Medora (horse)

Medora
Medora at stud c. 1828 by John Nott Sartorius
Sire	Selim
Grandsire	Buzzard
Dam	Sir Harry mare
Damsire	Sir Harry
Sex	Mare
Foaled	1811
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Colonel Adeane
Owner	John Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland Thomas Cussans
Trainer	R D Boyce
Record	13: 4-4-2
Major wins
Oaks Stakes (1814) Swinley Forest Stakes (1814) Billingbear Stakes (1814)

Medora (1811–1835) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the classic Oaks Stakes at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1814. In a racing a career which lasted from April 1814 until May 1816 she ran thirteen times and won four races as well as twice "receiving forfeit" when her opponent did not appear for a scheduled match race. Unraced as a two-year-old Medora produced her best form in the first half of 1814, she finished third in the inaugural 1000 Guineas, won the Oaks and then claimed two races at Royal Ascot. She remained in training for two more seasons but was less successful, winning only one competitive race. She was retired to stud where she became a highly successful and influential broodmare, whose direct descendants won many major races throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

Background

Medora was a chestnut mare bred by Colonel Adeane^[1] and sold as a yearling to John Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland. Her sire Selim won the Craven Stakes and the Oatlands Stakes at Newmarket and went on to have a successful stud career, siring the classic winners Azor (Epsom Derby), the unnamed Filly by Selim (1000 Guineas), Nicolo (2000 Guineas), Turcoman (2000 Guineas) and Turquoise (Oaks) as well as the British Champion sire Sultan.^[2] Selim was British champion sire in 1814.^[3] Medora's dam was an unnamed mare sired by the Derby winner Sir Harry.^[4]

Racing career

The 5th Duke of Rutland, owned Medora in 1814 and 1815

1814: three-year-old season

Medora began her racing career on 26 April in the sixth running of the 2000 Guineas Stakes over the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket Racecourse. Despite being the only filly in the field and her lack of previous experience, she was made third favourite at odds of 7/1 against thirteen colts, but finished unplaced behind Mr Wyndham's Olive. Two days later Medora was one of five fillies, from an original entry of ten, to contest the inaugural running of the 1,000 Guineas over the Ditch Mile. She started 5/2 third favourite and finished third to Charlotte and the Duke of Grafton's Vestal.^[5]

On 27 May Medora was moved up in distance to contest the Oaks Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom. The Duke of Grafton's Wire and Lord Grosvenor's Zadora were made joint favourites, with Medora relatively unfancied at odds of 10/1 in a field of nine fillies. Ridden by Sam Barnard, she won the classic from Vestal, with Wire in third place.^[6] At the Ascot meeting the following month, the Oaks winner ran twice. On the 9 June she defeated two opponents in the Windsor Forest Stakes over the Old Mile course, despite carrying a five pound weight penalty for her Epsom success. On the following afternoon she won the Billingbear Stakes over one and a half miles, conceding three pounds to General Gower's colt Mulatto.^[7]

After a break of almost four months, Medora returned for the autumn meetings at Newmarket where she had three engagements. On 6 October, the Duke of Rutland was able to claim a 200 guinea prize without having to race his filly when Mr Wyndham withdrew his colt from a match against Medora over the Abington Mile course.^[8] Eleven days later, on the opening day of the Second October meeting started 5/2 favourite for a sweepstakes over the Ditch Mile in which she was pitted against the Derby winner Blucher. She defeated her fellow classic winner, but both were beaten by the third runner, a four-year-old named Alcohol.^[9] Three days later Medora ended her season by finishing third to Partisan in a sweepstakes over five furlongs.

1815: four-year-old season

Medora began the 1815 season, in which she ran exclusively at Newmarket, in the Port Stakes for four-year-old over two miles on 26 April. She finished last of the four runners behind Wire, Blucher and Wanderer.^[10] On 12 May the filly contested a five furlong sweepstakes. She started the even money favourite and won from Mr Wilson's colt Capricorn and three other runners.^[11]

Medora's only other run, after a break of more than five months, came on 18 October, when she ran in a division of the Oatlands Stakes, a handicap race over the Bunbury Mile. Carrying a weight of 115 pounds, she finished second to Castrella, with the 2000 Guineas winner Tigris in fourth.^[12]

1816: five-year-old season

Before the start of the 1816 racing season Medora was sold to Thomas Cussans, but continued to race exclusively at Newmarket. Her first run for her new owner was scheduled to be a four furlong match against Skipjack on 1 May, but she was able to win the prize of 200 guineas without racing when her opponent was withdrawn. On the following afternoon, Medora contested a five furlong handicap in which she carried 124 pounds. She finished second to Lord Darlington's colt Sir Thomas, with the 1812 2000 Guineas winner Cwrw among the unplaced runners.^[13] On 13 May at the next meeting, Medora was beaten Lord Darlington's Paulus on a five furlong match and ended her career two days later by finishing fourth to Equator, Partisan and Cwrw in a ten furlong handicap.^[14]

Stud record

Medora was retired to become a broodmare for Cussans, although she subsequently changed ownership several times. In all she produced fourteen live foals between 1818 and 1834. In the following year Medora was sold for export to Germany but died on the paasage to her new home in autumn 1835.^[1]

The most immediately successful of Medora's offspring was the filly Gulnare (foaled in 1824, by Smolensko), who won the Oaks and went on to produce the 2000 Guineas winner The Corsair. Medora's lasting influence on the breed however, came through her third foal Pucelle (1821, by Muley). She was the ancestor of many important winners including The Ugly Buck (2000 Guineas), The Flea (1000 Guineas), Thebais (1000 Guineas and Oaks), Virago, War Cloud, Ribot, Sagaro and most importantly St Marguerite.^[15]

St Marguerite won the 1000 Guineas in 1882 and became the foundation mare of Thoroughbred family 4n. Members of this family, all of them direct female-line descendants of St Marguerite and Medora, include Seabreeze (1000 Guineas and St Leger), Rock Sand, Gallant Fox, Canonero II, Triptych, Generous and Imagine.^[16]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Medora (GB), chestnut mare, 1811^[17]
Sire Selim (GB) 1802	Buzzard 1787	Woodpecker	Herod
		Woodpecker	Miss Ramsden
		Misfortune	Dux
		Misfortune	Curiosity
	Alexander mare 1790	Alexander	Eclipse
		Alexander	Grecian Princess
		Highflyer mare	Highflyer
		Highflyer mare	Alfred mare
Dam Sir Harry mare (GB) 1803	Sir Harry 1795	Sir Peter Teazle	Highflyer
		Sir Peter Teazle	Papillon
		Matron	Alfred
		Matron	Marske mare
	Volunteer mare 1793	Volunteer	Eclipse
		Volunteer	Tartar mare
		sister to Petworth	Herod
		sister to Petworth	Golden Grove (Family 4-l)

References

1 2 Charles and James Weatherby (1840). "The General stud book". C Reynell. p. 277. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
↑ "Selim". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
↑ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third Edition). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
↑ Patricia Erigero Thoroughbred Heritage. "Sir Harry". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1815). Racing calendar. 1814. C H Reynell. p. 18. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1815). Racing calendar. 1814. C H Reynell. p. 42. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1815). Racing calendar. 1814. C H Reynell. p. 52. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1815). Racing calendar. 1814. C H Reynell. p. 147. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1815). Racing calendar. 1814. C H Reynell. p. 158. Retrieved 2012-12-04.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1816). Racing calendar. 1815. C H Reynell. p. 19. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1816). Racing calendar. 1815. C H Reynell. p. 31. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1816). Racing calendar. 1815. C H Reynell. p. 157. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1817). Racing calendar. 1816. C H Reynell. p. 15. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
↑ Edward and James Weatherby (1817). Racing calendar. 1816. C H Reynell. p. 28. Retrieved 2012-12-05.
↑ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Golden Grove - Family 4-l". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
↑ "Thoroughbred Bloodlines - St. Marguerite - Family 4-n". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-12-03.
↑ "Medora pedigree". equineline. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-12-04.

Epsom Oaks winners

1779 Bridget 1780 Tetotum 1781 Faith 1782 Ceres 1783 Maid of the Oaks 1784 Stella 1785 Trifle 1786 Yellow Filly 1787 Annette 1788 Nightshade 1789 Tag 1790 Hippolyta 1791 Portia 1792 Volante 1793 Caelia 1794 Hermione 1795 Platina 1796 Parisot 1797 Nike 1798 Bellissima 1799 Bellina 1800 Ephemera 1801 Eleanor † 1802 Scotia 1803 Theophania 1804 Pelisse 1805 Meteora 1806 Bronze 1807 Briseis 1808 Morel 1809 Maid of Orleans 1810 Oriana 1811 Sorcery 1812 Manuella 1813 Music 1814 Medora 1815 Minuet 1816 Landscape 1817 Neva 1818 Corinne 1819 Shoveler 1820 Caroline 1821 Augusta 1822 Pastille ‡ 1823 Zinc 1824 Cobweb 1825 Wings 1826 Lilias 1827 Gulnare 1828 Turquoise 1829 Green Mantle 1830 Variation 1831 Oxygen 1832 Galata 1833 Vespa 1834 Pussy 1835 Queen of Trumps 1836 Cyprian 1837 Miss Letty 1838 Industry 1839 Deception 1840 Crucifix ‡ 1841 Ghuznee 1842 Our Nell 1843 Poison 1844 The Princess 1845 Refraction 1846 Mendicant 1847 Miami 1848 Cymba 1849 Lady Evelyn 1850 Rhedycina 1851 Iris 1852 Songstress 1853 Catherine Hayes 1854 Mincemeat 1855 Marchioness 1856 Mincepie 1857 Blink Bonny † 1858 Governess 1859 Summerside 1860 Butterfly 1861 Brown Duchess 1862 Feu de Joie 1863 Queen Bertha 1864 Fille de l'Air 1865 Regalia 1866 Tormentor 1867 Hippia 1868 Formosa ₩ ‡ 1869 Brigantine 1870 Gamos 1871 Hannah ₩ 1872 Reine 1873 Marie Stuart 1874 Apology ₩ 1875 Spinaway 1876 Camelia (dh) 1876 Enguerrande (dh) 1877 Placida 1878 Jannette 1879 Wheel of Fortune 1880 Jenny Howlet 1881 Thebais 1882 Geheimniss 1883 Bonny Jean 1884 Busybody 1885 Lonely 1886 Miss Jummy 1887 Reve d'Or 1888 Seabreeze 1889 L'Abbesse de Jouarre 1890 Memoir 1891 Mimi 1892 La Fleche ₩ 1893 Mrs Butterwick 1894 Amiable 1895 La Sagesse 1896 Canterbury Pilgrim 1897 Limasol 1898 Airs and Graces 1899 Musa 1900 La Roche 1901 Cap and Bells II 1902 Sceptre ₩ ‡ 1903 Our Lassie 1904 Pretty Polly ₩ 1905 Cherry Lass 1906 Keystone II 1907 Glass Doll 1908 Signorinetta † 1909 Perola 1910 Rosedrop 1911 Cherimoya 1912 Mirska 1913 Jest 1914 Princess Dorrie 1915 Snow Marten 1916 Fifinella † 1917 Sunny Jane 1918 My Dear 1919 Bayunda 1920 Charlebelle 1921 Love in Idleness 1922 Pogrom 1923 Brownhylda 1924 Straitlace 1925 Saucy Sue 1926 Short Story 1927 Beam 1928 Toboggan 1929 Pennycomequick 1930 Rose of England 1931 Brulette 1932 Udaipur 1933 Chatelaine 1934 Light Brocade 1935 Quashed 1936 Lovely Rosa 1937 Exhibitionnist 1938 Rockfel 1939 Galatea II 1940 Godiva 1941 Commotion 1942 Sun Chariot ₩ 1943 Why Hurry 1944 Hycilla 1945 Sun Stream 1946 Steady Aim 1947 Imprudence 1948 Masaka 1949 Musidora 1950 Asmena 1951 Neasham Belle 1952 Frieze 1953 Ambiguity 1954 Sun Cap 1955 Meld ₩ 1956 Sicarelle 1957 Carrozza 1958 Bella Paola 1959 Petite Etoile 1960 Never Too Late 1961 Sweet Solera 1962 Monade 1963 Noblesse 1964 Homeward Bound 1965 Long Look 1966 Valoris 1967 Pia 1968 La Lagune 1969 Sleeping Partner 1970 Lupe 1971 Altesse Royale 1972 Ginevra 1973 Mysterious 1974 Polygamy 1975 Juliette Marny 1976 Pawneese 1977 Dunfermline 1978 Fair Salinia 1979 Scintillate 1980 Bireme 1981 Blue Wind 1982 Time Charter 1983 Sun Princess 1984 Circus Plume 1985 Oh So Sharp ₩ 1986 Midway Lady 1987 Unite 1988 Diminuendo 1989 Snow Bride 1990 Salsabil 1991 Jet Ski Lady 1992 User Friendly 1993 Intrepidity 1994 Balanchine 1995 Moonshell 1996 Lady Carla 1997 Reams of Verse 1998 Shahtoush 1999 Ramruma 2000 Love Divine 2001 Imagine 2002 Kazzia 2003 Casual Look 2004 Ouija Board 2005 Eswarah 2006 Alexandrova 2007 Light Shift 2008 Look Here 2009 Sariska 2010 Snow Fairy 2011 Dancing Rain 2012 Was 2013 Talent 2014 Taghrooda 2015 Qualify 2016 Minding

Legend - ₩ = Fillies Triple Crown Winners, † = Epsom Derby Winners, ‡ = 2,000 Guineas Stakes Winners

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