Imperatrix (horse)

Imperatrix
SireAlfred
GrandsireMatchem
DamOld England mare
DamsireOld England
SexMare
Foaled1779
CountryGreat Britain
ColourChestnut
BreederJohn Pratt
OwnerJohn Pratt
Record2: 1-1-0
Major wins
St. Leger Stakes (1782)

Imperatrix (foaled 1779) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She raced only twice, with her only win coming in the 1782 St. Leger Stakes. She was bred and owned by John Pratt. As a broodmare, Imperatrix produced nine foals.

Background

Imperatrix was a chestnut mare bred by John Pratt and foaled in 1779.[1] She was sired by Alfred, who was a son of Matchem. Alfred won several races at Newmarket, including the Clermont Cup and Grosvenor Stakes.[2] Imperatrix's dam was an unnamed daughter of the stallion Old England.[1]

Racing career

On 24 September 1782 at Doncaster Racecourse, Imperatrix won the two-mile St. Leger Stakes, beating Monk (the evens favourite), Nobleman and two others. In her only other race she finished second to Miss Kitty in the Port Stakes at Pickering, beating the eight other runners.[3]

Stud career

Imperatrix then became a broodmare and produced nine foals, including at least three winners. They were:

  • Anvil filly – a bay filly foaled in 1790.[3]
  • Septem – a bay stallion sired by Saltram and foaled in 1792. Septem won several races including the King's Purse at Edinburgh.[3]
  • Lily – a bay mare sired by Highflyer and foaled in 1793. She won King's Purses at Newmarket and Haverford West.[3] After retiring from racing she produced eight foals before her death in 1820, including Dimity and Bodkin, with the former producing foals herself.[1]
  • Imp – a bay filly sired by Weasel and foaled in 1795 who won races at Catterick Bridge and Blandford.[3]
  • Roarer – a bay colt by Coriander.[3]
  • Coriander filly – a bay filly foaled in 1797.[3]
  • Coriander colt – foaled in 1798.[3]
  • Coriander colt – a chestnut colt foaled in 1799.[3]
  • Sorcerer filly – a bay filly sired by Sorcerer and foaled in 1800.[3]

There is no evidence that Imperatrix had any lasting influence on the Thoroughbred.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Imperatrix, chestnut mare, 1779[1]
Sire
Alfred (GB)
b. 1770
Matchem (GB)
b. 1748
Cade*
b. 1734
Godolphin Arabian*
Roxana
Partner mare
1735
Partner
Brown Farewell
Snap mare (GB)
1762
Snap
br. 1750
Snip
Fox mare
Cullen Arabian mare Cullen Arabian*
Lady Thigh
Dam
Old England mare (GB)
b. 1766
Old England (GB)
b. 1741
Godolphin Arabian* (unknown)
(unknown)
Little Hartley Mare Bartlett's Childers
Flying Whig
Cullen Arabian mare (GB)
b. 1756
Cullen Arabian* (unknown)
(unknown)
Miss Cade
ch. 1750
Cade*
Miss Makeless

Note: b. = Bay, br. = Brown, ch. = Chestnut

* Imperatrix was inbred 3x4 to Cade, the Godolphin Arabian and the Cullen Arabian. This means that all three stallions appear once in the third generation and once in the fourth generation of her pedigree.

References

  1. ^ a b c d The General Stud Book. J. S. Skinner, Baltimore. 1834. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  2. ^ "Matchem". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Pick, William and Robert Johnson (1822). The turf register, and sportsman & breeder's stud-book. York: Sampson.