Serjeant (horse) facts for kids

Serjeant (born in 1781) was a famous British Thoroughbred racehorse. He raced from 1784 to 1787, winning eight of his sixteen races. In 1784, he won the fifth-ever Epsom Derby. This was the first time the Derby was run at its current distance. Serjeant continued racing for three more years, winning important races at Newmarket. After he retired, he disappeared from official records.

Meet Serjeant, the Racehorse!

Serjeant was bred by his owner, Colonel Dennis O'Kelly. His father was a legendary horse named Eclipse. Eclipse was undefeated in all his races. He became one of the most important fathers of racehorses in history.

Serjeant was the second of three foals born to his mother, Aspasia. This made him the brother of Dungannon. Dungannon was also a great racehorse, winning nineteen races.

Serjeant's Racing Adventures

1784: A Champion at Three Years Old

Serjeant started his racing career in the spring of 1784. His first race was at Newmarket. He was the favorite to win a 200 guinea race. A guinea was a type of gold coin used back then. Serjeant won this race, beating a horse named Cantator.

Winning the Epsom Derby

On May 28, Serjeant raced at Epsom. He was the top choice to win the Derby, with eleven horses competing. Ridden by John Arnull, Serjeant won the race! He beat Carlo Khan, who finished second. This Derby was special because it was the first one run over one and a half miles. The earlier Derby races were shorter.

After his big win, Serjeant took a break for over four months. He returned for two races at Newmarket in October. In one race, he was beaten by Dancer. But in another race, the Sion Stakes, he won. He carried more weight than his opponents, including Dancer and Carlo Khan.

1785: Four-Year-Old Season Challenges

As a four-year-old, Serjeant's first race was the Claret Stakes at Newmarket. This race was very long, about four miles. Serjeant did not finish among the top horses. He was beaten by Hardwicke. In his next race, he lost a special "match race" against Rockingham. A match race is when only two horses race against each other.

Later that year, Serjeant finished third in a race called the "1400 Guineas." He then won a 300-guinea match race against Cantator. In another planned match race against Dancer, Serjeant was pulled out. This meant his owner had to pay a "forfeit," a penalty fee.

1786: Five-Year-Old Season Highlights

In 1786, Serjeant lost a match race to Clayhall. But later at the same meeting, he won the "1200 Guineas" race. He was the favorite and beat four other horses, including Collector. His owner also collected a forfeit from Lord Derby when Dancer was withdrawn from another match race.

After this, Serjeant raced away from Newmarket for the first time since his Derby win. He raced at Winchester and Stockbridge but didn't win. At Maidenhead, he competed in a race with multiple heats. He didn't win any of the heats.

1787: A Strong Finish at Six Years Old

In his final racing season in 1787, Serjeant had a perfect record. At Newmarket, he raced against a horse named Balloon. Serjeant won this race, earning 200 guineas. This victory marked the end of his racing career. He retired undefeated in his last season.

Serjeant's Family Tree (Pedigree)