Hollandoise facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hollandoise |
|
---|---|
Sire | Matchem |
Grandsire | Cade |
Dam | Virago |
Damsire | Panton's Arabian |
Sex | Mare |
Foaled | 1775 |
Country | Kingdom of Great Britain |
Colour | Grey |
Breeder | Thomas Stapleton |
Owner | Thomas Stapleton and Sir Thomas Gascoigne |
Trainer | Joseph Rose |
Record | 14 starts, eight wins |
Major wins | |
St. Leger Stakes (1778) |
Hollandoise, sometimes called Hollandaise, (born 1775, died 1782) was a special grey British Thoroughbred mare. She won the 1778 St. Leger Stakes, becoming the first horse to win this important race under its official name. Hollandoise raced sometimes between 1778 and 1782. Out of 14 races, she won eight of them. Sadly, she passed away suddenly in 1782, shortly after her last race, and didn't have any foals.
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Hollandoise's Early Life and Family
Hollandoise was born in 1775 at the farm of her breeder, Thomas Stapleton. This farm was located in Carleton, near Snaith, in Yorkshire, England.
Her Parents and Grandparents
Hollandoise's father was a famous stallion named Matchem. He was a very important horse in the history of Thoroughbreds. Matchem was known for being brave and strong. Her mother was a mare named Virago. Virago's father was an Arabian horse called Panton's Arabian. This Arabian stallion was brought to England and owned by a jockey named Thomas Panton.
Her Mother's Racing Career
Virago, Hollandoise's mother, was also a successful racehorse in the 1760s. She won many races over long distances, including several "King's Plates." After her racing career, Virago became a breeding mare for Thomas Stapleton and Sir Thomas Gascoigne.
Hollandoise's Siblings
Virago had nine foals between 1769 and 1779. Hollandoise was her fifth foal. Hollandoise had a full brother, meaning they had the same parents, named Tarare. He was also grey. She also had a half-sister named Gunilda. Gunilda's descendants include a successful American racehorse also named Virago, and even Kentucky Derby winner Spokane.
Her Owners
During her racing days, Hollandoise was owned by two people: Thomas Stapleton and Sir Thomas Gascoigne. Thomas Stapleton thought Hollandoise was his "favorite mare." Sadly, because she died so suddenly in 1782, no special painting or portrait was ever made of her.
Hollandoise's Racing Adventures
Hollandoise didn't race when she was two years old. Her very first race was the famous St. Leger Stakes.

Winning the St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a two-mile race. It had been run at Doncaster every September since 1776. However, it wasn't officially called the St. Leger until the race on September 22, 1778.
Before the race, people bet on the horses. Hollandoise was given odds of 5-2, meaning she wasn't the top favorite. The favorite horse was a colt owned by Sir John L. Kaye. Hollandoise was ridden by jockey George Herring. She beat seven other horses, with the favorite colt finishing second. People said it was an "easy" win for Hollandoise.
Later Races and Victories
Hollandoise didn't race at all in 1779. In 1780, she ran only once. She won a special "match race" worth 500 guineas against a colt named Sting. A match race is when only two horses race against each other.
In April 1781, Hollandoise raced at Newmarket. She lost a 200-guinea "sweepstakes" race to a horse named Dictator. Soon after this race, she was sold to Lord Clermont.
She raced again in September 1781 at Swaffham. She won a 50-guinea "subscription race" against Rodney. The next day, she won another match race against a horse named Epsom for £50. However, there was a disagreement about her weight allowance, so the prize money was split between her owner and Epsom's owner.
In October 1781, Hollandoise lost a subscription race to Woodpecker. This was Woodpecker's last race. Hollandoise finished the season strong at Newmarket, winning two "Purse" races, one for 140 guineas and another for 70 guineas.
Her Final Races
In 1782, Hollandoise raced at the Craven meeting. She lost the Craven Stakes to Pot-8-Os, who later became a very important horse for breeding. She also lost a subscription race to Buccaneer.
At Newmarket, she won the King's Stakes, beating a horse named Standby. She lost again to Pot-8-Os in a 25-guinea subscription race. A few weeks later, she won a £50 race at Newmarket, beating Anvil and Arske.
Lord Clermont also received 85 guineas when another horse, Fearnought, backed out of a match race against Hollandoise.
Hollandoise passed away suddenly in May or June 1782, shortly after her last race. Years later, a writer for Sporting Magazine said that Hollandoise was "allowed to be as good a mare as any that ever ran in England." This means many people thought she was one of the best racehorses in England.