Bucephalus (racehorse)

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Bucephalus
SireRegulus
GrandsireGodolphin Arabian
DamPartner mare
DamsirePartner
SexStallion
Foaled1764
CountryGreat Britain
ColourChestnut
BreederH. B. Osbaldeston
OwnerH. B. Osbaldeston
Peregrine Wentworth
1st Earl of Farnham
Major wins
5yo Great Subscription Purse (1769)
Last updated on 2 November 2012

Bucephalus (foaled 1764) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the Subscription Purse at York in 1768, but is best known for racing against the undefeated Eclipse in a match race in 1770.

Background[edit]

Bucephalus was a chestnut colt foaled in 1764 and bred by H. B. Osbaldeston.[1] He was a son of the undefeated and multiple times Champion sire Regulus and a Partner mare. Bucephalus was a full brother to Sultan and Sultana, and a half-brother to Constantine.[2]

Racing career[edit]

Bucephalus made his racecourse debut at Beverley in May 1768 in the Ladies' Plate of £50, where he beat Conjuror to win. He was then purchased by Peregrine Wentworth and started as the 1/2 favourite for the Subscription Purse of £361 10s at York. Ridden by Leonard Jewison, he won easily; beating Leith, Rambler and Baber. A few days later he easily beat All-fours over four miles to win 500 guineas. At Newmarket in April 1770 Bucephalus was beaten for the first time, losing a match race to the undefeated Eclipse. It was said that the race was Eclipse's hardest race, but the effort left Bucephalus unfit to run for the rest of the year. After the defeat he was sold to the 1st Earl of Farnham. He ran several more times at Newmarket for the Earl of Farnham, but didn't win any races and was sold back to H. B. Osbaldeston in March 1773. Bucephalus won the four-mile Annual Prize, before being retired from racing.[1]

Stud career[edit]

Bucephalus met with some success as a sire. His progeny included Junior, also owned by H. B. Osbaldeston.[1]

Pedigree[edit]

Pedigree of Bucephalus, chestnut stallion, 1764[2][3]
Sire
Regulus (GB)
1739
Godolphin Arabian
c.1700
(unknown) (unknown)
(unknown)
(unknown) (unknown)
(unknown)
Grey Robinson Bald Galloway St. Victor's Barb
Grey Whynot
Sister to Old Country Wench Snake
Grey Wilkes
Dam
Partner mare
Partner
1718
Jigg Byerley Turk
Charming Jenny
Sister to Mixbury Curwen's Bay Barb
Spot mare
Smiling Tom mare Smiling Tom Conyers Arabian
Chillaby mare
Almanzor mare Almanzor
(unknown)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Pick, William; Johnson, R. (1805). The Turf Register (Volume II). A. Bartholoman, High-Ousegate.
  2. ^ a b Pick, William; Johnson, R. (1803). The Turf Register. A. Bartholoman, High-Ousegate.
  3. ^ "Regulus". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-11-02.