Ladas (horse)
Encyclopedia
Ladas was a British Thoroughbred
racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1893 to 1894 he ran eleven times and won seven races. He was the outstanding British two-year-old of 1893 when he was unbeaten in four starts. In the following year he won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket
and the Derby
at Epsom
to complete the first two legs of the English Triple Crown. He was beaten by Isinglass
in his next two starts and failed in his bid for the Triple Crown when beaten in the St Leger
at Doncaster
. Ladas was retired at the end of the season and became a reasonably successful stallion. He died in 1914.
high. He was bred at the Crafton Stud
by his owner Lord Rosebery
, a prominent Liberal
statesman who became Prime Minister
in 1894. He was trained by Mathew Dawson at Newmarket, Suffolk. Dawson, who was over seventy at the time had "retired" from large-scale training in 1885, but continued to handle a small number of horses at his Melton House Stable. Ladas was ridden in his Classic wins by Jack Watts
.
Ladas's sire, Hampton was an excellent stayer who won both the Goodwood Cup
and the Doncaster Cup
. Hampton was Champion sire in 1887 and sired, in addition to Ladas, the Derby winners Merry Hampton
and Ayrshire
as well as the influential sires Bay Ronald
and Royal Hampton. Illuminata, the dam of Ladas, produced Gas, the dam of Cicero
, and Chelandry who won the 1000 Guineas and herself produced the 2000 Guineas winner Neil Gow.
The name "Ladas", derived from that of Alexander the Great's messenger, had previously been used by Lord Rosebery's father for a horse who ran unplaced in the 1869 Derby. Rosebery, then an under-graduate at Oxford University had tipped the horse to his friends as a likely winner and was reportedly mortified by the result. By way of an apology, Rosebery told his friends that if he ever had a horse with a "prime chance" of winning the Derby he would name him "Ladas" so that they could all "take the tip and back him." It was the memory of this incident which reportedly persuaded Rosebery to abandon his original plan to name the colt "Hampton Wick."
The pronunciation of the name was a point of disagreement between owner and trainer: Rosebery called the colt "Lar-dar" or "Lah-dah", while Dawson insisted on "Lay-das" or "Ley-das".
on 13 June. He led from the start on this occasion and shook off the opposition in the closing stages to win by one and a half lengths from Bullingdon.
"The Illuminata colt", as he was still known, was then given a break of three months before returning in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster
in September, in which Sempronius was his only rival. He led from the start, and when Sempronius moved up to challenge him, quickened away to win easily. After his win at Doncaster he was officially named "Ladas" and was then sent to Newmarket for the Middle Park Plate
, the most important two-year-old race of the season. He started at odds of 1/5 and was never in any danger, leading at half way and winning the race by two lengths from the filly, Jocasta, with Sempronius two lengths further back in third. He ended the season unbeaten in four races and was the winter favourite for the following year’s Derby at 5/2 with the Dewhurst Stakes
winner Matchbox, from the stable of John Porter
, being seen as his biggest potential rival.
On 23 May Ladas started at odds of 1/12 for the Newmarket Stakes
against four opponents. He took the lead soon after half way and won "unextended" by two lengths from St Florian. His price for the Derby was immediately shortened to 4/9. In the next two weeks Ladas was the subject of intense interest, and was protected by a group of police detectives.
The victory, which was received with "immense enthusiasm", completed a prediction made by Rosebery as a student: that he would marry an heiress, become Prime Minister and win the Derby. He required the assistance of the police to extricate himself from the crush of well-wishers at the course, while at Westminster
, Ladas's win was cheered in the House of Commons. By contrast, Rosebery was strongly criticised by some churchmen for involving himself in the "dishonesty and degradation" of the racing world. Rosebery, who responded to criticism by saying that he had "no vestige of shame" in owning a good horse, used the Derby win to his advantage; he presented one of Ladas's winning horseshoes as a gift to the United States ambassador Thomas F. Bayard
.
, the Triple Crown winner of 1893, in the £10,000 Princess of Wales's Stakes
over one mile at Newmarket on 5 July. The race attracted a large crowd including the Prince of Wales (who supported Isinglass) and the Queen's cousin George, Duke of Cambridge (who favoured Ladas). The field also included Raeburn, the only horse to have beaten Isinglass, Ravensbury, who had won impressively at Royal Ascot, and Bullingdon, who had recovered from the bout of coughing which had reportedly affected him at Epsom. The early pace was slow, and Watts held Ladas up behind the leaders before moving into the lead just over a furlong out. He was immediately challenged however, and overtaken inside the final furlong by both Isinglass and Bullingdon. Isinglass prevailed by a short head with Ladas, who was eased in the closing stages, finishing a well-beaten third. Ladas appeared to be perfectly sound after the race and the only explanation offered was that the slow pace (the winning time was 1:48.4) had produced a false result.
In the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on 20 July Ladas met Isinglass again, this time over ten furlongs on soft ground. Isinglass started favourite at 4/5 with Ladas on 13/8 and the other runners, who included Raeburn, Ravensbury and a filly from John Porter's stable named Throstle virtually ignored. The outsider Priestholme set off at an unsustainably fast pace, followed by Isinglass, with Watts holding up Ladas towards the rear. Priestholme dropped away in the straight, leaving Isinglass in the lead with Watts moving Ladas up to challenge. The two Derby winners dominated the race in the closing stages but in spite of a "game pursuit" Ladas was unable to overhaul the four-year-old and Isinglass won a "grand race" by a length with the rest of the field, headed by Throstle, well beaten. There were no excuses for Ladas: Watts admitted that he had been beaten by a better horse.
the cheers of the crowd were replaced by those of the bookmakers as the outsider overhauled the favourite.
for a match race between Ladas and Isinglass to take place at Newmarket in May. McCalmont declined as he did not want to disrupt his horse's preparation for the Ascot Gold Cup.
Ladas had a series of training problems which kept him off the course for most of the season and he was also becoming "short-tempered and impetuous" He made his belated seasonal reappearance at Newmarket on September 27 when he ran in the £10,000 Jockey Club Stakes
. Although Ladas was reported to be running with only two sound legs he was his owner's first choice ahead of his 1895 Derby winner Sir Visto
. Carrying top weight of 142 pounds he raced in third place for most of the way but weakened in the closing stages. He finished fourth of the eleven runners behind Laveno, None The Wiser and Venia.
Despite Ladas's disappointing season, Rosebery turned down a reported offer of £20,000 for the colt, preferring instead to retire him to his own stud.
. Henry Chaplin, the owner of Hermit
called Ladas the finest horse he had seen.
In June 1894 Ladas was rated fourteen pounds superior to the Derby winner Sir Visto
by Dawson, who trained both horses.
Ladas earned £5,768 as a two-year-old, placing him sixth among British horses for 1894. He added £12,790 in 1895.
Epsom Lad, who won the Eclipse Stakes and the Princess of Wales’s Stakes as a four-year-old in 1901. In total, he sired the winners of 196 races and £97,000. He died in March 1914 at his owner's stud at Mentmore
.
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. In a career that lasted from 1893 to 1894 he ran eleven times and won seven races. He was the outstanding British two-year-old of 1893 when he was unbeaten in four starts. In the following year he won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket
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 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...
at Epsom
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half...
to complete the first two legs of the English Triple Crown. He was beaten by Isinglass
Isinglass (horse)
Isinglass was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who dominated during his time in racing and won the English Triple Crown.-Racing record:...
in his next two starts and failed in his bid for the Triple Crown when beaten in the St Leger
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...
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 :...
. Ladas was retired at the end of the season and became a reasonably successful stallion. He died in 1914.
Background
Ladas was a bay horse of “beautiful quality”, standing just under 16 handsHand (unit)
The hand is a non-SI unit of measurement of length, now used only for the measurement of the height of horses in some English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. With origins in ancient Egypt, it was originally based on the breadth of a human hand...
high. He was bred at the Crafton Stud
Mentmore Towers
Mentmore Towers is a 19th century English country house in the village of Mentmore in Buckinghamshire. The house was designed by Joseph Paxton and his son-in-law, George Henry Stokes, in the revival Elizabethan and Jacobean style of the late 16th century called Jacobethan, for the banker and...
by his owner Lord Rosebery
Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery
Archibald Philip Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery, KG, PC was a British Liberal statesman and Prime Minister. Between the death of his father, in 1851, and the death of his grandfather, the 4th Earl, in 1868, he was known by the courtesy title of Lord Dalmeny.Rosebery was a Liberal Imperialist who...
, a prominent Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
statesman who became Prime Minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
in 1894. He was trained by Mathew Dawson at Newmarket, Suffolk. Dawson, who was over seventy at the time had "retired" from large-scale training in 1885, but continued to handle a small number of horses at his Melton House Stable. Ladas was ridden in his Classic wins by Jack Watts
John Watts (jockey)
John "Jack" Watts was a British flat-race jockey. In a career that lasted from 1880 until 1900 he rode the winners of 19 Classics. He was noted for his quiet and unspectacular style and undemonstrative personality. On his retirement from riding he became a trainer but died two years...
.
Ladas's sire, Hampton was an excellent stayer who won both 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:...
and the Doncaster Cup
Doncaster 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....
. Hampton was Champion sire in 1887 and sired, in addition to Ladas, the Derby winners Merry Hampton
Merry Hampton
Merry Hampton was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1887 to 1888 he ran four times and won once in a career which was restricted by injuries and training difficulties. His sole victory came on his racecourse debut when he won the 1887 Epsom Derby as an 11/1...
and Ayrshire
Ayrshire (horse)
Ayrshire was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1883 to 1885 he ran sixteen times and won eleven races. After winning five races as a two-year-old he became the leading British three-year-old colt of 1884 when he won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Derby...
as well as the influential sires Bay Ronald
Bay Ronald
Bay Ronald, Foaled 3 May 1893, at Leybourne Grange Stud in Kent, England) was a thoroughbred racehorse that had a huge impact on the breeding of sport horses, mainly through his son Dark Ronald and grandson Teddy, and also carried on his lines in theThoroughbred racing world, through his son Bayardo...
and Royal Hampton. Illuminata, the dam of Ladas, produced Gas, the dam of Cicero
Cicero (horse)
Cicero was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was the best English two-year-old of 1904, winning all five of his races. In 1905 Cicero became one of the shortest priced successful favourites in the history of the Derby, winning at 4/11 to remain undefeated...
, and Chelandry who won the 1000 Guineas and herself produced the 2000 Guineas winner Neil Gow.
The name "Ladas", derived from that of Alexander the Great's messenger, had previously been used by Lord Rosebery's father for a horse who ran unplaced in the 1869 Derby. Rosebery, then an under-graduate at Oxford University had tipped the horse to his friends as a likely winner and was reportedly mortified by the result. By way of an apology, Rosebery told his friends that if he ever had a horse with a "prime chance" of winning the Derby he would name him "Ladas" so that they could all "take the tip and back him." It was the memory of this incident which reportedly persuaded Rosebery to abandon his original plan to name the colt "Hampton Wick."
The pronunciation of the name was a point of disagreement between owner and trainer: Rosebery called the colt "Lar-dar" or "Lah-dah", while Dawson insisted on "Lay-das" or "Ley-das".
1893: two-year-old season
The still-unnamed colt made a successful debut on 31 May in the Woodcote Stakes at the Epsom Derby meeting. He showed impressive acceleration to easily beat the filly Mecca and was identified as "a colt full of promise" by one correspondent. He was then sent to Royal Ascot where he started 6/4 favourite for the Coventry StakesCoventry 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....
on 13 June. He led from the start on this occasion and shook off the opposition in the closing stages to win by one and a half lengths from Bullingdon.
"The Illuminata colt", as he was still known, was then given a break of three months before returning in 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, in which Sempronius was his only rival. He led from the start, and when Sempronius moved up to challenge him, quickened away to win easily. After his win at Doncaster he was officially named "Ladas" and was then sent to Newmarket for the Middle Park Plate
Middle Park Stakes
The Middle Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was established...
, the most important two-year-old race of the season. He started at odds of 1/5 and was never in any danger, leading at half way and winning the race by two lengths from the filly, Jocasta, with Sempronius two lengths further back in third. He ended the season unbeaten in four races and was the winter favourite for the following year’s Derby at 5/2 with the 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...
winner Matchbox, from the stable of John Porter
John Porter (horseman)
John Porter was an English Thoroughbred flat racing trainer whose horses won the English Triple Crown three times.-Biography:Born in Rugeley, Staffordshire, the National Horseracing Museum says that John Porter "was undoubtedly the most successful trainer of the Victorian era."From 1854 to 1855,...
, being seen as his biggest potential rival.
2000 Guineas
Ladas progressed well over the winter despite a reported bout of coughing in early March, and was sent straight for the 2000 Guineas for his first appearance of 1894. On 9 May he started at odds of 5/6 in a field of eight with Matchbox the second choice on 9/2. Ladas raced towards the rear in the early stages before moving into third place behind Matchbox and St Florian just after half way. Two furlongs from the finish Watts (riding on his thirty-third birthday) moved him up to challenge for the lead and, as predicted, the race developed into a contest between Ladas and Matchbox. Matchbox "came again" after being headed and the colts raced together for a few strides before Ladas pulled away to win by one and a half lengths. Immediately after the race he was offered at odds of 8/13 for the Derby.On 23 May Ladas started at odds of 1/12 for the Newmarket Stakes
Newmarket Stakes
The Newmarket Stakes is a Listed flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May.At present, the event...
against four opponents. He took the lead soon after half way and won "unextended" by two lengths from St Florian. His price for the Derby was immediately shortened to 4/9. In the next two weeks Ladas was the subject of intense interest, and was protected by a group of police detectives.
Epsom Derby
At Epsom on June 6, Ladas was the shortest-priced favourite in the history of the Derby, starting at odds of 2/9 in against six opponents. Matchbox was second favourite on 9/1 ahead of his stable companion Bullingdon on 100/6. Ladas started well, but was held up by Watts and raced in fourth or fifth place in the early stages as Matchbox and Bullingdon made the running. Bullingdon weakened just after half way and Matchbox led the field into the straight, where Ladas emerged to challenge him, traveling in "grand style" and looking likely to win easily. Matchbox however, responded well to pressure and, for the first time in his career, Ladas had to be ridden out. He "forged ahead" inside the final furlong and won the race by one and a half lengths from Matchbox, with Reminder six lengths further back in third.The victory, which was received with "immense enthusiasm", completed a prediction made by Rosebery as a student: that he would marry an heiress, become Prime Minister and win the Derby. He required the assistance of the police to extricate himself from the crush of well-wishers at the course, while at Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, Ladas's win was cheered in the House of Commons. By contrast, Rosebery was strongly criticised by some churchmen for involving himself in the "dishonesty and degradation" of the racing world. Rosebery, who responded to criticism by saying that he had "no vestige of shame" in owning a good horse, used the Derby win to his advantage; he presented one of Ladas's winning horseshoes as a gift to the United States ambassador Thomas F. Bayard
Thomas F. Bayard
Thomas Francis Bayard was an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, Delaware. He was a member of the Democratic Party, who served three terms as U.S. Senator from Delaware, and as U.S. Secretary of State, and U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom.-Early life and family:Bayard was born in...
.
Rivalry with Isinglass
Ladas was then matched against IsinglassIsinglass (horse)
Isinglass was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who dominated during his time in racing and won the English Triple Crown.-Racing record:...
, the Triple Crown winner of 1893, in the £10,000 Princess of Wales's Stakes
Princess 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...
over one mile at Newmarket on 5 July. The race attracted a large crowd including the Prince of Wales (who supported Isinglass) and the Queen's cousin George, Duke of Cambridge (who favoured Ladas). The field also included Raeburn, the only horse to have beaten Isinglass, Ravensbury, who had won impressively at Royal Ascot, and Bullingdon, who had recovered from the bout of coughing which had reportedly affected him at Epsom. The early pace was slow, and Watts held Ladas up behind the leaders before moving into the lead just over a furlong out. He was immediately challenged however, and overtaken inside the final furlong by both Isinglass and Bullingdon. Isinglass prevailed by a short head with Ladas, who was eased in the closing stages, finishing a well-beaten third. Ladas appeared to be perfectly sound after the race and the only explanation offered was that the slow pace (the winning time was 1:48.4) had produced a false result.
In the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on 20 July Ladas met Isinglass again, this time over ten furlongs on soft ground. Isinglass started favourite at 4/5 with Ladas on 13/8 and the other runners, who included Raeburn, Ravensbury and a filly from John Porter's stable named Throstle virtually ignored. The outsider Priestholme set off at an unsustainably fast pace, followed by Isinglass, with Watts holding up Ladas towards the rear. Priestholme dropped away in the straight, leaving Isinglass in the lead with Watts moving Ladas up to challenge. The two Derby winners dominated the race in the closing stages but in spite of a "game pursuit" Ladas was unable to overhaul the four-year-old and Isinglass won a "grand race" by a length with the rest of the field, headed by Throstle, well beaten. There were no excuses for Ladas: Watts admitted that he had been beaten by a better horse.
St Leger
Ladas was sent to Doncaster for the St Leger on 12 September in an attempt to win the Triple Crown. Ridden by Tommy Loates, Ladas started at odds of 10/11 in a field of eight, with Matchbox (ridden by Watts) the second choice on 2/1 and Throstle ignored on 50/1. As usual, Ladas was held up at the back of the field as, as first Throstle, then Legal Tender, then Matchbox made the running. Ladas moved steadily closer and turned into the straight in second, before overtaking Matchbox and going into a clear lead. In the final furlong, however, he was challenged by Throstle, and in the closing stages the filly pulled ahead to win by three quarters of a length. According to The SportsmanThe Sportsman (1865 newspaper)
The first British newspaper titled The Sportsman began publishing from 1865, some six years after the Sporting Life. It ran until 1924....
the cheers of the crowd were replaced by those of the bookmakers as the outsider overhauled the favourite.
1895: four-year-old season
Ladas was kept in training at four for the 1895 season. Rosebery issued a challenge to Isinglass's owner Harry McCalmontHarry McCalmont
Colonel Harry Leslie Blundell McCalmont was a British army officer, race-horse owner, yachtsman and Conservative party politician....
for a match race between Ladas and Isinglass to take place at Newmarket in May. McCalmont declined as he did not want to disrupt his horse's preparation for the Ascot Gold Cup.
Ladas had a series of training problems which kept him off the course for most of the season and he was also becoming "short-tempered and impetuous" He made his belated seasonal reappearance at Newmarket on September 27 when he ran in the £10,000 Jockey Club Stakes
Jockey Club Stakes
The Jockey Club Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs at Newmarket, and the final part of the race is on the Rowley Mile...
. Although Ladas was reported to be running with only two sound legs he was his owner's first choice ahead of his 1895 Derby winner Sir Visto
Sir Visto
Sir Visto was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1894 to 1896 he ran thirteen times and won three races. As a three-year-old in the 1895 he won both the Epsom Derby and the St Leger at Doncaster...
. Carrying top weight of 142 pounds he raced in third place for most of the way but weakened in the closing stages. He finished fourth of the eleven runners behind Laveno, None The Wiser and Venia.
Despite Ladas's disappointing season, Rosebery turned down a reported offer of £20,000 for the colt, preferring instead to retire him to his own stud.
Assessment and earnings
Before Ladas ran as a three-year-old Mat Dawson, who had been training horses, including more than twenty classic winners, since the 1850s was reported to have called Ladas the best he had ever trained. Later that season he ranked him second, slightly behind 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...
. Henry Chaplin, the owner of Hermit
Hermit (horse)
Hermit was a 19th-century British Thoroughbred racehorse that was a direct descendant of Eclipse. He won the 1867 Epsom Derby, despite running in a snowstorm at 1000:15 odds with 10 false starts.-Breeding:...
called Ladas the finest horse he had seen.
In June 1894 Ladas was rated fourteen pounds superior to the Derby winner Sir Visto
Sir Visto
Sir Visto was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1894 to 1896 he ran thirteen times and won three races. As a three-year-old in the 1895 he won both the Epsom Derby and the St Leger at Doncaster...
by Dawson, who trained both horses.
Ladas earned £5,768 as a two-year-old, placing him sixth among British horses for 1894. He added £12,790 in 1895.
Stud career
Ladas had some success at stud, siring the Classic winners Gorgos (2000 Guineas) and Troutbeck (St Leger). The best of his progeny, however, was probably the geldingGelding
A gelding is a castrated horse or other equine such as a donkey or a mule. Castration, and the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male horse to be calmer and better-behaved, making the animal quieter, gentler and potentially more suitable as an everyday...
Epsom Lad, who won the Eclipse Stakes and the Princess of Wales’s Stakes as a four-year-old in 1901. In total, he sired the winners of 196 races and £97,000. He died in March 1914 at his owner's stud at Mentmore
Mentmore Towers
Mentmore Towers is a 19th century English country house in the village of Mentmore in Buckinghamshire. The house was designed by Joseph Paxton and his son-in-law, George Henry Stokes, in the revival Elizabethan and Jacobean style of the late 16th century called Jacobethan, for the banker and...
.