Aimwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Aimwell |
|
|---|---|
| Sire | Mark Anthony |
| Grandsire | Spectator |
| Dam | sister to Postmaster |
| Damsire | Herod |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1782 |
| Country | Kingdom of Great Britain |
| Colour | Brown |
| Breeder | Mr. Carteret |
| Owner | Lord Clermont |
| Trainer | J. Pratt |
| Record | 8:5-2-1 |
| Major wins | |
| Epsom Derby (1785) | |
Aimwell was a famous British racehorse, born in 1782. He was a special type of horse called a Thoroughbred. Aimwell raced from late 1784 to spring 1786. During this time, he competed eight times and won five races! His biggest win was the Epsom Derby in 1785. He also won three races at Newmarket. After 1786, he wasn't seen in racing records anymore.
Contents
Aimwell's Story
Aimwell was a brown horse. He was named after a character in a play called The Beaux' Stratagem. Mr. Carteret bred Aimwell, but Lord Clermont owned him during his racing days.
Most modern Thoroughbreds come from three main horse families. But Aimwell was special! He came from a different family line, through a grey horse called Alcock's Arabian. Even though Aimwell's direct male family line ended, Alcock's Arabian helped pass on the grey color to many horses today.
Aimwell's father was a horse named Mark Anthony. Mark Anthony was a very good racer himself. He won twenty races at Newmarket in the 1770s. Aimwell's mother was a mare (female horse) by Herod. She was known as the sister to Postmaster.
Aimwell's Racing Career
1784: Two-Year-Old Races
Aimwell started his racing career in late 1784. He was just two years old. His first race was at Newmarket. He won a race worth 150 guineas. A guinea was an old British gold coin, worth about £1.05. He beat another colt named Archer over a distance of six furlongs. A furlong is about 200 meters. Archer was the favorite to win, but Aimwell surprised everyone!
1785: Three-Year-Old Races
In spring 1785, Aimwell raced Archer again at Newmarket. Aimwell won another 100 guineas. He carried seven pounds more weight than Archer in this race. This meant he had a handicap, but he still won!
At the same Newmarket event, he came in third in the Prince's Stakes. Then, on May 5th, he ran in the famous Epsom Derby at Epsom. Aimwell was not the favorite, starting at odds of 7 to 1. But he won the race! This was a huge victory for him.
After a break, Aimwell raced three more times in autumn. He won a "match race" at Newmarket. A match race is when only two horses race against each other. He won 300 guineas by beating a horse named Mousetrap. Later, he finished second in another race. In his last race of 1785, he won another match race. He gave 35 pounds of weight to his opponent, Blacklock, and still won 100 guineas.
1786: Four-Year-Old Races
Aimwell raced only once in 1786. He was four years old. He competed in a two-mile match race at Newmarket. He tried to give six pounds to his opponent, Balloon, but he was beaten this time.
Aimwell's Life After Racing
After his last race in 1786, there are no more records of Aimwell. We don't know what happened to him. He wasn't listed as a breeding horse (a "stallion") and didn't have any foals (baby horses) recorded.
