Quiz (horse) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Quiz
Quiz, engraving by Ben Marshall
Sire	Buzzard
Grandsire	Woodpecker
Dam	Miss West
Damsire	Matchem
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1798
Country	Kingdom of Great Britain
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Henry Goodricke
Owner	Gilbert Crompton Francis Dawson Francis Neale Lord Rous
Trainer	George Searle
Record	36: 21-7-2
Major wins
St Leger Stakes (1801) Jockey Club Plate (1802) Brocket-Hall Gold Cup (1802, 1803, 1804) King's Plate at York (1802) Great Subscription Purse (1802) Match against Highland Fling (1803) Oatlands Stakes (1803, 1806) Surrey Yeoman's Plate (1805) Reading Gold Cup (1805) Abingdon Members' Purse (1805)

Quiz (born 1798, died 1826) was a famous British Thoroughbred racehorse. He is best known for winning the important classic race, the St Leger Stakes, in 1801.

Quiz was a very strong and successful horse. He won at least one race every year for seven years, from 1801 to 1807. Besides the St Leger, he won many other big races. These included three Brocket Hall Gold Cups, two Oatlands Stakes races, and the Jockey Club Plate. He won 21 times out of 36 races for four different owners. After his racing career, he became a successful father (sire) to other racehorses.

About Quiz

Quiz was a chestnut horse, which means he had a reddish-brown coat. He also had a wide white stripe on his face, called a blaze, and white markings on two of his lower legs, called socks.

He was bred by Henry Goodricke and Giles Crompton. Quiz's mother, Miss West, was a very well-known "broodmare," which is a female horse used for breeding. She gave birth to many winning horses.

Quiz's father was a horse named Buzzard. Buzzard was a successful racehorse himself and later became an important "stallion," a male horse used for breeding. Buzzard also fathered other famous horses like Bronze, Rubens, and Selim.

Quiz's Racing Adventures

Starting His Career (1801)

Quiz didn't race when he was two years old. His first race was in August 1801 at York Racecourse. He finished third in his first race and second in his next.

On September 22, Quiz competed in the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse. This was a big race for young horses. Even though he hadn't won a race before (he was a "maiden"), Quiz surprised everyone! He won the classic race, beating Belleisle and Miracle. After this big win, he raced two more times in October. He won one race but was beaten by an older horse in another.

Four-Year-Old Season (1802)

The beautiful grounds of Brocket Hall, where Quiz won three Gold Cups.

In 1802, Quiz was sold to Francis Dawson and started racing in the south of England. He won a special "match race" against another horse in April. A match race is when only two horses compete against each other.

Later, Quiz faced a big challenge in the Jockey Club Plate. He beat Cockfighter, who had won the St Leger in 1799! In May, Quiz won his first Brocket Hall Gold Cup, beating five other horses.

He then went back north and won two more races at York. He won a King's Plate and a valuable race called the Great Subscription Purse.

Five-Year-Old Season (1803)

Quiz continued his winning streak in 1803. He won another match race against Highland Fling. The next day, he won the Oatlands Stakes, a race where horses carry different weights based on their past performance.

Sometimes, other horses would be removed from races against Quiz because their owners knew he was too good. This meant Quiz would "walk over" and win without even having to run! He won his second Brocket Hall Gold Cup this way. However, he did lose one match race to a horse named Dick Andrews.

Six-Year-Old Season (1804)

In 1804, Quiz started his fourth racing season. He won a race against a horse owned by the Prince of Wales (who later became King George IV).

He then raced against two very good mares (female horses). He finished second to Penelope and then second again to Eleanor, a horse who had won the Derby. However, when Quiz and Eleanor met again in the Brocket Hall Gold Cup, Quiz won! This was his third win in a row at Brocket Hall.

After this win, Quiz didn't race again that year. His owner, Francis Dawson, passed away, and Quiz was then owned by Francis Neale.

Seven-Year-Old Season (1805)

Quiz continued to race in 1805. He won two races at Epsom Downs Racecourse, including the Surrey Yeomens' Plate.

He raced at many different places that summer. He won the Reading Gold Cup, carrying a lot of weight. At another race in Egham, he ran off course and didn't finish. But he ended his season with a win at Abingdon.

Eight-Year-Old Season (1806)

In 1806, Quiz won the Oatlands Stakes again, carrying a heavy weight. He also finished second in a race against Orville, who had won the St Leger in 1802.

Quiz won another race at Ascot. His season ended in August at Oxford, where he finished second in one race and then "fell lame," meaning he got injured.

Nine-Year-Old Season (1807)

Quiz's last season of racing began in 1807. He was sold again and raced for Lord Rous. He won his very last race, beating a horse named Bustard. His final race was two days later, where he finished last. After this, Quiz retired from racing.

Life After Racing: Being a Sire

After his racing career, Quiz became a breeding stallion at Henham Hall in Suffolk. This meant he would father new racehorses. At first, his fee (the cost to breed with him) was ten guineas.

Even though he didn't breed with many mares, Quiz became a successful sire. Many of his children became good winners. Because of this, his fee went up in 1816.

Quiz lived a long life for a horse. He was healthy until June 14, 1826, when he died at the age of 28.

Quiz's Famous Children

Quiz's most famous child was probably Tigris, who won the 2000 Guineas race in 1815. He also fathered Tigris's full brother, Euphrates, who won the Doncaster Cup, and another horse named Roller, who won the Craven Stakes.

Images for kids

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  Quiz, engraving by Ben Marshall

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  The grounds of Brocket Hall, where Quiz won three Gold Cups.