Pont l'Eveque (horse)
Encyclopedia
Pont l’Eveque was a British Thoroughbred
racehorse. In a career that lasted from 1939 until 1940 he ran seven times and won three races. His most important success came in 1940 when he won the “New Derby”, a wartime
substitute for the Epsom Derby
run at Newmarket
. He had not been thought good enough to be included among the original Derby nominations, but was allowed to enter when the race was rearranged. He was retired to stud at the end of the season and exported to Argentina
in 1942.
-based bullion-broker Henry E. Morriss. He was a small bay horse who was never particulary striking or attractive, being described as looking “plain” and “mean”.
Pont l’Eveque’s sire was Barneveldt, a leading racehorse in France, who won the Grand Prix de Paris
in 1931. His dam, Ponteba produced no other runners of any consequence, but was a half sister of the 1935 Royal Hunt Cup
winner Priok.
Partly because of his unprepossessing appearance and lack of size it was not considered worthwhile in entering him for the Classics. Pont l’Eveque was sent into training as a two-year-old with Fred Darling
(who eventually came to own the colt) at Beckhampton, in Wiltshire
.
.
was used for an anti-aircraft battery), the race was treated as a completely new event and opened for entries. As Pont l’Eveque had made excellent progress through the winter, Darling decided to enter him for the new race.
Pont l’Eveque’s three-year-old debut provided evidence of his progress as he was a very easy winner of a twenty-two runner maiden race over a mile at Newbury
on 13 April. Shortly after the race, Darling offered to sell a half-share in the colt back to Henry Morriss, but the offer was not accepted. Pont l’Eveque was then moved up in class for the Newmarket Stakes
over ten furlongs on 22 May, and although he was well beaten by Lighthouse II, he did enough in finishing second to establish himself as a Derby contender. At the end of May, in the week of the Dunkirk Evacuation, Pont l’Eveque warmed up for the Derby when he “breezed home” in the Longleat Stakes at Salisbury
.
Plans for the New Derby were fluid, but after plans to run the race at Newbury were abandoned, it eventually took place at Newmarket on 12 June. Attendance for the race was much smaller than usual, but still substantial, with over 50,000 present. The French colt Djebel had been able to cross the channel to win the 2000 Guineas but such journeys were no longer possible and Lighthouse II was sent off favourite, with Pont l’Eveque starting at 10/1 in a field of sixteen. Britain's leading jockey had been expected to ride Pont l'Eveque, but was transferred to the stables other entry Tant Mieux, leaving the ride to Sam Wragg. Coverage of the race was less detailed than usual, but reports indicate that Pont l’Eveque was in front before half way. He stayed on strongly up the July Course’s ten-furlong straight and after being briefly challenged by Lighthouse, drew clear to win in "most impressive style" by three lengths from Turkhan.
Pont l’Eveque was then off the course for four months, missing an intended run in the substitute "Yorkshire St Leger" at Thirsk
, before returning in the Champion Stakes
at Newmarket on 30 October. He was expected to win, but failed to reproduce his summer form and finished third to Hippius. He was then retired to stud.
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. In a career that lasted from 1939 until 1940 he ran seven times and won three races. His most important success came in 1940 when he won the “New Derby”, a wartime
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
substitute for 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...
run 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...
. He had not been thought good enough to be included among the original Derby nominations, but was allowed to enter when the race was rearranged. He was retired to stud at the end of the season and exported to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
in 1942.
Background
Pont l’Eveque was a very late foal, born at the end of the breeding season on 25 May, making him probably the youngest horse to win the Derby. He had conceived in France but imported to England “in utero” by his breeder and first owner, the ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
-based bullion-broker Henry E. Morriss. He was a small bay horse who was never particulary striking or attractive, being described as looking “plain” and “mean”.
Pont l’Eveque’s sire was Barneveldt, a leading racehorse in France, who won the Grand Prix de Paris
Grand Prix de Paris
The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
in 1931. His dam, Ponteba produced no other runners of any consequence, but was a half sister of the 1935 Royal Hunt Cup
Royal Hunt Cup
The Royal Hunt Cup is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
winner Priok.
Partly because of his unprepossessing appearance and lack of size it was not considered worthwhile in entering him for the Classics. Pont l’Eveque was sent into training as a two-year-old with Fred Darling
Fred Darling
Frederick Darling was a British Thoroughbred racehorse trainer who trained a record-equalling seven English Derby winners.Fred’s father, Sam Darling senior, was a trainer at Beckhampton, Wiltshire who trained two Derby winners himself...
(who eventually came to own the colt) at Beckhampton, in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
.
1939: two-year-old season
Pont l’Eveque showed little ability as a two-year-old, running twice without success. He was unplaced on his debut and then ran second in the Beaufort Handicap, a minor event at Newmarket. He was far inferior to his stable companion Tant Mieux, who was the highest-rated two-year-old of the season. Henry Morriss was managing his business interests in China, leaving his wife to manage his string of racehorses. At the end of 1939, Mrs Morriss decided to reduce the number of horses she had in training and Pont l’Eveque was one of those considered surplus to requirements. Fred Darling failed to find a buyer for the colt and eventually decided to the buy the colt himself for 500 guineasGuinea (British coin)
The guinea is a coin that was minted in the Kingdom of England and later in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom between 1663 and 1813...
.
1940: three-year-old season
Horses are entered for the British Classic Races as yearlings. Today a horse may be “supplemented” for the race at a later date for a substantially increased entry fee, but no such arrangement existed in 1940. The outbreak of war however, meant that most racing was cancelled or re-arranged and when the decision was taken to run a substitute “Derby” at an alternative venue (EpsomEpsom 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...
was used for an anti-aircraft battery), the race was treated as a completely new event and opened for entries. As Pont l’Eveque had made excellent progress through the winter, Darling decided to enter him for the new race.
Pont l’Eveque’s three-year-old debut provided evidence of his progress as he was a very easy winner of a twenty-two runner maiden race over a mile at Newbury
Newbury Racecourse
Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps...
on 13 April. Shortly after the race, Darling offered to sell a half-share in the colt back to Henry Morriss, but the offer was not accepted. Pont l’Eveque was then moved up in class 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...
over ten furlongs on 22 May, and although he was well beaten by Lighthouse II, he did enough in finishing second to establish himself as a Derby contender. At the end of May, in the week of the Dunkirk Evacuation, Pont l’Eveque warmed up for the Derby when he “breezed home” in the Longleat Stakes at Salisbury
Salisbury Racecourse
Salisbury Racecourse is a flat racecourse in the United Kingdom featuring thoroughbred horse racing. It is located four miles from Salisbury, Wiltshire, England. Fifteen races a year are held here between early May and mid-October...
.
Plans for the New Derby were fluid, but after plans to run the race at Newbury were abandoned, it eventually took place at Newmarket on 12 June. Attendance for the race was much smaller than usual, but still substantial, with over 50,000 present. The French colt Djebel had been able to cross the channel to win the 2000 Guineas but such journeys were no longer possible and Lighthouse II was sent off favourite, with Pont l’Eveque starting at 10/1 in a field of sixteen. Britain's leading jockey had been expected to ride Pont l'Eveque, but was transferred to the stables other entry Tant Mieux, leaving the ride to Sam Wragg. Coverage of the race was less detailed than usual, but reports indicate that Pont l’Eveque was in front before half way. He stayed on strongly up the July Course’s ten-furlong straight and after being briefly challenged by Lighthouse, drew clear to win in "most impressive style" by three lengths from Turkhan.
Pont l’Eveque was then off the course for four months, missing an intended run in the substitute "Yorkshire St Leger" at Thirsk
Thirsk Racecourse
Thirsk Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, England. The course is a left handed oval of about 1m2f with a 3f finishing straight and a 6f chute...
, before returning in the Champion Stakes
Champion Stakes
The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October...
at Newmarket on 30 October. He was expected to win, but failed to reproduce his summer form and finished third to Hippius. He was then retired to stud.