Gainsborough (1915–1945) was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won the English Triple Crown in 1918 and became a superior sire.
Background
Gainsborough was a bay horse bred by his owner Lady James Douglas (1854–1941). The colt was named after the town of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire because his owner liked the sound of the name. Gainsborough was sired by Bayardo, who also sired the 1917 Triple Crown winner, Gay Crusader, and was out of Rosedrop, who won the 1910 Epsom Oaks and £9,809.Prior, F.M., "Register of Thoroughbred Stallions", Vol. VI, The Sportsman Office, London, 1923 Gainsborough's damsire was St. Frusquin, who won nine races including the 1896 2,000 Guineas and £33,960. Galopin was duplicated in the third and fourth generations of Gainsborough's pedigree. He was not a big horse but possessed very good conformation and a kind temperament. One commentator described him as a "horse that would stand a campaign on the Western Front with Sir Douglas Haig on his back." Gainsborough was quite mature when he was offered at the yearling sales but did not reach the reserve that was placed on his price.
Lady Douglas sent Gainsborough to trainer Alec Taylor, Jr.'s training centre in Manton, Wiltshire, to prepare for racing.
Racing record
1917: two-year-old season As a two-year-old, Gainsborough made three starts at the Newmarket Racecourse, won the Autumn Stakes by two lengths, and was rated the third best juvenile of his generation.
1918: three-year-old season Gainsborough won the 2,000 Guineas, marking the first time that a horse bred by a woman won one of the British Classic Races and the first time a Classic winner carried a woman's colours. He was ridden by jockey Joe Childs, who, to help the War effort, donated his winnings to his 4th Hussars regiment to which he was attached.
Following his win in the 2,000 Guineas, Gainsborough won the most prestigious race in England, The Derby, which was run at Newmarket owing to wartime restrictions. He then won the Gold Cup against older horses at a distance of just over two miles (3,219 metres) and in autumn won the September Stakes—a substitute race for the Doncaster St. Leger Stakes—by three lengths over a field including the Oaks winner My Dear and Prince Chimay to become the 13th U.K. Triple Crown Champion in history. Gainsborough finished second to Prince Chimay in the Jockey Club Stakes, after which he was retired.Leicester, Sir Charles, Bloodstock Breeding, J.A. Allen & Co, London, 1969
Stud record In 1920, Gainsborough was retired to Lady Douglas's newly established Harwood Stud horse breeding operation in northern Hampshire at Woolton Hill, near Newbury, Berkshire.
He had a notable stud career, becoming the leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland in 1932 and 1933. A breeding source for great stamina, he was the sire of a number of Classic Race winners including: Hyperion – won the 1933 Epsom Derby and St Leger Stakes and was a champion sire six times. Solario – winner of the 1925 St. Leger Stakes and the 1926 Ascot Gold Cup who was 1937's leading sire in England Singapore – won the 1930 St Leger Stakes Orwell – won the 1932 2,000 Guineas and £29,251.
Gainsborough's daughters did not distinguish themselves on the track but were good broodmares, including:
Gainsborough Lass was his best race mare, running third in the 1,000 Guineas and winning £7,984. Mah Iran, the dam of Migoli, who won £22,950. Mah Mahal, the dam of Mahmoud, who won the 1936 Epsom Derby and was the Leading sire in North America in 1946 Una Cameron – dam of 1931 2,000 Guineas and Derby winner Cameronian Painted Vale – dam of 1949 1,000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks winner Musidora and Valerullah
Ownership change In 1940, failing health forced Lady James Douglas to sell her Harwood Stud, including Gainsborough. Under an agreement with new owner Herbert Blagrave, Gainsborough remained there until his death in 1945. He is buried on the Harwood property that was eventually renamed Gainsborough Stud in his honour and since 1981 has operated as Gainsborough Stud Management Ltd. under the ownership of Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Assessment In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris placed Gainsborough at number 56 in a list of the world's 200 best horses of the 20th century.Randall, J and Morris, T. . Portway Press, 1999, p. 137
Sire line tree
GainsboroughJumpers: Darley Arabian Sire LineSire Line: Camel Darley Arabian Sire Line: Newminster BranchPortrait: GainsboroughBiography: Gainsborough Murillo SolarioPortrait: SolarioBiography: Solario Dastur Dhoti Royal Gem Gold Nib Umiddad Darbhanga Princes Game Welton GamefulPioneering breeder Sam Barr dies at the age of 90Remembering Sam Barr and the Welton Dynasty with Leslie LawRIP Sam BarrGrow your own… Grassroots eventing breeding Tai-Yang Raeburn Sind Pierot Mid-day Sun Alonzo Rising FastAustralian Racing Museum: Rising Fast Sterope Foroughi Sadri King's Approach Royal ApproachImage: Royal Approach Nicolaus Nicolaus SilverImage: Nicolaus Silver Shapoor Battle Burn Boomerang Straight Deal Aldborough Royal Highway Honour Bound Tied Cottage
Isao Wakataka Osis Tsukitoki Tsukiyasu Dynamo Iwa Kabuto
Adzuma Dake Kyokujitsu
Katsufuji Ginyoku
Topaz Yousei Hata Noboru
Kinryu Taro Grace Diver Kiyo Strong Koran Yoshi Minori Hiya Kiogan Meiji Honore
Kikuno Hikari Osachi Iron Heart Kanehata Toshiwaka Hataryu Tokino Chikara Clack Soul Captain O Tokidenko Ken Chikara
Kuretake Sachifusa Kuri Yamato Artist Glow Sir Nigel Sirlan Bouzoulou Vulgan Team Spirit FoinavonFoinavon: The Underdog Who Defied the Odds in the Grand National Vulpine Gay Trip The DiklerImage: The Dikler Colebridge Sir Fellah Sidere Artist's Proof Fine Art Fine Top Cousin Pons Sanctus Topyo Costaki PashaPortrait: Costaki Pasha Le Voleur Lansdowne Land's Corner Ramses II Red Rower SingaporePortrait: Singapore Chulmleigh Whiteway Skoiter Sunsalve Arco Scanno Rivisondoli Scai GoyescasPortrait: Goyescas OrwellPortrait: Orwell Rosewell Distel Linwell BobsleighPortrait: Bobsleigh Oxo Emborough BernboroughAustralian Racing Museum: BernboroughScone Vet Dynasty: Bernborough Bernwood Brush Burn High Scud Berseem First Aid Hook Money Larrikin Resolved Piano Jim Catapult Artist's Son Durlas EileDurlas Eile Hall of Fame Winterhalter HyperionPortrait: HyperionBiography: HyperionHall of Fame: HyperionAmerican Classic Pedigree: Hyperion Half Crown Haffaday Admiral's Walk Casanova Golden Surprise Cornishman HeliopolisPortrait: HeliopolisAmerican Classic Pedigree: Heliopolis Marine Victory Ace Admiral Ace MarineCanadian Hall of Fame: Ace Marine Inside Tract Frosty Admiral OlympiaAmerican Classic Pedigree: Olympia DecathlonHall of Fame: DecathlonAmerican Classic Pedigree: Decathlon Air Pilot Greek Game Lucky Mel Alhambra Talent Show Winonly Editorialist Pia Star Creme dela Creme Top BidAmerican Classic Pedigree: Top Bid Greek Ship Greek Song Greek MoneyAmerican Classic Pedigree: Greek Money Charlie McAdam Dhaulagiri Helioscope High GunAmerican Classic Pedigree: High Gun Summer TanAmerican Classic Pedigree: Summer Tan Sunrise County Rose Trellis Grey Eagle Little Bit Globemaster His Highness Perhapsburg Lucius Hypnotist Quick Ray Helios WodallaWodalla Was Our First Cup Winner Since 1948 Hippius Stardust Stalino Three Cheers Bright News Casmiri Star KingdomPortrait: Star KingdomRemembering Star KingdomThe Star Kingdom Dynasty KingsterPortrait: Kingster Star Realm Gold Stakes TodmanPortrait: TodmanAustralian Racing Museum: TodmanScone Vet Dynasty: Todman Mighty Kingdom Skyline Fine and Dandy NoholmePortrait: NoholmeAmerican Classic Pedigree: Noholme II Royal Artist Secret Kingdom Sky HighPortrait: Sky HighAustralian Racing Museum: Sky High Columbia Star Shifnal Sunset Hue Time And Tide Faringdon Star Of Heaven King Star Star Affair BiscayPortrait: BiscayScone Vet Dynasty: Biscay Kaoru Star Rajah Coalcliff Osmunda Planet Kingdom Red God Tattenham Gala Performance Gala Crest AlibhaiPortrait: AlibhaiAmerican Classic Pedigree: Alibhai Cover Up On Trust Trackmaster Solidarity Your HostAmerican Classic Pedigree: Your Host Blen Host Social Climber KelsoHall of Fame: KelsoAmerican Classic Pedigree: Kelso Windy Sands My Host Chevation DetermineAmerican Classic Pedigree: Determine WarfareAmerican Classic Pedigree: Warfare DecidedlyAmerican Classic Pedigree: Decidedly Donut King BardstownBardstown: The Persistent ProdigyThe Keeneland Library: Bardstown Honeys Alibi Traffic JudgeAmerican Classic Pedigree: Traffic Judge Green Ticket Delta Judge Traffic Traffic Bridge Court Recess Traffic Mark Judgeable Rest Your Case Traffic Cop Court Ruling Sharpsburg Oligarchy Mr Consistency Devonian Herring Gull Orthodox Owen TudorPortrait: Owen TudorAlthough never a champion sire, Owen Tudor was the sire of champions Tudor MinstrelAmerican Classic Pedigree: Tudor Minstrel Buckhound King Of The Tudors Poona Will Somers Sallymount Tomy LeeAmerican Classic Pedigree: Tomy Lee Tudor Melody Sing Sing Abernant Thin Ice Aberli Welsh Rake Abgar Zahedan Eplenor Tudor Era Right RoyalImage: Right Royal Salvo Ruysdael Rangong In The Purple Prince Regent Politico Kambalda Irish Selim HassanAmerican Classic Pedigree: Selim Hassan Cid Chispeado YatastoAmerican Classic Pedigree: Yatasto Yata Nahuel Sol Oriens Sun Castle Hyacinthus Hyperides Sun King SundewSundew Inks a Spectacular Win in the 1957 Grand National Deimos Coastal Traffic Buisson d'Or Pot d'Or PensivePortrait: PensiveAmerican Classic Pedigree: Pensive PonderAmerican Classic Pedigree: PonderThe Keeneland Library: Ponder NeedlesHall of Fame: NeedlesAmerican Classic Pedigree: Needles Theory Cyclotron Barnaby's Bluff Red Mars Rockafella RockavonHow Scottish trained 2000 Guineas winner Rockavon earned his status as a Scottish sporting great Ruthless Greek Star Anglo High Peak Aldis Lamp Gulf StreamPortrait: Gulf StreamAmerican Classic Pedigree: Gulf Stream Manganga Gulf Weed Pipote Anisado Manantial Mamboreta Montparnasse Riesgo KhaledPortrait: KhaledAmerican Classic Pedigree: Khaled Dulac Big Noise Correspondent SherluckAmerican Classic Pedigree: Sherluck El Drag Hillary SwapsHall of Fame: SwapsAmerican Classic Pedigree: SwapsSwaps: The Legendary Thoroughbred Who Redefined Horse RacingSwaps: 1956 Horse of the Year ChateaugayAmerican Classic Pedigree: Chateaugay No RobberyAmerican Classic Pedigree: No Robbery Eurasian Laramie TrailAmerican Classic Pedigree: Laramie Trail Terrang Terlago California Kid Khalex Albany Linmold New Policy Reb's Policy Physician Going Abroad Corn Off The Cob Radiotherapy Sky High Pas de Quatre Huron Empyrean Hyperbole Babu's Pet Rolled Gold AristophanesAmerican Classic Pedigree: Aristiphanes Atlas Booz ForliAmerican Classic Pedigree: Forli Home Guard ForegoHall of Fame: ForegoAmerican Classic Pedigree: ForegoForego May be Most Remarkable Horse Ever ThatchAmerican Classic Pedigree: Thatch Forceten Intrepid Hero Fordham Formidable Key To Content Posse Sadeem Dorileo Frari Hylander Judicate AureolePortrait: Aureole St Crespin St Columbus Whispin St Paddy St Puckle Connaught Jupiter Island Vienna Vaguely NobleAmerican Classic Pedigree: Vaguely Noble Aurelius Miralgo Roll Of Honour Silver Cloud Silver Buck Provoke Hermes Van der Hum Gun Shot Gun BowHall of Fame: Gun BowAmerican Classic Pedigree: Gun Bow High Veldt Hornbeam Claude Cerreto Intermezzo Green Grass Ommeyad High Hat High Line Zenith
See also List of racehorses
References