Gay Crusader
Encyclopedia
Gay Crusader was a Thoroughbred
racehorse
who won the English Triple Crown in 1917.
Owner/breeder Alfred W Cox
mated his horse Bayardo
with the mare Gay Laura (by Beppo) to produce the ill-tempered colt Gay Crusader. Gay Laura won a race as a two-year-old and was the dam of five other winners that won 14 races worth £9,906.
Manton Stud at Manton, Wiltshire
, Gay Crusader began racing at age two but made only two starts. In his first race, he showed little promise but he came back strongly his next time out to get his first win.
As a three-year-old, Gay Crusader was an easy winner of the 2,000 Guineas, the first leg of the Triple Crown series. However, because of World War I
, the British government imposed racing restrictions and limited events to the Newmarket Racecourse
. As such, at Newmarket Gay Crusader won the Epsom Derby
in July and in September became the 12th Triple Crown winner in U.K. history by winning the St. Leger Stakes
(billed as the "September Stakes"). After his Triple Crown victories, Gay Crusader went on to capture four more major stakes races at Newmarket, including the Ascot Gold Cup
. Cox turned down an offer of £100,000 for the horse, an enormous amount at the time.
Gay Crusader's racing career ended at age four when he suffered a tendon injury.
Gay Crusader died in 1932 at the age of 18.
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...
who won the English Triple Crown in 1917.
Owner/breeder Alfred W Cox
Alfred W Cox
Alfred William Cox was a racehorse owner and breeder.He was the son of a wealthy Scottish cotton broker, Alexander Robb Cox, and Margaret Lockhart Greenshields. His father Alexander was a director and partner in the firm of Cox, McEuon which dealt in jute, flax and hemp...
mated his horse 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:...
with the mare Gay Laura (by Beppo) to produce the ill-tempered colt Gay Crusader. Gay Laura won a race as a two-year-old and was the dam of five other winners that won 14 races worth £9,906.
Racing career
Bred and trained at Alec Taylor'sAlec Taylor, Jr.
Alec Taylor, Jr. was a British Thoroughbred racehorse trainer who followed in the footsteps of his highly successful father, Alec Taylor, Sr.....
Manton Stud at Manton, Wiltshire
Manton, Wiltshire
Manton is a small village in Wiltshire on the outskirts of Marlborough just off the A4 Bath Road.Manton village is part of the Parish of Preshute, and as such includes St Georges Church, and Preshute Primary The Outside Chance is the only pub in the village....
, Gay Crusader began racing at age two but made only two starts. In his first race, he showed little promise but he came back strongly his next time out to get his first win.
As a three-year-old, Gay Crusader was an easy winner of the 2,000 Guineas, the first leg of the Triple Crown series. However, because 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...
, the British government imposed racing restrictions and limited events to the 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...
. As such, at Newmarket Gay Crusader won 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...
in July and in September became the 12th Triple Crown winner in U.K. history by winning 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...
(billed as the "September Stakes"). After his Triple Crown victories, Gay Crusader went on to capture four more major stakes races at Newmarket, including 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....
. Cox turned down an offer of £100,000 for the horse, an enormous amount at the time.
Gay Crusader's racing career ended at age four when he suffered a tendon injury.
Stud record
Retired to stud service, he sired many winners, but few of note. His progeny included:- Gay Lothario exported to AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , 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...
where he sired 25 stakeswinners that had 80 stakeswins, including Tranquil StarTranquil StarTranquil Star was one of the hardiest and best performed Australian-bred Thoroughbred race-mares. She is the only mare to have won the double of the Caulfield Stakes, now known as the Yalumba Stakes, and the Cox Plate, which is the most prestigious weight-for-age race in Australia... - Hellespont, second dam of the Derby winner Airborne
- Indolence dam of AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sire PrincequilloPrincequilloPrincequillo was a Thoroughbred racehorse conceived in France and born in Ireland. He is known for his performances in long-distance races and his successes as a sire.-Background:...
. - Inglesant, won Sussex Stakes
- Kincardine, won St James's Palace Stakes
- Loika dam of DjebelDjebelDjebel was a French Thoroughbred racehorse, who won 15 of 22 races during 1939-1942 and was later a leading sire.-Breeding:Djebel was sired by Tourbillon, a stallion owned by Marcel Boussac, who had won the French Derby and the Prix Lupin, and went on to become a notable sire. Toubillon's dam-sire...
, Champion two-year-old in FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and was that country's leading sire four times. - Medieval Knight, Middle Park Stakes
Gay Crusader died in 1932 at the age of 18.