The Baron (horse)

The Baron
SireBirdcatcher
GrandsireSir Hercules
DamEchidna
DamsireEconomist
SexStallion
Foaled1842 (1842)
Died1860 (aged 17–18)
CountryIreland
ColourDark Chestnut
BreederGeorge Watts of Dublin
Owner1) George Watts
2) John Scott
3) Edward Rawson Clark
4) John Theobald
5) Perrot de Thaunberg
TrainerJohn Scott
Major wins
Madrid Stakes (1845)
Kirwan Stakes (1845)
Waterford Stakes (1845)
St. Leger Stakes (1845)
Cesarewitch Handicap (1845)
Last updated on 29 September 2011

The Baron (1842–1860) was a Thoroughbred racehorse from Ireland, who also raced in England. Sired by Birdcatcher out of Echidna (by the English stallion Economist), he was also an influential sire in England, France and Australia.

Racing career

A dark chestnut colt with a star, snip, and white sock on his near (left) hind leg, The Baron won three of his four starts at the Curragh in Ireland as a three-year-old before being shipped to England in 1845 by his breeder, veterinary surgeon George Watts. He was then sold to John Scott with whom he won the 1¾-mile St. Leger Stakes and the 2¼-mile Cesarewitch Handicap, the latter under 7 st 9 lb (107 pounds or 49 kilograms) for 3,200 guineas. This was the largest purse ever awarded a three-year-old up to that time. The Baron was then purchased by Edward Rawson Clark.

The Baron raced as a four-year-old in 1846, but did not perform well and suffered from bad feet. Clark sold him to John Mytton, a gambler; after he left Scott, The Baron never won another race.[1] His best result was a second-place finish in the 1846 Craven Stakes at Epsom Downs.

Stud record

He was given in partial payment to the breeder John Theobald, who stood him at Stockwell Stud. After Theobald's death, The Baron was sold to Perrot de Thaunberg of France's National Stud. There he sired many Thoroughbreds, including:

Rataplan and Stockwell were full brothers out of the same dam, Pocahontas.

The Baron was known as "The slim and savage" Baron, due to his terrible temperament. Despite rough treatment at his French stud,[1] he had a great influence on French Thoroughbred bloodlines; several of his progeny were also exported to Australia. The Baron died in 1860.[2]

Pedigree

Pedigree of The Baron (IRE), chestnut stallion, 1842
Sire
Birdcatcher
1833
Sir Hercules
1826
Whalebone Waxy
Penelope
Peri Wanderer
Thalestris
Guiccioli
1823
Bob Booty Chanticleer
Ierne
Flight Escape
Young Heroine
Dam
Echidna
1838
Economist
1825
Whisker Waxy
Penelope
Floranthe Octavian
Caprice
Miss Pratt
1825
Blacklock Whitelock
Coriander Mare
Gadabout Orville
Minstrel (Family 24)[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c [1] Thoroughbred Heritage. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  2. ^ Morin, Alphonse (May 1874). "Origines de la race des chevaux de courses Anglais". Revue des haras, de l'agriculture et du commerce (35): 6. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  3. ^ Morris, Simon; Tesio Power 2000 – Stallions of the World, Syntax Software