Daedalus (horse) facts for kids

Daedalus (born in 1791) was a famous British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was also a sire, meaning he fathered other horses. Daedalus had a very short racing career. It lasted only from April to October in 1794. During this time, he raced three times and won once. His biggest win was the Derby in 1794. He won this important race on his very first try!

About Daedalus

Daedalus was a bay horse, meaning he had a reddish-brown body with a black mane, tail, and lower legs. He was bred by his owner, Lord Grosvenor. Lord Grosvenor was a nobleman who owned many horses.

Daedalus's Family

Daedalus's mother was a mare named Flyer. She was also the mother of another famous horse, Rhadamanthus. Rhadamanthus had won the Derby in 1790. This means Daedalus had a brother who was also a Derby winner!

Daedalus's father was a horse named Justice. Justice also belonged to Lord Grosvenor. Justice had won two races at Newmarket during his own racing career.

Daedalus's Racing Days

Winning the Derby (1794)

Daedalus ran his very first race at Epsom on June 5, 1794. This race was the famous Derby. The Derby is one of the most important horse races in Great Britain.

Even though 49 horses were entered, only four actually ran in the Derby that year. This was the smallest number of horses ever to run in the Derby! Daedalus was ridden by a jockey named Frank Buckle. Daedalus won the race, beating the other horses. This was Lord Grosvenor's third Derby win in just five years. It was also Frank Buckle's second Derby victory.

Later Races

After his big Derby win, Daedalus took a break for four months. He returned to racing in October at Newmarket. On October 17, he ran in a race called a Sweepstakes. He was the favorite to win, but he finished second to a horse named Bennington.

Ten days later, Daedalus raced again in another Sweepstakes. This time, he finished fourth out of six horses. After these races, Daedalus was sold to a person named Mr. A Bayton. He never raced again after that.

Life After Racing

Not much is known about Daedalus after he was sold. He didn't become a famous father horse in Britain. The General Stud Book, which records horse families, says he was "sent to Russia."

In Russia, Daedalus was owned by Count Alexis Orlov. Count Orlov was famous for breeding trotting horses. These horses were used for harness racing, where horses pull a driver in a two-wheeled cart. Count Orlov created a special breed called the "Orlov Trotters." These horses became very famous in the 1800s and their bloodlines are still around today.