Ninety-three (horse) facts for kids

Ninety-three was a famous British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was born in 1790 and is best known for winning the important classic race, the St Leger Stakes, in 1793.

Even though he won a major race, the St Leger was his only victory. He raced six times between May 1793 and September 1794. After his racing career, he did not become a breeding stallion. His name is sometimes written as Ninety three or Ninety Three.

Meet Ninety-three: A Chestnut Champion

Ninety-three was a chestnut horse. This means he had a reddish-brown coat and a mane and tail that were usually the same color. He was bred by a person named John Clifton.

His father was a successful racehorse named Florizel. Florizel also had other famous racing children, including Derby winners Diomed and Eager. Ninety-three's mother was a mare named Nosegay. Before his first race, Ninety-three was sold a couple of times. First, he went to Thomas Vernon, and then to John Hutchinson.

Ninety-three's Racing Adventures

1793: His Big Win as a Three-Year-Old

Ninety-three, then owned by Mr. Hutchinson, had his first race on May 30 at York Racecourse. He ran in a race called a "sweepstakes" over about one and a half miles. He finished fourth out of seven horses.

Later that summer, his first breeder, John Clifton, bought him back. Ninety-three then raced at Doncaster Racecourse in the autumn. On September 24, he competed in the famous St Leger Stakes. He was one of eight three-year-old horses in the race.

Ninety-three was not expected to win, starting as an outsider. But, ridden by William Peirse, he surprised everyone! He won the classic race by running faster than Foreigner, with the favorite horse, Hornet, finishing third. The very next day, he ran in another race called the Gold Cup. He finished third out of seven horses in that race.

1794: Racing as a Four-Year-Old

As a four-year-old in 1794, Ninety-three did not win any races. However, he did finish first in some early parts of "heat" races.

His first race of the season was on July 9 at Nantwich. This was a sweepstakes race run in a series of three-mile heats. The first horse to win two heats would take the prize. Ninety-three won the first heat against his only opponent, a six-year-old horse named Tommy. But he was beaten in the next two heats.

Two weeks later, at Preston, he raced in another heat race. He finished second, then first, then third, and finally third again in the deciding heat. In September, he returned to Doncaster for the Gold Cup. He finished fourth out of seven horses in that race. The winner was another famous horse named Beningbrough.

Ninety-three's Life After Racing

After his racing career ended, Ninety-three was not used for breeding. He does not appear in any records as a stallion who produced foals.