Cockfighter (horse) facts for kids

Cockfighter (born 1796, died 1807) was a famous British racehorse. He was a special type of horse called a Thoroughbred, known for speed. Cockfighter was also a "sire," meaning he was used for breeding other racehorses. He is most famous for winning the important St Leger Stakes race in 1799.

Cockfighter raced from May 1799 to August 1802. He won 10 out of his 18 races! His first name was Abraham Newland. But he was renamed Cockfighter after Henry Tempest Vane bought him. This new name showed the owner's interest in cockfighting.

At his very first race, Cockfighter ran off the track. But after that, he didn't lose for over two years! He won the St Leger, the Doncaster Cup, and several races at York Racecourse. People thought he was the best horse in Northern England. He won the Craven Stakes in 1802. He stopped racing later that year after some losses. Cockfighter became a breeding horse, but he died in 1807 when he was only 11 years old.

About Cockfighter

Cockfighter was a bay or brown horse. This means he had a brown body with a black mane and tail. His first owner, Mr J Robinson, bred him.

Cockfighter's father was a horse named Overton. Overton won the Doncaster Cup in 1792. Cockfighter's mother was Palmflower. She came from a famous horse family. This family also included horses like Spread Eagle and Didelot, who won the Epsom Derby.

Cockfighter was first named Abraham Newland. This was after a real person who was in charge of the Bank of England's money. His name was also a slang term for a bank note.

Cockfighter's Racing Career

1799: Three-Year-Old Season

Abraham Newland first raced at York Racecourse on May 29. It was a two-mile race for horses of all ages. He didn't finish the race because he "ran out of the course," meaning he ran off the track.

Two days later, he raced again at York. This race had several "heats," which are like rounds. The first horse to win two heats won the prize. Abraham Newland came second in the first heat. But he won the next two heats!

The next day, a cockfight took place. Birds owned by Sir Harry Tempest Vane won. He earned over 300 guineas (an old type of money). Soon after, Tempest Vane bought Abraham Newland. He renamed him Cockfighter.

Cockfighter's first race for his new owner was on September 4. This was at Richmond Racecourse. He was the favorite to win the four-mile Richmond Gold Cup. He won the race, beating a grey horse named Baron Nile.

On September 24, Cockfighter raced in the 24th St Leger Stakes. This important race was two miles long at Doncaster Racecourse. Seven horses competed. Cockfighter, ridden by his trainer Tom Fields, was the favorite. He won the race!

The next day, Cockfighter ran in the Doncaster Cup. This race was four miles long. The 1798 St Leger winner, Symmetry, was also in this race. Cockfighter was again the favorite. He won, beating Expectation and Symmetry. After the St. Leger, his owner reportedly rode Cockfighter through Hyde Park. This was unusual because the horse was so valuable.

1800: Four-Year-Old Season

Cockfighter started his four-year-old season at York in August. He didn't have to race on the Saturday of the meeting. Another horse was pulled from a race, so Tempest Vane won 250 guineas without Cockfighter running.

Two days later, Cockfighter won the York Oatlands Stakes. He beat Wonder and Sir Harry in this two-mile race. On the Friday of the meeting, Cockfighter raced in the Great Subscription Purse. This race was four miles long. He ran off the track for a bit, but he came back and won! He beat a grey mare named Constantia.

At Doncaster in September, Cockfighter skipped the Doncaster Cup. Instead, he ran in the Doncaster Stakes. He was a huge favorite to win. He easily won against his only opponent, a three-year-old horse named Hyacinthus.

1801: Five-Year-Old Season

In 1801, Cockfighter was supposed to race against a horse named Warter. This was at the Newmarket Craven meeting in April. But Warter didn't show up. So, Tempest Vane won 500 guineas without a race.

Cockfighter's first real races of the season were at York in August. He raced in two parts of the Great Subscription Purse. In the five-year-olds' race, he won against Constantia again. The next day, he won the race for older horses. He beat six other horses, including Jonah.

Cockfighter had won his last nine races in a row! People thought he was the best horse in the North of England. He then raced at the St Leger meeting at Doncaster. On September 19, he lost for the first time in over two years. He was beaten by Sir Solomon in a four-mile race. This race was very exciting, and people bet a lot of money on it. Four days later, Cockfighter was the favorite for the Doncaster Stakes. But he finished third out of four horses.

1802: Six-Year-Old Season

Cockfighter started his last racing season on April 19 at Newmarket. He was the favorite for the Craven Stakes. This race was about 1.25 miles long. He won the race, which was his last victory.

Three days later, he lost a race to Warter. At the next Newmarket meeting in May, Cockfighter finished second in a King's Plate race. Two weeks later, he was the favorite for the Jockey Club Plate. But he was beaten by Quiz, who won the St Leger in 1801.

Cockfighter finished his racing career at York in August 1802. He came third in a four-mile race. He carried a heavy weight of 121 pounds. He was also beaten by Sir Solomon in another Great Subscription Purse race.

Life After Racing

After racing, Cockfighter became a breeding stallion. He started his breeding career at Brompton. The fee to breed with him was three guineas for "blood mares" (special breeding horses). It was one and a half guineas for "country mares" (regular horses).

In 1806, he moved to Middlethorpe. His breeding fee went up to five guineas a year later. His best child was probably a horse named Gilliver. Gilliver won the Fitzwilliam Stakes in 1809. Cockfighter died in 1807 when he was 11 years old.