Noble (horse) facts for kids

Noble (born in 1783) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was also a sire, meaning he became a father to other horses. Noble raced from May 1786 to May 1788. During this time, he ran at least three races and won two of them.

He famously won the seventh ever Derby race. This was a big surprise because he was a 30/1 outsider, meaning most people didn't expect him to win. It was probably his very first race! His only other win happened later that year at Newmarket. After his racing days, Noble became a breeding stallion for several years. However, his children didn't become famous winners.

About Noble

Noble was a bay (brown) horse. He stood about 15.1 hands tall. This is how horse height is measured. His owner, Thomas Panton, was also his breeder. This means Panton raised Noble from when he was a foal.

Noble's father was a very successful racehorse named Highflyer. Highflyer also became an amazing breeding stallion. He was named the 'Champion Sire' 13 times! Noble's mother was a mare (female horse) named Brim. She was an important broodmare. This means she had many successful offspring. Two other Derby winners, Cedric and Doncaster, were also related to Brim.

There are not many records about all of Noble's races. He likely ran more races than the three we know about.

Noble's Racing Career

1786: A Three-Year-Old Star

It seems Noble had never raced before the Derby. This big race was likely his first time on a racecourse. On May 31, Noble competed in the Derby at Epsom. He was a huge outsider at 30/1 odds. There were fifteen horses in the race. Dennis O'Kelly's filly (young female horse) Scota was the favorite. Lord Grosvenor's colt (young male horse) Meteor was also a top choice.

Noble was ridden by a jockey named J. White. He surprised everyone by winning the race! Meteor came in second, and Claret finished third. After losing to Noble, Meteor went on to win his next 21 races. This set a British record!

Noble took a long break after the Derby. He returned to racing almost five months later. This was at Newmarket in the autumn. He ran in a 200 guinea Sweepstakes race. This race was about ten furlongs long. Noble won by beating a horse named Brother to Steady.

1788: Five-Year-Old Race

On May 7, 1788, Noble raced again at Epsom. This was the same place he won the Derby. The race was run in a series of four-mile heats. Noble was the favorite to win this time. However, a six-year-old mare named Cowslip won the race. Cowslip had won the 1785 St Leger race. The records don't say which horses finished second or third.

Noble's Life as a Sire

In 1790, Noble became a stallion at Hampton Lodge in Surrey. His fee for breeding was 2 guineas. By 1793, he had moved to Mitchen Hall. People said he was "a sure foal-getter." They also said his babies were "handsome, large and bony."

By 1796, his breeding fee had gone up to 3 guineas. He was then based in Yateley, Hampshire. After 1796, Noble's name no longer appeared in lists of stallions. This suggests he stopped being a breeding horse.

Only one of Noble's foals is officially recorded in the General Stud Book. This was a colt named Sheet Anchor. He was born in 1795. This might mean Noble mainly bred with non-Thoroughbred mares. An old report from 1822 mentioned two other foals. These were Young Noble and Mary Grey. However, the report noted that "very few of his get were ever trained." This means not many of his children became racehorses.