Assassin (horse) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Assassin |
|
---|---|
Sire | Sweetbriar |
Grandsire | Syphon |
Dam | Angelica |
Damsire | Snap |
Sex | Stallion |
Foaled | 1779 |
Country | Kingdom of Great Britain |
Colour | Bay |
Breeder | Lord Egremont |
Owner | Lord Egremont |
Trainer | F. Nealy |
Record | 11: 8–2-1 (incomplete) |
Major wins | |
Epsom Derby (1782) |
Assassin (born in 1779 – died around 1794) was a famous Thoroughbred racehorse. He is best known for winning the important Epsom Derby race in 1782. His owner, Lord Egremont, won the Derby for the very first time with Assassin. Assassin raced until he was five years old. After his racing days, he became a breeding horse at Lord Egremont's farm, but he wasn't very successful at producing champion offspring.
Contents
About Assassin's Early Life
Assassin was born in 1779. He was born at Petworth House, which was the estate of his owner, Lord Egremont.
- His Father: Assassin's dad was a horse named Sweetbriar. Sweetbriar was an amazing racehorse who never lost a race! He won a lot of money for his owner.
- His Mother: Assassin's mom was a mare named Angelica. She was born in 1761. Assassin was her eighth foal. She had eleven foals in total between 1768 and 1782. Angelica passed away in 1787.
Assassin's Racing Career
Assassin was trained by F. Neale at Newmarket. He raced until he was five years old. During his career, he won eight races. After his racing days were over, he went to Lord Egremont's farm at Petworth House to become a breeding horse.
Racing as a Two-Year-Old (1781)
When Assassin was two years old, he had his first races.
- In October, at Newmarket, Assassin won a "match race." This is a special race where only two horses compete against each other. He beat a horse named Puzzle.
- He didn't win any more races that year. He came in second place in two other races.
- He also had to "forfeit" one race. This means his owner paid money instead of letting Assassin race.
Racing as a Three-Year-Old (1782)
This was a very important year for Assassin!
- At the Craven meeting, Assassin received 70 "guineas." A guinea was a type of British coin. He got this money because two other horses pulled out of a big race.
- At another meeting, Assassin won a "sweepstakes" race. He beat a horse named Berwick. A sweepstakes race is where the prize money comes from the entry fees of all the horses.
Winning the Epsom Derby
- On May 9th, at Epsom, Assassin won the famous Epsom Derby!
- He beat Sweet Robin and Fortunio in this big race.
- This was the first time Lord Egremont won the Derby. He would go on to win it four more times with other horses later on.
- After the Derby, Assassin won another race in July.
- In October, he won another match race against a horse named Achilles. He also forfeited another match race that month.
Racing as a Four-Year-Old (1783)
Assassin continued to race well when he was four.
- At the Craven meeting, Assassin received money because another horse, Ascot, forfeited a race against him.
- At the Newmarket spring meeting, he received more money from another forfeited race.
- A few days later, he won a match race against a famous horse named Pot-8-Os.
- He also won two more races at the Second Spring Meeting.
Racing as a Five-Year-Old (1784)
This was Assassin's last year of racing.
- At the Second Spring Meeting, he came in third place in a sweepstakes race.
- He forfeited another match race a few days later.
- In July, his owner paid money to avoid a match race with Young Eclipse, who had won the Derby in 1781.
Assassin's Breeding Career
After his racing career, Assassin became a "stud horse." This means he was used to breed with mares to produce new foals.
- By 1789, Assassin was still at Petworth House. Owners would pay a fee to have their mares bred with him.
- In 1793, he moved to Langley Park. His breeding fee was 3 guineas.
- His fee was lowered to 2 guineas in 1794.
- Assassin was not very successful as a breeding horse. His most well-known offspring were two fillies (female horses) named Cow and Rag.
Images for kids
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Assassin's Derby win was the first for Lord Egremont, who would go on to win the event four more times.