Bay Middleton (horse)

Bay Middleton (1833-17 November 1857) was a Thoroughbred racehorse and important sire of racehorses.

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Bay Middleton


caption =
sire = Sultan
grandsire = Selim
dam = Cobweb
damsire = Phantom
sex = Stallion
foaled = 1833
country = Great Britain flagicon|UK
colour = Bay
breeder = George Child Villiers, 5th Earl of Jersey
owner = George Child Villiers, 5th Earl of Jersey
Lord George Bentinck
trainer = James Edwards
record = 6:6-0-0
earnings =
race = Epsom Derby (1836)
awards =
honours =
updated = August 26, 2007

Description

Bay Middleton had, as his namesake suggests, a bay coat, which was mottled and darkened as he aged, and three white coronary bands. He had a very nice shoulder, well laid back, and strong hindquarters and gaskins, but the 16 hand and 1/2 inch high colt also had weak loins and a very short back. Like his grandfather, he had a beautiful head and arching neck.

Breeding

Bay Middleton's breeding was superb. His grandsire, Selim, was not only extremely beautiful, but won several races including Newmarket's Oatlands two times. His sire, Sultan, ran from age 2 to 8, winning the July Stakes, the Trial Stakes (Newmarket) two times, and came second in the Derby. At stud, he was Leading Sire from 1832 to 1837, during which time he produced the likes of Glencoe, Achmet, Ibrahim, Augustus, Galata, Green Mantle, and Destiny.

Bay Middleton's dam, Cobweb, was referred to as the "Queen of racing mares." She was undefeated on the turf, winning the Oaks and the 1,000 Guineas. Cobweb was a granddaughter of the great mare, Web, who also produced the incredibly influential Trampoline (1825, also dam to 2,000 Guineas winner Glencoe), and Cobweb's dam Filagree (1815).

Filagree went on to produce two 1,000 Guineas winners: Charolotte West and Clementina. Clementia was also a successful broodmare, and from her descends the filly Jest, the St. Leger winner Black Jester, Royal Palace, 2,000 Guineas and Grand Prix de Paris winner Paradox, and the broodmare La Troienne. Filagree also produced two 2,000 Guineas winning sons—Riddlesworth and Achment (1834)—six winners of the Riddlesworth Stakes, and the stallion Young Emilius (1828, by Emilius), who was sold to France where he got Prix du Jockey Club winner Amalfi and Fitz-Emilius.

Cobweb produced Bay Middleton as her seventh foal.

Racing career

Bay Middleton was extremely difficult to ride, and Lord Jersey had to beg the great jockey James Robinson (who had ridden 5 Derby winners) to try him. Their first ride did not go well, as Bay Middleton broke his martingale and bolted. However, Robinson continued to ride the horse throughout his one-season career, in 1836.

In his maiden race, the Riddlesworth Stakes (Newmarket Craven) he beat five other horses in the "commonest of canters. " He was in good company that day, beating Mendicant, the 1,000 Guineas winner Destiny (by Sultan), and Magician (by Zinganee). He won his second race by walk over, for £150, before taking the 2,000 Guineas (Newmarket), beating Elis and four others at a speed which was is debated to have been a new record. He then won the Epsom Derby by two lengths, to beat 21 horses including Gladiator, Slane, and Venison. His next race was the Buckhurst Stakes (Ascot), where he won in a canter.

At the Grand Duke Michael Stakes, 21 horses withdrew to leave only Bay Middleton and St. Leger winner Elis. Bay Middleton pulled ahead, being hit once with the whip—the single time it was used in his career—to win by a length. The colt finished his race career with a match at Newmarket Houghton against Muezzin for 300 guineas. Despite carrying the greater weight, he won "with ridiculous ease."

Following this race, he was sold to Lord George Bentinck for 4,000 guineas, who wished to run the colt in the Ascot Gold Cup. However, this dream was never realized as Bay Middleton had physical problems with one of his forelegs, attributed to either the tendons or to a broken bone in his hoof. So he was retired and sent to stud.

Breeding career

Due to his fine bloodlines and excellent track record, Bay Middleton covered some very good quality mares. However, his get were average, and he was consided a failure at stud. Despite this fact, he managed to make to be the Leading Sire for two years: 1844 (48 winners) and 1849 (28 winners). He also got 4 classic winners, in the Flying Dutchman, The Hermit, Andover, and Aphrodite, but many of his get had a tendency to roar, and he also seemed to pass on club-footedness to his offspring (possibly due to the Soothsayer blood in his veins).

Bay Middleton stood at the brand-new Bentinck's stud, first for a fee of 30 guineas, which would drop during his breeding career to 10 guineas, before it reached 50 guineas at the end of his career. His ownership also changed during this time, as he was sold to E.L. Mostyn after Bentinck died in 1848. He died himself after an illness on November 17, 1857, and was buried near his stall door.

* The Flying Dutchman: 1846 brown colt, out of a Sandbeck mare, by far his best foal. He won all but one race, including two classic races (the Derby and the St. Leger), as well as the July Stakes at Newmarket, the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, the Bickerstaffe Stakes at Liverpool, the Belvoir Stakes, the Emperor of Russia's Plate (substitute Ascot Gold Cup) and a famous 1,000 guineas match against Voltigeur. He was second in the Leading Sires list for three years, and his get include Brown Duchess, Ellington (winner of the Derby), Flying Duchess (dam of Galopin, sire to St. Simon), and Dollar (sire of Upas and Androclès).

* Andover: 1851 bay colt, out of a Defence mare. Won the Derby over King Tom and 2,000 Guineas winner The Hermit. Sired nothing of note.

* The Hermit: 1851 brown colt, by a Touchstone mare. Won his first start—the Two Thousand Guineas— was third in the Derby and won the Ascot Gold Vase (beating Rataplan). Was sold to Australia, where he sired Ave Maria (dam of Reginald, and good race mare).

* Autocrat: 1851 colt, out of an Emilius mare, won the New Stakes at Ascot. Daughters included Queen Elizabeth (1859, dam to Plebian, who would beat the great Galopin)

* Aristides: 1840 colt, out of a Lottery mare, and a good racehorse.

* Gaper: 1840 colt, beat Derby-winner Cotherstone in the Criterion at Newmarket, third in the Gratwicke Stakes,won the Bickerstaffe Stakes at Liverpool. Went on to sire field hunters.

* Cowl: 1842 colt, out of Crucifix, won the 1844 Buckenham Stakes at a canter, the 1845 Ascot Produce Stakes, and ran third in the Emperor's Plate. Dislocated both hind pasterns and was retired to stud, where he was fairly successful. His get include Mme. Eglantine, who produced the runners Rosicrucian, The Palmer, and Morna, and the broodmares Monaca (dam to Stewards Cup winner Monico), Chaplet (dam to Ascot Gold Cup winner Morion, and Winkfield), Jocosa (dam to Woodcote Stakes winner Sabella), and Frivola. Also a daughter of Cowl was Morgan La Faye, who was dam to Oaks winner Marie Stuart.

* Ennui: 1843 filly, out of Blue Devils (by Velocipede), won the 300 sovereign sweeptstakes at the 1847 Goodwood. Dam to Goodwood Cup winner Saunterer, Loiterer, Lady Rodem (dam to Liddington), Bravery {dam to Ascot Gold Cup winning filly Rupee, and Salamanca, dam to St. Leger winner Pero Gomez).

* Sunflower: 1847 filly, dam to St. Leger winner Sunbeam, Gimcrack Stakes winner Rainbow, Mayflower (ancesstress to Celt), and Crocus (tail-end ancesstress to Gay Crusader, 1,000 Guineas winner Galeottia, and Grand National winners Royal Mail and Well to Do).

* Rose of Cashmere: 1842 filly, won the Nursery Stakes, dam to Eccleston (1851, by Touchstone), and Wild Rose.

* The Devil to Pay: 1841, won the Gorhambury Stakes handicap, second in the 1844 Two Thousand Guineas, third in 1845 Goodwood.

* Honeycomb: 1846 colt out of Beeswax, ran 4th in the 1849 Derby and St. Leger, both to The Flying Dutchman, 2nd in the Two Thousand Guineas, 2nd in the Ebor St. Leger at York.

* Barbatus: 1850 colt out of a Landercost mare, ran 3rd in the 1853 Two Thousand Guineas.

* Aphrodite: 1848 filly by a Sir Hercules mare, won the One Thousand Guineas, the Champagne Stakes and the Park Hill Stakes. 2nd in the Doncaster St. Leger, dead-heated in the July Stakes at Newmarket and lost in the run-off. Dam to Siderolite (winner of the Ascot Gold Vase and the Goodwood Cup) and Argonaut (winner of the 1865 City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom.

* Ellen Middleton: 1846 filly out of Myrrha (by Malek), 2nd in the Champagne Stakes to The Flying Dutchman, won the 1848 filly Sapling Stakes (York), the Yorkshire Oaks, and 2nd in the 1849 Doncaster Park Hill Stakes to Oaks winner Lady Evelyn. Dam to Derby winner Wild Dayrell (1852, winner of the Ebor St. Leger, the Queen's Vase at Ascot, and the Stockbridge Stewards' Cup; sire of Buccaneer, The Rake, and Wild Oats).

* Messalina: 1840 filly, produced the filly Slapdash (1855). Slapdash was dam to Fervacques (Grand Prix de Paris), Saltarelle (Prix du Jockey Club), Salteador (Prix Daru, Prix Lupin, others) and sire Saxifrage.

* All Round My Hat: 1842 filly out of 1837 One Thousand Guineas winner Chapeau d'Espagne, was a good runner.

* Princess Alice: 1843 filly out of a Velocipedemare, won Doncaster's Champagne Stakes and the Nassau Stakes.

* Pug: 1845 filly, 3rd in the Somersetshire Stakes at Bath

* Gaze: 1842 filly, sister to Gaper. Never raced, but produced American Eclipse, a great sire.

* Bridal: 1839 filly out of a Whalebone mare, dam to Troussau (1849, winner of the Gimcrack Stakes), Fichu (1866, winner of the Steward's Cup), and Special License.

* Unnammed mare (1839): out of Nitocris (by Whisker), granddam to Fisherman (1853, two-time winner of the Ascot Gold Cup), third dam of Gemma di Vergy

* Bay Missy: 1842 filly out of a Young Phantom mare, second dam of Ascot Gold Cup winner Scottish Chief

* Bouquet: 1856 out of a Melbourne mare, granddam to Ascot Stakes winner Chrypre

* Nun Appleton: 1845 filly out a Malek mare, dam to Attraction (1861, winner of sixteen races), and Julie (1856, dam to Beaufort Cup and Cesarewitch winner Julius and Royal Hunt Cup winner Julius Caesar). Second dam of Stewards Cup winner Sister Helen and Grand National Steeplechase winner Voluptuary.

* Rushlight: 1841 filly out of a Lamplighter mare, 2nd dam to Melbourne Cup and Victoria Derby winner Lantern.

ources

[http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/BayMiddleton.html Thoroughbred Heritage: Bay Middleton]