Nasturtium (horse)
Encyclopedia
Nasturtium was an American
Thoroughbred
racehorse that was the top two-year-old colt of 1901. He was a contender for the 1902 Epsom Derby
, but did not run in the race due to illness.
high was bred at James Haggin's Rancho El Paso stud in California
and was sired by the imported British
stallion Watercress out of Margerique. Margerique was an unraced mare by the imported British stallion Order out of Margerine, who also foaled another successful racer The Commoner.
on four days later. He took the race "cleverly, almost easily" from his stablemate Goldsmith in a track record time of 1:25.6.
Whitney's target for the colt was the 1902 Epsom Derby
, having won the race in 1901 with Volodyovski
. In January 1902 Nasturtium was shipped to England on a steamer equipped with purpose-built stable unit. His arrival at Newmarket, Suffolk was reported to have caused "considerable interest," and was offered at odds of 6/1 for the Epsom Classic. Despite all Whitney's precautions however, Nasturtium fell ill shortly after his arrival and was unable to run in England as intended.
on June 26, 1916. His death may have resulted from heart disease.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 that was the top two-year-old colt of 1901. He was a contender for the 1902 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...
, but did not run in the race due to illness.
Pedigree
Nasturtium, a "racy-looking and powerful" chestnut horse standing 15.2 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 was bred at James Haggin's Rancho El Paso stud in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and was sired by the imported British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
stallion Watercress out of Margerique. Margerique was an unraced mare by the imported British stallion Order out of Margerine, who also foaled another successful racer The Commoner.
Racing career
Haggin sold Nasturtium as a yearling to Follansbee and Chandler, who in turn sold him to A.L. Aste for $4,300 at auction in 1901. Nasturtium was sold to William C. Whitney on June 22, 1901 for $50,000. Nasturtium won three of his five starts in 1901. He was a disappointing 9/5 favorite when finishing tenth behind Yankee in the Futurity Stakes on August 31 at Belmont, but won the Flatbush Stakes in at Sheepshead Bay Race TrackSheepshead Bay Race Track
Sheepshead Bay Race Track was an American Thoroughbred horse racing facility built on the site of the Coney Island Jockey Club at Sheepshead Bay, New York...
on four days later. He took the race "cleverly, almost easily" from his stablemate Goldsmith in a track record time of 1:25.6.
Whitney's target for the colt was the 1902 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...
, having won the race in 1901 with Volodyovski
Volodyovski
Volodyovski was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was owned and bred by Lady Valerie Meux who leased him for racing to Lord William Leslie de la Poer Beresford but after he died in late 1900, she re-leased the colt to the wealthy American businessman, William Collins Whitney.In 1901,...
. In January 1902 Nasturtium was shipped to England on a steamer equipped with purpose-built stable unit. His arrival at Newmarket, Suffolk was reported to have caused "considerable interest," and was offered at odds of 6/1 for the Epsom Classic. Despite all Whitney's precautions however, Nasturtium fell ill shortly after his arrival and was unable to run in England as intended.
Stud career
After William Whitney's death, Nasturtium was sold in the October 1904 dispersal sale for $10,000 to Col. Milton Young. Nasturtium was sold to George J. Stoll. Nasturtium was found dead in his stall at The Meadows stud farm in LexingtonLexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
on June 26, 1916. His death may have resulted from heart disease.