Bend Or

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Bend Or


caption =
sire = Doncaster
grandsire = Stockwell
dam = Rouge Rose
damsire = Thormanby
sex = Stallion
foaled = 1877
country = Great Britain flagicon|UK
colour = Chestnut
breeder = Eaton Stud
owner = 1st Duke of Westminster
trainer = Robert Peck
record = 14: 10-2-0
earnings = US$90,304 (£ equivalent)
race = Chesterfireld Stakes (1879)
Richmond Stakes (1879)
Rous Memorial Stakes (1879)
Prince of Wales's Stakes (1879)
Epsom Derby (1880)
St. James's Palace Stakes (1880)
City and Suburban Handicap (1881)
Epsom Gold Cup (1881)
Champion Stakes (1881)
awards=
honours = Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland
(1901 & 1902)
updated= January 8, 2008

Bend Or (1877-1903) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 1880 edition of the Epsom Derby. His regular jockey Fred Archer, winner of thirteen consecutive British jockey titles, said Bend Or was probably the greatest horse he had ever ridden.

Bred and foaled at the 1st Duke of Westminster's Eaton Stud, Bend Or grew to be a large stallion but noted for his unusual gentility. He was sired by Doncaster from the mare Rouge Rose. His grandsire was Stockwell and his damsire Thormanby won the 1860 Epsom Derby and the 1861 Ascot Gold Cup and was 1869's leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland.

Racing at age two, Bend Or went undefeated in his five starts. At age three he also raced five times, starting the season by beating Robert the Devil by a head in England's most prestigious race, the Epsom Derby. Following his Derby win, a challenge to his pedigree was lodged that although dismissed, would forever remain the subject of controversy. Bend Or won his second start in 1880, the St. James's Palace Stakes but had to be given a few months rest due to shin problems exacerbated in his Derby win. The injury affected him for most of the remainder of the year as was evident in his first loss when he returned to racing for September's St. Leger Stakes. After finishing fifth behind winner Robert the Devil in the St. Leger, Bend Or was second to him again in the Great Foal Stakes and in the Champion Stakes.

Returning to the track at age four, Bend Or won the 1881 City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom Downs then avenged his previous year's losses, beating arch rival Robert the Devil in the Epsom Gold Cup. He won the 1881 Champion Stakes but bothered by a return of his leg problems, and under the heaviest weight, he finished fifth in the Cambridgeshire Handicap. He was then retired to breeding duties at his owner's Eaton Stud.

As a sire

Bend Or had white flecks on his Chestnut coat, and like his damsire Thormanby, had black spots on his neck, shoulder, and on his quarters. These markings often showed up in his progeny and is referred to as Bend Or spotting.

Standing at Eaton Stud, Bend Or sired only a few horses that met with racing success. However, among them were two British Classic Races winners: the undefeated Triple Crown champion Ormonde and 2,000 Guineas winner Bona Vista. In addition, Bend Or was twice the leading broodmare sire in Britain before his death at age twenty-six in January 1903. He was the damsire of Sceptre, winner of four classics in 1902. Important offspring in later generations include the champion sire, Phalaris, The Tetrarch, voted Britain's 2-year-old of the 20th Century, and the Australian racing star, Phar Lap. Bend Or was also the grandsire of the great American sprinter, Roseben.

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/bend+or Bend Or's pedigree and racing stats]
* [http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/BendOr.html Bend Or at Thoroughbred Heritage.com]
* [http://www.horseracinghistory.co.uk/hrho/action/viewDocument?id=830 Bend Or at the United Kingdom's National Horseracing Museum]