and sent him to trainer Robert Peck.
Racing career
The colt did not compete as a two-year-old, partially due to a kick to the stifle. Doncaster began racing as a three-year-old, first appearing at the 2,000 Guineas (where he was unplaced to winner Gang Forward). He won his next race (the Derby) easily. He then raced in the Grand Prix in Paris, finishing third to winner Boiard, before being beaten by a head at the St. Leger. He did not do well in his next run, the Grand Duke Michael Stakes, but finished his season second in the Newmarket Derby.His four-year-old career was respectable, with a dead heat
Tie (draw)
To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. The word "tie" is usually used in North America for sports such as American football. "Draw" is usually used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Commonwealth of Nations and it is usually used for sports such as...
second place with Flageolet in the Ascot Gold Cup (won by Boiard), before a win at the Goodwood Cup
Goodwood Cup
The Goodwood Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 2 miles , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
. As a five-year-old, he won both the 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....
and the Alexandra Plate
Queen Alexandra Stakes
The Queen Alexandra Stakes is a 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, 5 furlongs and 159 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
; the races were two days apart.
At stud
Doncaster was then retired. Peck purchased him for £10,000 and immediately selling the stallion to the Duke of Westminster (for whom he was also a trainer) for £14,000. The Duke had been searching for a stallion prospect, with a good pedigree and racing record, to stand at his Eaton Stud. Doncaster was bred to the mare Lily Agnes (by Macaroni), who produced the filly Farewell, a 1,000 Guineas winner. Doncaster's most famous son was Bend OrBend Or
Bend Or was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1880 Epsom Derby. His regular jockey Fred Archer, winner of thirteen consecutive British jockey titles, said Bend Or was probably the greatest horse he had ever ridden....
, the Derby winner and prolific sire. He also sired Sir Reuben and Cambusmore. Other noted offspring were:
- Muncaster: sired Saraband (broodmare sire of Pretty Polly), Lady Muncaster, and Lady Loverule (dam of 1904 Derby winner St. Amant).
- Sandiway: won the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot; dam of only three foals, but influential in many American-bred horses (she was in the pedigree of Sting — sire of Dr. Fager – twice).
Empress Elisabeth of Austria saw Doncaster while visiting Eaton, and reportedly fell in love with him. She eventually purchased him, for £5,000, and he lived at her Kisber Stud until his death at the age of 22 in January 1892. His blood lives on through his son, Bend Or.