Similar to the Belmont Stakes, the Epsom Derby is also run at a mile and one-half, but on grass. And at a mile and one-half and ten yards (show offs!).
The first winner of the Epsom Derby (1780) was Diomed. Diomed was foaled in 1777 and, later in life, was sold to a Virginian for stud duties where he became one of the foundations for American horse racing bloodstock. Some internet sources report that Diomed also sired saddlehorses for Thomas Jefferson.
Sir Thomas won the Epsom Derby in 1788. Sir Thomas was then owned by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Presumably, Sir Thomas was a horse and not an unfortunate human subject of His Royal Highness. Then again, the 1787 Derby was won by the 12th Earl of Derby's Sir Peter Teazle so one cannot be too certain can one, Mum?
A colt named Skyscraper won the 1789 edition of the Epsom Derby. Lest you think this horse's name was somehow influenced by the activities of a certain well-known time traveling alien in a blue police box, Skyscraper's sire was Highflyer.
In 1797 the Epsom Derby was won by an unnamed colt.
The Derby champ in 1800 was named Champion, a great name - even if a bit presumptuous.
The Pope won in 1809, or at least a colt named Pope.
Scanning the list of all-time Epsom Derby winners for names both great and silly, one finds:
Sam in 1818
Lap-dog in 1826
Dangerous in 1833
Plenipotentiary in 1834
The Flying Dutchman in 1849
Macaroni in 1863
Pretender in 1869
Iroquois in 1881
Common in 1891
Flying Fox in 1899 (anything named "Flying" is great)
Sunstar in 1911
Mid-day Sun in 1937
Ocean Swell in 1944
Airborne in 1946
Never Say Die in 1954
Santa Claus in 1964
Commander in Chief in 1993
Motivator in 2005
Workforce in 2010
In 1930 a colt named Blenheim won the Epsom Derby. Later, Blenheim was purchased by an American syndicate for stud duties in in the United States (where there'd already been a Jockey Club-recognized thoroughbred named Blenheim, so in the U.S. this "new" Blenheim became known as Blenheim II). One member of this syndicate was Calumet Farm for which farm Blenheim II sired 1941 Triple Crown winner Whirlaway.
The roll of Epsom Derby winning owners is filthy with assorted Lords and Dukes and Earls and Barons and Viscounts and which real live nephew of our Uncle Sam really cares if I got those titles in anything resembling a correct order of hierarchy? Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge. His Royal Highness appears often, but I think the Brits just let them win so that probably doesn't count:
HRH Prince of Wales in 1788, 1896, 1900.
HRH Duke of York in 1816, 1822.
Scions of His Highness the Aga Khan have cleaned up, and cleaned the clocks of the British royalty:
HH Aga Kahn III in 1930
HH Aga Kahn III in 1935
HH Aga Kahn III in 1936
HH Aga Kahn III in 1948
HH Aga Kahn III in 1952
HH Aga Kahn IV in 1981
HH Aga Kahn IV in 1985
HH Aga Kahn IV in 1988
HH Aga Kahn IV in 2000
In recent years, our oil-rich Arabian pals with their various royal titles have occupied the winners' circle as owners, too, but we don't have all day and this posting is actually about me.
So let's move on to me.
So let's move on to me.
My own working knowledge of English (and European) thoroughbreds (and of English/European races, jockeys, trainers, etc) is directly a product of learning about those which have had an impact on North American breeding/bloodlines and also of those which have actually raced in the U.S. (almost exclusively in the Breeders' Cup). Well, that and following the career of the greatest jockey on the planet; the Italian-born Lanfranco "Frankie" Dettori.
In handicapping for the Belmont last week, I stumbled across a note abut this year's Epsom Derby. Curious, I spent a few minutes looking into the Epsom Derby - seeing who the jockeys and trainers may have been and, most importantly, the sires and dams of the Derby entrants. My scanning eyes ran aground when I learned of the bloodlines of an entrant named Australia. Australia is out of a dam named Ouija Board, and sired by Galileo.
When handicapping various Breeders' Cups after the turn of the 21st century, the name Galileo often appeared (usually as the winner) in the past performances of horses entered in Breeders' Cup turf races. At the end of his own three-year old campaign, Galileo shipped to Belmont to race in that year's 2001 Breeders' Cup Classic. He lost, as do so many great European turf horses who foolishly enter our dirt races when they should run in the turf races and blow up our Yankee representatives. Following that BC Classic defeat, Galileo was retired to stud duty where he has sired some great animals, notably Red Rocks (who I cashed a massive Win ticket on in the 2006 Breeders Cup Turf at Churchill Downs; the jockey that day was Frankie Dettori) and Frankel. Frankel retired in 2012 undefeated, a perfect 14 victories in 14 starts and Frankel never ducked any horse or any big race, winning nine Group 1 races consecutively.
The English filly Ouija Board earned over $6 million dollars during her career, and twice won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (in 2004 & 2006, I cashed tickets on her both years).
Having spied both the names of Galileo and Ouija Board, I knew instantly that there wasn't a horse in the Epsom Derby field that could beat Australia. The crowd at Epsom Downs knew that, too. They sent Australia off from the gate at odds of 11/8.
On Friday I sent the following text to two loyal subscribers to Heavy Artillery, followers of the Sport of Kings, who I thought might have a passing interest in what I'd discovered about the Epsom Derby:
For what it's worth; tomorrow is also the Epsom Derby. Horse named Australia bred to destroy turf fields - sired by Galileo, out of Ouija Board.
True to form;
No comments:
Post a Comment