Beeswing (horse)

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Beeswing


caption = Beeswing
sire = Dr. Syntax
grandsire = Paynator
dam = Ardrossan mare
damsire = Ardrossan
sex = Mare
foaled = 1833
country = Great Britain flagicon|UK
colour = Bay
breeder = Nunnykirk Hall Stud
owner = William Orde, Jr.
trainer = James Watson
record = 63: 51-8-1
earnings = Not found
race = 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)
awards=
honours = Beeswing Stakes at Newcastle Racecourse
Beeswing Ladies Day at Newcastle Racecourse
Village named in Beeswing's honor
updated= October 17, 2007

Beeswing (1833-1854) was a 19th century British Thoroughbred racehorse from the north of England.

She raced at many venues between 1835 and 1842 and was a real crowd favourite. In her day, Beeswing was hailed as the greatest Mare in Britain and one of the greatest all time.

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 went back to the renowned Eclipse.

Entering 63 events, she won an incredible 51 times. Of the 57 races she finished, she was placed lower than 2nd on only one occasion. Her most notable victory was the 1842 Ascot Gold Cup.

Such was her fame that the Scottish village of Lochend, Dumfries and Galloway changed its name to Beeswing in her honor.

As a broodmare

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 genealogy 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

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/beeswing Beeswing's pedigree and partial racing stats]
* [http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Beeswing.html Profile of Beeswing at Thoroughbred Heritage]
* [http://www.northeasthistory.co.uk/the_north_east/history/echomemories/teesside/205/250505.html Story of Beeswing at The Northen Echo's History Pages (Newsquest Media Group - A Gannett Company)]

ee also

* Repeat winners of horse races

References

* [http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Beeswing.html Thoroughbred Heritage Portraits]
* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/beeswing Beeswing's pedigree]