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. His racing career was short, lasting only from April to October in 1794. During this time, he raced three times and won once. His biggest win was the Derby, which he won in his very first race. He beat the smallest group of horses ever in that race! After two more races where he didn't win, he retired.

About Daedalus

Daedalus was a bay horse, which means he had a reddish-brown body and a black mane, tail, and lower legs. He was bred by his owner, Lord Grosvenor. Daedalus's mother was a mare named Flyer. She had also given birth to another Derby winner, Rhadamanthus, in 1790.

Daedalus and Rhadamanthus were the most well-known horses fathered by Lord Grosvenor's horse, Justice. Justice himself had won two races during his own racing career.

Daedalus's Racing Career

His First Race: The Derby

Daedalus began his racing career at the age of three. His very first race was the Derby at Epsom on June 5, 1794. Many horses had been entered for this important race, but only four actually ran. This was the smallest number of horses ever to compete in the Derby!

The favorite horse to win was Leon, owned by the Duke of Bedford. Another strong contender was an unnamed horse owned by Lord Egremont. Daedalus was not expected to win, starting with lower odds.

Winning the Derby

Daedalus was ridden by a jockey named Frank Buckle. To everyone's surprise, Daedalus won the race! He beat Lord Egremont's horse, with Leon finishing third. This victory was Lord Grosvenor's third Derby win in just five years. For jockey Frank Buckle, it was his second time winning the Derby. He would go on to win it five times in total.

Later Races in 1794

After his big Derby win, Daedalus took a break for four months. He returned to racing in the autumn at Newmarket. On October 17, he raced in a "Sweepstakes" race. A Sweepstakes is a type of race where the prize money comes from the entry fees paid by the owners.

Daedalus was the favorite to win this race, but he finished second to a horse named Bennington. Ten days later, Daedalus ran in another Sweepstakes race at the same track. This time, he finished fourth out of six horses, with Bennington winning again. After these races, Daedalus was sold to a new owner, Mr. A Bayton, and he did not race again.

Life After Racing

Not much is known about Daedalus after he was sold. He didn't become a well-known sire in Great Britain. Records show that he was "sent to Russia." In Russia, he was owned by Count Alexis Orlov. Count Orlov was famous for breeding "Orlov Trotters," which became a very popular breed of harness racehorse in the 1800s. These horses were known for their special trotting gait.

Family Tree (Pedigree)