Gohanna facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gohanna
Sire	Mercury
Grandsire	Eclipse
Dam	Herod mare
Damsire	Herod
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1790
Country	Great Britain
Colour	Bay
Breeder	George Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont
Owner	3rd Earl of Egremont
Trainer	Mr. Brown

Gohanna (born 1790 – died April 1815) was a famous British racehorse. He is best known for coming in second place to another famous horse, Waxy, in the 1793 Epsom Derby. After his racing days, Gohanna became a very successful father (sire) to many racehorses in the late 1700s and early 1800s.

When he first started racing, Gohanna didn't have an official name. People called him "Brother to Precipitate" because he was the full brother of a well-known racer. He finally got his name, Gohanna, in 1795. He spent his entire career as a sire at Petworth House, where he fathered many winners, including two Derby champions, Election and Cardinal Beaufort.

Gohanna's Early Life and Looks

Gohanna was born in 1790 at a stud farm near Lewes, owned by the Earl of Egremont. He was a bay horse, meaning he had a reddish-brown body with a black mane, tail, and lower legs. He also had a small white star on his forehead.

Gohanna was described as a strong, stocky horse with short legs. He looked more like a hunter than a typical racehorse. This was quite different from his rival, Waxy, who was taller and had a more delicate build.

Gohanna's father was a horse named Mercury, and his mother was an unnamed mare by Herod. Both Gohanna and Waxy had similar family trees, with their ancestors tracing back to famous horses like Eclipse and the Darley Arabian.

Back in those days, racehorses didn't always get official names right away. For his first two years of racing, Gohanna was simply known as "Lord Egremont's bay colt by Mercury" or "Brother to Precipitate." He was officially named "Gohanna" in 1795. The name came from some hills on Lord Egremont's land, where he kept his female horses (broodmares).

Gohanna's Racing Career

Lord Egremont trained his horses at his estate, Petworth House, with the help of his trainer, Mr. Brown. Gohanna was sometimes called the "Pride of Petworth." He raced against Waxy six times during his career. Waxy usually won, but Gohanna did beat him once in a special race called a match race in 1794. In that race, Waxy carried a bit more weight than Gohanna, and Gohanna won by a very small margin.

1793: Three-Year-Old Season

Gohanna didn't race when he was two years old. His first race was in April 1793. He came in second in one race and won another.

The most important race for Gohanna that year was the Epsom Derby on May 18. Many people came to watch the race. Eleven horses competed, and Gohanna was one of the favorites to win. However, Waxy, who wasn't expected to do well, surprised everyone.

At the start of the Derby, Gohanna took the lead. But at the first turn, Waxy bumped Gohanna a little and took the lead. Waxy then held onto his lead and won the Derby easily.

Later that year, Gohanna won a big sweepstakes race and also beat a filly (young female horse) named Caelia in a match race.

1794: Four-Year-Old Season

In April, Gohanna won a sweepstakes race. A few days later, he won the Claret Stakes, a race worth 1,000 guineas. He then lost to Waxy in the Jockey Club Plate.

However, the very next day, Gohanna got his revenge! He beat Waxy in a 100-guinea match race. This was a big win for Gohanna. He also won a 1,200-guinea sweepstakes race in July. But later that same day, he lost to Waxy again in a four-mile race. Gohanna continued to race well, winning another match race in October.

1795: Five-Year-Old Season

This was the year Gohanna officially got his name. He won a match race against a horse named Darsham. He also won two King's Plate races, which were important races at the time, in Lichfield and Warwick.

1796: Six-Year-Old Season

Gohanna raced against Waxy again in May. It was a tough race with three heats (parts). Gohanna came in second in two heats and even tied with Waxy in one heat. Waxy eventually won the race.

In August, Gohanna won two more King's Plate races without much trouble. He also won a County Plate race. Later that month, Waxy beat Gohanna again in another King's Plate race. Gohanna finished the season by winning two more heats of a King's Plate race in Warwick.

Later Racing Years

Gohanna continued to race in 1797, 1798, 1799, and 1800. He had some wins, including a County Plate race in 1798 and a race in Brighton in 1799. His last win was in 1800, when he won the County Plate at Lewes. After that win, Gohanna retired from racing at the end of the 1800 season.

Gohanna's Stud Career

After retiring from racing in 1801, Gohanna became a sire (a father horse) at Petworth House. He spent 14 years there, and he was very successful.

Gohanna fathered many excellent racehorses. Two of his sons, Election and Cardinal Beaufort, both won the famous Derby race. He also sired other good horses like Canopus and Golumpus.

Sadly, unlike Waxy, Gohanna's direct male family line eventually ended. His last male descendant, a horse named Warwick, died in 1894. However, Gohanna's daughters also produced champions. For example, one of his daughters was the grandmother of Frederick, another Derby winner.

Gohanna died in April 1815, at the age of 25.

Images for kids

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  Gohanna was bred and owned by the Earl of Egremont and stood his entire stud career at Petworth House.