Beeswing (horse)
| Beeswing | |
|---|---|
 Beeswing |
|
| Sire | Dr. Syntax |
| Grandsire | Paynator |
| Dam | Ardrossan mare (1817) |
| Damsire | Ardrossan |
| Sex | Mare |
| Foaled | 1833 |
| Country | Great Britain |
| Colour | Bay |
| Breeder | Nunnykirk Hall Stud |
| Owner | William Orde, Jr. |
| Trainer | Robert "Bob" Johnson |
| Record | 63: 51–8–1 |
| Earnings | Not found |
| Major wins | |
| Champagne Stakes (1835) Newcastle St. Leger (1836) Newcastle Gold Cup (1836, 1837, 1838, 1839, 1841, 1842) Doncaster Cup (1837, 1840, 1841, 1842) Cleveland Stakes (1837) Gold Shield (1837) Northallerton Gold Cup (1837, 1838) Craven Stakes (1838, 1839, 1840) Queen's Plate (1838, 1839) Fitzwilliam Stakes (1838, 1839, 1840) Queen's Purse (1839) Stockton Cup (1839, 1841) Ashton Stakes (1840) Lancaster Cup (1840) Hornsby Castle Stakes (1841) Ascot Gold Cup (1842) |
|
| Honours | |
| Beeswing Stakes at Newcastle Racecourse Beeswing Ladies Day at Newcastle Racecourse Village named in Beeswing's honor |
|
| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
| Last updated on 15 May 2009 | |
Beeswing (1833–1854) was a 19th century British Thoroughbred racehorse from the north of England. In her day, Beeswing was hailed as the greatest mare in Britain and one of the greatest of all time.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Breeding
Her sire was described by the noted racing writer "The Druid" as "...scarcely fifteen hands, very broad at the base of the nose, with open nostrils, an eye full and bright as a hawk's, a high, drooping rump, and on the side view rather short quartered. He was quite a mouse in his colour." But he took the Preston Gold Cup seven times, the Richmond Gold Cup five times, and the The Lancaster Gold Cup five times as well. How many races Dr. Syntax started in is unknown. On both her dam and her sire's side, Beeswing was linebred to the renowned Eclipse (5x5x5) and also to Herod (5x5).
[edit] Racing career
Beeswing raced at many venues between 1835 and 1842 and was a real crowd favourite. Entering 63 events, she won an incredible 51 times. Of the 57 races she finished, she was placed lower than second on only one occasion. Her most notable victory was the 1842 Ascot Gold Cup. She won the Newcastle Cup an amazing six times. Beeswing won the Doncaster Cup for the fourth time and was retired afterwards.[1]
James Hill of Tyneside composed a hornpipe, "The Beeswing," named after her.[2] Such was her fame that the Scottish village of Lochend, Dumfries and Galloway changed its name to Beeswing in her honour.
[edit] Stud record
Of her eight foals, five were sired by Touchstone. Four of her foals went on to become top class runners, two of which were Classic winners. Many of today's top racehorses can trace their pedigree back to Beeswing. Some of her top runners were:
- Nunnykirk (b. 1846) - won the 2,000 Guineas, ran 2nd in the St. Leger Stakes
- Newminster (b. 1846) - won the St. Leger Stakes, Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland in 1859 and 1863
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), “Thoroughbred Breeding of the World”, Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970
- ^ "The Fiddler's Companion". http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/BE_BELI.htm#BEE'S_WING_HORNPIPE.
- Profile of Beeswing at Thoroughbred Heritage
- Story of Beeswing at The Northen Echo's History Pages (Newsquest Media Group - A Gannett Company)
