Tag (horse)

Tag
SireTrentham
GrandsireSweepstakes
DamVenus
DamsireEclipse
SexMare
Foaled1786
CountryKingdom of Great Britain
ColourBay
Breeder3rd Earl of Egremont
Owner3rd Earl of Egremont
TrainerFrank Neale
Record3: 1-1-1
Earnings575 gs
Major wins
Oaks Stakes (1789)

Tag (foaled 1786) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She started only three races, and won once, the Oaks Stakes at Epsom Downs. She was owned by George Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont, and trained by Frank Neale. As a broodmare for the Earl she produced eleven foals.

Background

Tag was a bay filly bred by George Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont, and foaled in 1786.[1] She was sired by Trentham, a successful racehorse who ran for eight years, winning many races, including two Jockey Club Plates.[2] Her dam was Venus, a daughter of Eclipse and full-sister to Jupiter, Mercury and Volunteer.[1]

Racing career

On 29 May 1789 at Epsom Downs, Tag competed in her first race, the Oaks Stakes. Along with the filly Hope, she started as the 5/2 joint-favourite. Eighteen fillies had initially been entered for the race, but only seven started. Tag won the race from Earl Grosvenor's sister to Trifle, with Hope finishing in third place, the filly by Magnet in fourth and Restless in fifth. The other two runners could not be placed by the judge.[3] The following day she was withdrawn from a match race against the Duke of Bedford's Skyscraper.[4] In June at Ascot Heath, she lost a mile and a quarter match race against the colt Magpie.[5] Her final race came in July 1789 at Brighthelmstone in a £50 race consisting of four, one mile and three quarter heats. Tag started as the favourite of the four runners, priced at about evens. She won the first heat, Skyrocket won the second heat, but Mentor won the last two heats to win the race.[6]

Stud career

As a broodmare for the Earl of Egremont she produced eleven foals, including Tag, Gulliver, Lazy, Baby and Old Maid.[1] Lazy was the dam of Ascot Gold Cup winner Anderida. She has descendants today through the grandson of her 1796 daughter by Precipitate, St John, who was sent to Australia in 1836.[7]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Tag, bay mare, 1786[1]
Sire
Trentham (GB)
b. 1766
Sweepstakes (GB)
b. 1749
Gower Stallion
b. 1740
Godolphin Arabian
Whitefoot mare
Partner mare Partner*
Brown Farewell
Miss South (GB)
b. 1758
South
b. 1750
Regulus*
Soreheels mare
Cartouch mare Cartouch
Ebony
Dam
Venus (GB)
ch. 1773
Eclipse (GB)
ch. 1764
Marske
br. 1750
Squirt
Blacklegs mare
Spilletta
b. 1749
Regulus*
Mother Western
Tartar mare (GB) Tartar
1743
Partner*
Melinora
Mogul mare Mogul
Sweepstakes mare

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

* Tag was inbred 4x4 to Partner and Regulus. This means that both stallions appear twice in the fourth generation of her pedigree.

References

  1. ^ a b c d The General Stud Book. J. S. Skinner, Baltimore. 1834. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
  2. ^ "Trentham". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
  3. ^ "Racing calendar. 1789". Babel.hathitrust.org. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
  4. ^ "Racing calendar. 1789". Babel.hathitrust.org. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
  5. ^ "Racing calendar. 1789". Babel.hathitrust.org. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
  6. ^ "Racing calendar. 1789". Babel.hathitrust.org. Retrieved 2013-04-07.
  7. ^ Weatherby, Charles & James (1840). The General Stud Book. Retrieved 2013-04-07.