Beningbrough (horse) facts for kids

Beningbrough (born 1791, died 1815) was a famous British Thoroughbred racehorse. He is best known for winning a major race called the St Leger Stakes in 1794. After his racing career, he became a very successful father (sire) to many other important racehorses.

Beningbrough raced from May 1794 until August 1797. During this time, he won eight out of his twelve races. After losing his very first race, he won his next four races when he was three years old. These wins included the St Leger and the Gold Cup at Doncaster Racecourse. He raced less often in the following years. After retiring from racing, he became a top breeding stallion. Many of his children and grandchildren became important winners too.

Meet Beningbrough: A Big Bay Horse

Beningbrough was a bay horse, meaning he had a reddish-brown body and a black mane and tail. He was known for his "great size." He was born, owned, and trained by John Hutchinson, who lived in Shipton, North Yorkshire. Beningbrough was named after a nearby village.

His father was a successful racehorse named King Fergus. King Fergus also lived at Hutchinson's farm for much of his breeding career. King Fergus was also the father of another famous horse, Hambletonian. Hambletonian won the St Leger and became a very important breeding stallion. Beningbrough's mother was a mare (female horse) owned by Mr Fenwick. She was the mother of twelve foals, and Beningbrough was her seventh.

Beningbrough's Racing Adventures

1794: A Winning Start at Three Years Old

Beningbrough had his first race on May 29, 1794, at York Racecourse. He was in a sweepstakes race, which means all the owners put money into a pot, and the winner took it all. He was the favorite to win, but he came in second place. The winner was a grey horse named Prior.

Beningbrough returned to York for two more races in August, and he won both of them! First, he beat two other horses in a two-mile race. Then, two days later, he won another race, beating five other horses.

On September 17, Beningbrough competed in the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse. This was a very important race. He was the second favorite to win. Ridden by jockey John Jackson, Beningbrough won the classic race. He beat Prior (the horse who beat him earlier) and another grey horse.

The very next day, Beningbrough raced against older horses in the four-mile Gold Cup. He was the favorite to win, and he did! He beat a mare named Constant.

1795: New Owner, More Wins

In August 1795, Beningbrough and another horse named Hambletonian were sold. Sir Charles Turner bought them for a lot of money – 3,000 guineas! (A guinea was an old British coin worth a bit more than a pound).

Beningbrough didn't race until August 28 that year. He was the favorite in a race called the Great Subscription Purse. However, he finished last out of three horses. It was said that Beningbrough and another horse named Bennington raced too hard against each other at the start. This allowed the third horse, Brilliant, to save energy and win the race.

The next month, Beningbrough returned to Doncaster for three more races. On September 22, he won a special match race against Bennington. This was a four-mile race for 500 guineas. The next day, he won the Doncaster Stakes, beating Brilliant and Eliza. A day later, he won another race that was run in two parts, beating Brilliant in both parts.

1796: Just Two Races at Five Years Old

Beningbrough only raced twice in 1796, both times at York in August. On August 20, he won another match race. He beat a horse named Ormond over four miles, winning 500 guineas. Four days later, he was the favorite in another Great Subscription Purse race. But this time, he was beaten by the mare Eliza.

1797: The Final Race Season

In early 1797, John Hutchinson bought Beningbrough back from Sir Charles Turner. Beningbrough's last racing season was again at the August meeting in York. Hutchinson received 50 guineas when another horse didn't show up for a planned race against Beningbrough.

Five days later, Beningbrough ran his final race. He finished second to Hambletonian in a Great Subscription Purse race.

Beningbrough's Life as a Sire

After his racing career, Beningbrough became a breeding stallion at Shipton. This meant he would father new racehorses. At first, his fee (the cost to have a mare bred to him) was six guineas and a crown.

By 1803, many of his children were winning races. So, his fee went up to ten and a half guineas! In 1808, he moved to a new place in Middleham. Here, his fee was even higher, twenty-five guineas. Owners had to send written requests to have their mares bred to him.

Beningbrough stayed at Middleham until he passed away on February 7, 1815. He was buried under a mulberry tree in front of the house.

Beningbrough was a very successful father to many famous racehorses. Some of his best winning children included:

• Oriana
• Ashton
• Briseis
• Orville (who also became a champion sire)

Another one of his sons was Scud, who won the Doncaster Cup. Scud then became the father of two Derby winners, Sam and Sailor. Beningbrough was also great at siring mares (female horses) who became excellent mothers themselves. Some of his famous grandchildren included Doctor Syntax, Variation, Reveller, and The Duchess.