Galopin
Encyclopedia
Galopin was a good British
Thoroughbred
racehorse
and a prominent sire
.
(twice), and the 1857 2,000 Guineas Stakes. Vedette's value as a stallion had declined to such an extent that he was sold at auction for 42 guineas when he was seventeen. Other than Galopin, clearly his most successful progeny, he produced only one other horse of note, Speculum, who won the Goodwood Cup
, the Suburban Handicap, was third in the Epsom Derby
, and was Britain's Champion Sire
in 1878. Vedette also sired some good hunters
. Galopin's dam Flying Duchess (1853) was by the 1849 Epsom Derby winner The Flying Dutchman
. She was sold for 100 guineas, with a foal at foot (Galopin) when she was nineteen.
. Galopin's owner had a heart condition that enforced early retirement of Galopin as it was feared that the excitement of watching his horse race may risk the Prince's life. Galopin's only defeat was in the Middle Park Plate.
Galopin was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1888, 1889 and 1898 and topped the broodmare sire list four times. He was the damsire of Bayardo
and of the 1886 U.K. Triple Crown Champion, Flying Fox
.
had a tradition of naming locomotive
s after prominent racehorses, and their Class A1
locomotive no. 2575 (later British Rail
ways no. 60076), which had been built in October 1924, was named Galopin after this horse, and remained in service until October 1962.
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...
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
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and a prominent sire
Father
A father, Pop, Dad, or Papa, is defined as a male parent of any type of offspring. The adjective "paternal" refers to father, parallel to "maternal" for mother...
.
Pedigree
Galopin's sire, Vedette, had a very good racing career, winning the Great Yorkshire Stakes, the Doncaster CupDoncaster Cup
The Doncaster Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 2 miles and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
(twice), and the 1857 2,000 Guineas Stakes. Vedette's value as a stallion had declined to such an extent that he was sold at auction for 42 guineas when he was seventeen. Other than Galopin, clearly his most successful progeny, he produced only one other horse of note, Speculum, who won 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:...
, the Suburban Handicap, was third 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 was Britain's Champion Sire
Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland
The list below shows the leading sire of racehorses in Great Britain and Ireland for each year since 1751. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
in 1878. Vedette also sired some good hunters
Field hunter
A field hunter, or a fox hunter, is a type of horse used in the hunt field for fox hunting. It may be of any breed, but should possess stamina, a level head, and bravery. The horse should have a safe jump, so as not to get caught on any of the solid obstacles found in the hunt field...
. Galopin's dam Flying Duchess (1853) was by the 1849 Epsom Derby winner The Flying Dutchman
The Flying Dutchman (horse)
The Flying Dutchman was an English Thoroughbred racehorse who all of his first two season's race starts and was also an influential sire.-Breeding:...
. She was sold for 100 guineas, with a foal at foot (Galopin) when she was nineteen.
Racing record
Galopin was a versatile racehorse who won the Epsom Derby and then defeated some very fast juveniles in the Fern Hill Stakes. He was able to win over practically any course and distance. This great ability was passed on to his wonderful, undefeated son, St. SimonSt. 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...
. Galopin's owner had a heart condition that enforced early retirement of Galopin as it was feared that the excitement of watching his horse race may risk the Prince's life. Galopin's only defeat was in the Middle Park Plate.
Stud record
After the death of the Prince, Galopin was sold to Henry Chaplin for 8,000 guineas, but was not initially well received as a stallion because of the presence of Blacklock in his pedigree. He later stood at Blankney Hall, Sleaford, Lincolnshire. In addition to his famous son, St Simon (br c 1881), Galopin sired numerous classics winners, including Galliard, Disraeli, Galeottia and Donovan.Galopin was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1888, 1889 and 1898 and topped the broodmare sire list four times. He was the damsire of Bayardo
Bayardo (horse)
Bayardo was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse with an impressive record, both on the racecourse and at stud, where he was a leading sire.-Pedigree:...
and of the 1886 U.K. Triple Crown Champion, Flying Fox
Flying Fox (horse)
Flying Fox was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1899 English Triple Crown Races and was the leading sire in France three times.-Breeding:...
.
Honours
From 1925, the London and North Eastern RailwayLondon and North Eastern Railway
The London and North Eastern Railway was the second-largest of the "Big Four" railway companies created by the Railways Act 1921 in Britain...
had a tradition of naming locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
s after prominent racehorses, and their Class A1
LNER Gresley Classes A1 and A3
The London and North Eastern Railway LNER Gresley Classes A1 and A3 locomotives represented two distinct stages in the history of the British 4-6-2 "Pacific" steam locomotives designed by Nigel Gresley...
locomotive no. 2575 (later British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
ways no. 60076), which had been built in October 1924, was named Galopin after this horse, and remained in service until October 1962.