Ambrosio (horse) facts for kids

Ambrosio was a famous British Thoroughbred racehorse born in 1793. He is best known for winning the important classic race called the St Leger Stakes in 1796.

Ambrosio raced from May 1796 to September 1799. During this time, he won 15 out of his 23 races. When he was three years old, he raced in Yorkshire. He won his first three races there. Then, he became the top favorite to win the St Leger, beating six other horses.

For the next two years, he raced mostly at Newmarket. He won several races there, including parts of the Oatlands Stakes and the Jockey Club Plate. When he was six years old, he returned to Yorkshire. He won a part of the Great Subscription Purse at York. After this, he stopped racing and became a breeding stallion. Ambrosio stood as a breeding stallion in Great Britain and Ireland, but he didn't have much success in producing winning racehorses.

Background

Ambrosio was a bay horse, meaning he had a reddish-brown body and black mane and tail. He had a small white mark on his face. He was bred by J Lowther.

His father was a famous horse named Sir Peter Teazle. Sir Peter Teazle won The Derby in 1787. He became the most successful breeding stallion of his time. He was named Champion Sire ten times between 1799 and 1809.

Ambrosio's mother was a horse named Tulip. She was an important mother horse. Her other children and grandchildren included the Derby winner Pyrrhus the First and the 1000 Guineas winner Galantine.

Racing Career

1796: Three-Year-Old Season

Ambrosio's first race was at York Racecourse on May 27. He ran in a weight-for-age race where horses ran in short heats. The first horse to win two heats won the prize. Ambrosio finished fourth in the first heat but won the next two.

After this race, J Lowther sold Ambrosio to James Cookson. Ambrosio raced for his new owner at York in August. He won a two-mile race against Cardinal. Three days later, he won a similar race.

On September 27, Ambrosio was one of seven three-year-olds in the St Leger Stakes. This race was two miles long at Doncaster Racecourse. He was ridden by John Jackson. Ambrosio was the top favorite to win. He won the classic race, beating Cardinal and Rosolio.

The next day, he raced against older horses in the four-mile Gold Cup. He finished third behind Hambletonian and Sober Robin. In October, Ambrosio went to Newmarket Racecourse. He raced in the Oatlands Stakes and finished third.

1797: Four-Year-Old Season

In 1797, Ambrosio began racing in the south of England. His first race was at Newmarket in April. He was the favorite to win the Oatlands Stakes, a handicap race over two miles. He won against Stickler and five other horses.

Two days later, he raced against Little Devil in a 300 guinea match race. A match race is when only two horses compete. Ambrosio lost this race. At another Newmarket meeting, he finished third in the main Oatlands Stakes.

In May, Ambrosio had a match race against Spoliator. The race ended in a tie, so both owners got their money back. In July, he raced at Oxford but did not finish among the top horses.

Ambrosio returned to Newmarket in October. He finished second in one race. Then, he won a 200 guinea match race against Lop.

1798: Five-Year-Old Season

Ambrosio raced only at Newmarket in 1798. He started his season in April by winning a part of the Oatlands Stakes. He beat Stamford, who had been a favorite in the Derby and St Leger the year before.

Later in April, Ambrosio won the main Oatlands Stakes. He beat Stamford and Stickler while carrying a heavy weight. In May, Ambrosio was supposed to race three times. However, his opponents were withdrawn from two races, so he won without racing.

In the Jockey Club Plate, a four-mile race, Ambrosio was the favorite. He won against St George and two other horses.

After a summer break, Ambrosio returned in October. He won a 200 guinea race against St George and Aimator. Later, he finished fifth in another race. He ended his season by winning a 200 guinea match race against Oatlands.

1799: Six-Year-Old Season

Ambrosio started his six-year-old season by finishing unplaced in the Oatlands Stakes. He then won another race against Johnny and Spoliator.

In August, Ambrosio raced in the north of England for the first time since he was three. He raced in the Great Subscription Purse at York. He was the favorite and won against Harry Rowe.

In September, he returned to Doncaster for two match races. He lost to Timothy but ended his career with a win later that day. He won against Wonder, even though he carried more weight.

Stud Career

After he stopped racing, Ambrosio became a breeding stallion at Woburn, Bedfordshire. He was owned by Thomas Haworth. By 1803, he had moved to Barham Wood in Hertfordshire. His fee for breeding was ten guineas. He was advertised as "the best son of Sir Peter."

In 1804, when he was eleven years old, a famous artist named George Stubbs painted a picture of him. This painting was sold for $206,500 in 2008. Ambrosio stayed at Barham Wood until at least 1809. His breeding fee stayed the same.

Later, Ambrosio moved to Wood-Park in County Armagh, Ireland. His fee there was eight guineas. He didn't have a big impact as a breeding stallion. However, he was the grandfather of a horse named The Mummer, who won the July Stakes.