Doncaster (horse)

Doncaster
Doncaster
Sire	Stockwell
Grandsire	The Baron
Dam	Marigold (1860)
Damsire	Teddington
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1870
Died	January 1892 (aged 21–22)
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Sir Tatton Sykes
Owner	James Merry; Robert Peck; Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster
Trainer	Robert Peck
Record	10: 4 wins
Earnings	£4,825 (for the Derby)
Major wins
	Epsom Derby (1873); Goodwood Cup (1874); Ascot Gold Cup (1875); Alexandra Plate (1875)
	Last updated on 21 February 2011

Doncaster (1870 – January 1892) was an English Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was the winner of the 1873 Epsom Derby and the sire of the great stallion Bend Or. Through Bend Or he is the direct male-line ancestor of most modern thoroughbreds.

Breeding

Doncaster was foaled at the Sledmere Stud, Yorkshire, Great Britain and was sired by "The Emperor of Stallions", Stockwell, who had won both the 2,000 Guineas and the St. Leger Stakes; Stockwell was a leading sire during his later years, producing many classic winners. Doncaster's dam Marigold had a fairly good career on the track, and was sired by The Derby winner Teddington.^[2]

Doncaster, a chestnut with a white blaze originally named "All Heart and No Peel", was raised at the Sledmere Stud before he was sent to the Tattersalls auction. James Merry bought the colt for 950 guineas, changed his name to Doncaster (after the racecourse), and sent him to trainer Robert Peck.

Racing career

The colt did not compete as a two-year-old, partially due to a kick to the stifle. Doncaster began racing as a three-year-old, first appearing at the 2,000 Guineas (where he was unplaced to winner Gang Forward). He won his next race (the Derby) easily. He then raced in the Grand Prix de Paris, finishing third to winner Boiard, before being beaten by a head at the St. Leger. He did not do well in his next run, the Grand Duke Michael Stakes, but finished his season second in the Newmarket Derby.

His four-year-old career was respectable, with a dead heat second place with Flageolet in the Ascot Gold Cup (won by Boiard), before a win at the Goodwood Cup. As a five-year-old, he won both the Ascot Gold Cup and the Alexandra Plate; the races were two days apart.^[2]

At stud

Doncaster was then retired. Peck purchased him for £10,000 and immediately selling the stallion to the Duke of Westminster (for whom he was also a trainer) for £14,000. The Duke had been searching for a stallion prospect, with a good pedigree and racing record, to stand at his Eaton Stud in Cheshire. Doncaster was bred to the mare Lily Agnes (by Macaroni), who produced the filly Farewell, a 1,000 Guineas winner. Doncaster's most famous son was Bend Or, the Derby winner and prolific sire. Noted offspring were:


Foaled	Name	Sex	Major Wins/Achievements
1877	Bend Or	Stallion	Epsom Derby (1880), Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain and Ireland (1901, 1902)
	Cambusmore
	Farewell	Mare	1000 Guineas Stakes
	Muncaster	Stallion
	Sandiway	Mare	Coronation Stakes
	Sir Reuben	Stallion

^[3]

Empress Elisabeth of Austria saw Doncaster while visiting Eaton, and reportedly fell in love with him. She eventually purchased him, for £5,000, and he lived at her Kisber Stud until his death at the age of 22 in January 1892. His blood lives on through his son, Bend Or.^[3]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Doncaster chestnut stallion, 1870^[1]
Sire Stockwell Ch. 1849	The Baron Ch. 1842	Birdcatcher	Sir Hercules
		Birdcatcher	Guiccioli
		Echidna	Economist
		Echidna	Miss Pratt
	Pocahontas B. 1837	Glencoe	Sultan
		Glencoe	Trampoline
		Marpessa	Muley
		Marpessa	Clare
Dam Marigold Ch. 1860	Teddington 1848	Orlando	Touchstone
		Orlando	Vulture
		Miss Twickenham	Rockingham
		Miss Twickenham	Electress
	Ratan mare	Ratan	Buzzard
		Ratan	Picton Mare
		Melbourne Mare	Melbourne
		Melbourne Mare	Lisbeth (Family 5-e)^[2]

References

^ ^a ^b "Doncaster pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-08-11.
^ ^a ^b ^c Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), “Thoroughbred Breeding of the World”, Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970
^ ^a ^b [1] Thoroughbred Heritage. Retrieved February 21, 2011.