Fairway (horse)
Encyclopedia
Fairway was a British Thoroughbred
racehorse and sire. Fairway was the best horse of his generation in Britain at two, three and four years old, winning the St Leger Stakes, the Champion Stakes
(twice) and the Eclipse Stakes
. He retired as a five-year old in 1930 and went on to become a successful and influential sire.
Fairway was bred in England by his owner Lord Derby
who also bred both of his parents. His sire Phalaris
was an outstanding sprinter who went on to become the most influential stallion of the 20th Century. His dam, Scapa Flow, also produced Fairway’s sister Fair Isle who won the 1000 Guineas and his brother Pharos
who finished second in the Epsom Derby
and sired Nearco
.
As a two-year-old, Fairway was trained by George Lambton
at Lord Derby's Stanley House stable at Newmarket, Suffolk. When Lambton became Lord Derby’s racing manager at the end of 1927, Frank Butters took over as the colt’s trainer. He was ridden in most of his races by Lord Derby's Dewsbury
-born stable jockey Thomas "Tommy" Weston.
.
in May. He won his remaining three races in 1927; the Coventry Stakes
at Royal Ascot, the July Stakes
at Newmarket Racecourse
and the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster
in September. By the time of his Doncaster win he was being talked of as a potential Derby winner.
He sustained a minor injury in the last-named race however, and did not appear again that season. In the Free Handicap, he was rated the joint-best colt of the year.
, running his trial in the Newmarket Stakes. Fairway impressed observers in the before the race and won very easily by two lengths after "sailing past" the strongly fancied Black Watch. At Epsom Fairway was made favourite, but the highly-strung colt became upset by the huge crowd when going down to the start. He was never a threat in the race and finished ninth behind the 33/1 outsider Felstead
. After the race, Tommy Weston said "he was beaten after six furlongs, probably because he had so much taken out of him before the actual start."
Faiway returned to his best in the Eclipse Stakes
at Sandown which he won by eight lengths from Royal Minstrel in record time In September he started 7/4 favourite fo the St Leger, despite concerns that, as the son of sprinter, he would lack the stamina for the one and three quarter mile race. He was ridden with great confidence by Weston, coming from well off the pace to take the lead in the closing stages and win by one and a half lengths from Palais Royal and Cyclonic On his final start of the year he won the Champion Stakes at Newmarket by one and a half lengths "without being in any way hard pressed."
to take his winning run to six. In his next race he started favourite for the Eclipse Stakes but failed to show his best form and was beaten four lengths into by Royal Minstrel.
He was then off the course for three months before returning to win the Champion Stakes for the second time from Cyclonic. On his final start of the year he stepped up to two miles and a quarter to win the Jockey Club Cup, "cantering" to a three length victory over Palais Royal.
, but was retired without running after sustaining a tendon injury.
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Windsor the thirty-fifth best horse of the 20th Century and the twelfth best to be trained in Britain.
, Pay Up, Kingsway
, Garden Path and Tide-Way. His most influential son however, was the Champion sire Fair Trial
.
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. Fairway was the best horse of his generation in Britain at two, three and four years old, winning the St Leger Stakes, 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...
(twice) and the Eclipse Stakes
Eclipse 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...
. He retired as a five-year old in 1930 and went on to become a successful and influential sire.
Background
Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby
Edward George Villiers Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby KG, GCB, GCVO, TD, PC, KGStJ, JP , known as Lord Stanley from 1893 to 1908, was a British soldier, Conservative politician, diplomat and racehorse owner. He was twice Secretary of State for War and also served as British Ambassador to...
who also bred both of his parents. His sire Phalaris
Phalaris (horse)
Phalaris was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse, later a Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland and a Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland...
was an outstanding sprinter who went on to become the most influential stallion of the 20th Century. His dam, Scapa Flow, also produced Fairway’s sister Fair Isle who won the 1000 Guineas and his brother 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...
who finished second in 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 sired 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 ,...
.
As a two-year-old, Fairway was trained by George Lambton
George Lambton
George Lambton was a British thoroughbred racehorse trainer. He was British flat racing Champion Trainer in the 1906, 1911 and 1912 seasons....
at Lord Derby's Stanley House stable at Newmarket, Suffolk. When Lambton became Lord Derby’s racing manager at the end of 1927, Frank Butters took over as the colt’s trainer. He was ridden in most of his races by Lord Derby's Dewsbury
Dewsbury
Dewsbury is a minster town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It is to the west of Wakefield, east of Huddersfield and south of Leeds...
-born stable jockey Thomas "Tommy" Weston.
.
1927: two-year-old season
Fairway began his racecourse career when he ran unplaced in a maiden race at YorkYork 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 May. He won his remaining three races in 1927; the Coventry Stakes
Coventry Stakes
The Coventry Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
at Royal Ascot, the July Stakes
July Stakes
The July Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
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 the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster
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 :...
in September. By the time of his Doncaster win he was being talked of as a potential Derby winner.
He sustained a minor injury in the last-named race however, and did not appear again that season. In the Free Handicap, he was rated the joint-best colt of the year.
1928: three-year-old season
In the spring of 1928, Fairway developed a mouth abscess (or "boils") which forced his late withdrawal from the 2000 Guineas. He was then aimed at the 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...
, running his trial in the Newmarket Stakes. Fairway impressed observers in the before the race and won very easily by two lengths after "sailing past" the strongly fancied Black Watch. At Epsom Fairway was made favourite, but the highly-strung colt became upset by the huge crowd when going down to the start. He was never a threat in the race and finished ninth behind the 33/1 outsider Felstead
Felstead (horse)
Felstead was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. After failing to show any worthwhile form as a two-year-old he made exceptional improvement as a three-year-old to win the 1928 Epsom Derby at odds of 33/1 in record time. Soon after his win at Epsom, Felstead was injured in training and...
. After the race, Tommy Weston said "he was beaten after six furlongs, probably because he had so much taken out of him before the actual start."
Faiway returned to his best in the Eclipse Stakes
Eclipse 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...
at Sandown which he won by eight lengths from Royal Minstrel in record time In September he started 7/4 favourite fo the St Leger, despite concerns that, as the son of sprinter, he would lack the stamina for the one and three quarter mile race. He was ridden with great confidence by Weston, coming from well off the pace to take the lead in the closing stages and win by one and a half lengths from Palais Royal and Cyclonic On his final start of the year he won the Champion Stakes at Newmarket by one and a half lengths "without being in any way hard pressed."
1929: four-year-old season
At four, Fairway began with a one length win over three rivals in the Burwell Stakes at Newmarket and then took the Rous Memorial Stakes at Royal Ascot. At the July meeting at Newmarket he won the Princess of Wales's StakesPrincess of Wales's Stakes
The Princess of Wales's Stakes is a Group 2 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 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:The event is named in...
to take his winning run to six. In his next race he started favourite for the Eclipse Stakes but failed to show his best form and was beaten four lengths into by Royal Minstrel.
He was then off the course for three months before returning to win the Champion Stakes for the second time from Cyclonic. On his final start of the year he stepped up to two miles and a quarter to win the Jockey Club Cup, "cantering" to a three length victory over Palais Royal.
1930: five-year-old season
Fairway was kept in training at five with the intention of winning the Ascot Gold CupAscot 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....
, but was retired without running after sustaining a tendon injury.
Assessment
At the end of his four-year-old season the Bloodstock Breeders' Review described Fairway as "far and away the best horse in England, and probably in the world."In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Windsor the thirty-fifth best horse of the 20th Century and the twelfth best to be trained in Britain.
Stud career
Fairway stood as a stallion at the Woodlands Stud at Newmarket from 1931 until his death in 1946. He was Champion sire four times and sired the Classic winners Blue Peter, Watling StreetWatling Street (horse)
Watling Street was a Thoroughbred racehorse who is best known for winning the 1942 Epsom Derby.Bred and raced by Lord Derby, the colt was named for Watling Street, an ancient trackway in England and Wales....
, Pay Up, Kingsway
Kingsway
-Canada:*Burnaby—Kingsway, a federal electoral district in British Columbia between 1988 and 1997*Kingsway , a road in Edmonton, Alberta *Kingsway , a road in Vancouver, British Columbia...
, Garden Path and Tide-Way. His most influential son however, was the Champion sire Fair Trial
Fair Trial
Fair Trial was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and Champion sire. He was bred and raced by John Arthur Dewar who also bred and raced Tudor Minstrel....
.
Pedigree
- Fairway was inbredInbreedingInbreeding is the reproduction from the mating of two genetically related parents. Inbreeding results in increased homozygosity, which can increase the chances of offspring being affected by recessive or deleterious traits. This generally leads to a decreased fitness of a population, which is...
3x4 to St. Simon (horse)St. Simon (horse)St. Simon was an undefeated British Thoroughbred racehorse and one of the most successful sires in the history of the Thoroughbred. In May 1886 The Sporting Times carried out a poll of one hundred experts to create a ranking of the best British racehorses of the 19th Century. St...
. This means that the stallion appears in both the third and fourth generations of his pedigree.