Generous (horse)
Encyclopedia
Generous is an Irish
Thoroughbred
racehorse
who in 1991 won both Epsom
and Irish Derbys. Sired by Caerleon
, his grandsire was Nijinsky
. From the mare Doff The Derby, Generous' damsire was 1975 Preakness Stakes
winner Master Derby
who was a son of the 1970 Kentucky Derby
winner, Dust Commander
.
Sold as a foal by breeder Barronstown Stud, Generous was raced by Prince Fahd bin Salman
. At age two, he made an impressive debut at Ascot Racecourse
in winning the Garter Stakes. However, he then lost his next three races before a strong come-from-behind win in the Reference Point Stakes at Sandown Park. Next, came his most important win as a two-year-old, the Group One
Dewhurst Stakes
at Newmarket Racecourse
.
In early 1991, Generous had a hoof injury that hampered him in the 2,000 Guineas where the best he could do was fourth. Fully recovered for the Epsom Derby
, Generous ran away from the field and won by five lengths. In the ensuing Irish Derby Stakes, Generous defeated Suave Dancer
by 3 lengths then in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes dominated his opponents, winning by a record seven lengths.
In October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
at Longchamp Racecourse
in Paris
, Generous was once against up against Suave Dancer. The betting
favorite, Generous made a charge as the field turned for home and moved into second position before fading badly and finishing eighth in the field of fourteen.
Generous was retired after the 1991 racing season to stud duty
in England where he remained until 1995. He was sent to a breeder in Japan
in 1996 where he sired 147 runners then to New Zealand
in 1999. In 2002, he returned to England to Lord Howard de Walden's Plantation Stud in Newmarket then was acquired by Sandley Stud in Dorset
. Generous has sired more than 160 European winners including 15 Group
winners.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
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...
who in 1991 won both Epsom
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 Irish Derbys. Sired by Caerleon
Caerleon II
Caerleon was an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who was a Champion runner in France and a two-time Champion sire in Great Britain & Ireland. Bred by Seth Hancock at his famous Claiborne Farm in Kentucky, he was out of the mare Foreseer, a daughter of U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Round Table...
, his grandsire was Nijinsky
Nijinsky II
The racehorse Nijinsky was one of the greatest horses in Thoroughbred horse-racing history. He won the U.K. Triple Crown of racing. Retired to stud he became the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland and the Leading broodmare sire in North America.He was bred at E. P...
. From the mare Doff The Derby, Generous' damsire was 1975 Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
winner Master Derby
Master Derby
Master Derby was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1975 Preakness Stakes.-Background:He was bred by Robert E. Lehmann at his Golden Chance Farm in Paris, Kentucky...
who was a son of the 1970 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
winner, Dust Commander
Dust Commander
Dust Commander was an American Thoroughbred Racehorse. The name "Dust Commander" is derived from his dam, Dust Storm, and his sire, Bold Commander. A descendant of the great sire Nearco, Dust Commander was bred by the Pullen brothers. He was owned by Robert E. Lehmann and trained by Don Combs...
.
Sold as a foal by breeder Barronstown Stud, Generous was raced by Prince Fahd bin Salman
Fahd bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Prince Fahd bin Salman bin Abdulaziz was a member of the Saudi Arabia royal family, the son of the Governor of Riyadh Province, Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz....
. At age two, he made an impressive debut at Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse
Ascot Racecourse is a famous English racecourse, located in the small town of Ascot, Berkshire, used for thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of the leading racecourses in the United Kingdom, hosting 9 of the UK's 32 annual Group 1 races...
in winning the Garter Stakes. However, he then lost his next three races before a strong come-from-behind win in the Reference Point Stakes at Sandown Park. Next, came his most important win as a two-year-old, the Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
Dewhurst Stakes
Dewhurst Stakes
The Dewhurst Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.The event was established in 1875, and it...
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...
.
In early 1991, Generous had a hoof injury that hampered him in the 2,000 Guineas where the best he could do was fourth. Fully recovered for the Epsom Derby
1991 Epsom Derby
The 1991 Epsom Derby was a horse race which took place at Epsom Downs on Wednesday June 5, 1991. It was the 212th running of the Derby, and it was won by Generous. The winner was ridden by Alan Munro and trained by Paul Cole...
, Generous ran away from the field and won by five lengths. In the ensuing Irish Derby Stakes, Generous defeated Suave Dancer
Suave Dancer
Suave Dancer is a French Thoroughbred race horse who was the 1991 Champion European Three-Year-Old.Bred by Lillie F. Webb's Xalapa Farm near Paris, Kentucky, Suave Dancer was sired by Green Dancer out of the mare Suavite, both American thoroughbreds...
by 3 lengths then in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes dominated his opponents, winning by a record seven lengths.
In October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe
The Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year, usually on the first Sunday in October.Popularly referred to as the...
at Longchamp Racecourse
Hippodrome de Longchamp
The Longchamp Racecourse is a 57 hectare horse-racing facility located on the Route des Tribunes in the Bois de Boulogne at Paris, France. Built on the banks of the Seine River, it is used for flat racing and is noted for its variety of interlaced tracks and a famous hill that provides a real...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Generous was once against up against Suave Dancer. The betting
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
favorite, Generous made a charge as the field turned for home and moved into second position before fading badly and finishing eighth in the field of fourteen.
Generous was retired after the 1991 racing season to stud duty
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
in England where he remained until 1995. He was sent to a breeder in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1996 where he sired 147 runners then to 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...
in 1999. In 2002, he returned to England to Lord Howard de Walden's Plantation Stud in Newmarket then was acquired by Sandley Stud in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
. Generous has sired more than 160 European winners including 15 Group
Conditions races
Conditions races are horse races where the weights carried by the runners are laid down by the conditions attached to the race. Weights are allocated according to; the sex of the runners, with female runners carrying less weight than males; the age of the runners, with younger horses receiving...
winners.