Iroquois (horse)

Iroquois

From Sport on land and water (1913)

Sire| Leamington
Grandsire| Faugh-a-Ballagh
Dam| Maggie B. B.
Damsire| Australian
Sex| Stallion
Foaled| 1878
Country| United States
Colour| Brown
Breeder| Aristides Welch
Owner| 1) Pierre Lorillard IV
2) Belle Meade Stud (1886)
Trainer| Jacob Pincus
Record| 26 starts: 12–4–3
Earnings| $101,613
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1881)
St. Leger (1881)
Payne Stakes (1881)
Prince of Wales's Stakes at Ascot (1881)
St. James's Palace Stakes (1881)
Stockbridge Cup (1883)
Awards
Leading sire in North America (1892)
Honours
Iroquois Handicap at Belmont Park
Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs
Iroquois Steeplechase at Percy Warner Park
Last updated on August 27, 2008

Iroquois (1878–September 17, 1899), was the first American-bred Thoroughbred race horse to win the prestigious Epsom Derby at Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom, Surrey, England. He then went on to win the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster Racecourse.

## Background

[edit]

Sired by the notable stallion Leamington, he was bred in Pennsylvania by the wealthy stockman, Aristides Welch (the man the winner of the first Kentucky Derby was named for Aristides) and foaled on his Erdenheim Stud farm. His dam was the mare Maggie B. B. by Australian. Aside from Iroquois, she foaled Harold, a full brother to Iroquois, who won the 1879 Preakness Stakes, and Panique, winner of the 1884 Belmont Stakes. Her sire, Australian (who founded the Fair Play sire line), was by West Australian, the first winner of the British Triple Crown.

Another millionaire, Pierre Lorillard IV of the tobacco and snuff family fame, loved the progeny of Leamington so much that in 1879 he bought every Leamington yearling the breeder Aristides Welch had on offer. One of the yearlings he brought home to his Rancocas Stable in Jobstown, New Jersey was Iroquois.

Once before, in 1878, Pierre Lorillard had sent a number of yearlings to England in the hopes of an American horse winning an important English race. The first group included Duke of Magenta and Parole. Due to Parole's sensational wins, that effort proved so successful that in 1880, he sent a second group, including Iroquois. In England, Lorillard's horses were trained by Jacob Pincus at Newmarket. Pincus was an American who trained for Lorillard and was sent to England with the second wave of Lorillard's horses.

## Racing career

[edit]

Iroquois was not particularly tall for a Thoroughbred, maturing at 15.2 -1⁄2 hands (61.5 inches, 156 cm). Though he matured slowly, he won four of his two-year-old races that he ran on British soil.

In his first race as a three-year-old, Iroquois placed in the 2,000 Guineas. Most horseman (including Sam Hildreth) said he wasn't quite himself at the time. Even so, England's champion jockey, Fred Archer (called "The Tin Man"), was there that day and asked for the mount in the Epsom Derby even though he was contracted to ride the horses of Lord Falmouth. Lord Falmouth allowed Archer to ride the American horse. Iroquois and Archer (in the cherry and black colors of Lorillard) beat the favorite, Peregrine, by a neck on June 1, 1881. (Peregrine had won the 2,000 Guineas.) Archer retained the mount on Iroquois for the St. Leger on September 14, 1881. They won against a field of fourteen. Iroquois' victory made him a byword in the United States; there was an immediate upswing in American racetrack attendance.

Iroquois raced seven times as a three-year-old, winning five. As a winner of the Derby and the St. Leger, if Iroquois had won the 2,000 Guineas instead of coming in second, he would have taken England's Triple Crown.

When Iroquois was four he became a "bleeder," meaning that he bled from his nose when making the kind of effort a racehorse must make to be a successful contender. He also became difficult to train, probably because of this. Therefore, he did not run at four. Lorillard sent him back to the United States in July 1883.

Home again, Iroquois won the Stockbridge Cup, placed in the Hardwicke Stakes and came in third in the Monmouth Stakes.

## Stud record

[edit]

In 1886, Iroquois was purchased by William Hicks Jackson, a former Confederate Civil War general to stand stud at Belle Meade, a thoroughbred horse farm. The horse was transported to the Belle Meade farm near Nashville. Iroquois did well at stud, becoming the leading sire of 1892. Among his notable offspring was the stakes winner Tammany, retrospective American Horse of the Year for 1892.

Iroquois died at the age of twenty-two on September 17, 1899.

## See also

[edit]

* List of racehorses

## References

[edit]

* Iroquois' pedigree, stats, and image
* The Spell of the Turf, by Samuel C. Hildreth & James R. Crowell, J. B. Lippincott & Co., 1926
* The History of Thoroughbred Racing in America, by William H.P. Robertson, Bonanza Books, New York

* v
* t
* e

Epsom Derby winners

* 1780 Diomed
* 1781 Young Eclipse
* 1782 Assassin
* 1783 Saltram
* 1784 Serjeant
* 1785 Aimwell
* 1786 Noble
* 1787 Sir Peter Teazle
* 1788 Sir Thomas
* 1789 Skyscraper
* 1790 Rhadamanthus
* 1791 Eager
* 1792 John Bull
* 1793 Waxy
* 1794 Daedalus
* 1795 Spread Eagle
* 1796 Didelot
* 1797 colt by Fidget
* 1798 Sir Harry
* 1799 Archduke
* 1800 Champion
* 1801 Eleanor ♥
* 1802 Tyrant
* 1803 Ditto
* 1804 Hannibal
* 1805 Cardinal Beaufort
* 1806 Paris
* 1807 Election
* 1808 Pan
* 1809 Pope
* 1810 Whalebone
* 1811 Phantom
* 1812 Octavius
* 1813 Smolensko
* 1814 Blucher
* 1815 Whisker
* 1816 Prince Leopold
* 1817 Azor
* 1818 Sam
* 1819 Tiresias
* 1820 Sailor
* 1821 Gustavus
* 1822 Moses
* 1823 Emilius
* 1824 Cedric
* 1825 Middleton
* 1826 Lap-dog
* 1827 Mameluke
* 1828 Cadland
* 1829 Frederick
* 1830 Priam
* 1831 Spaniel
* 1832 St. Giles
* 1833 Dangerous
* 1834 Plenipotentiary
* 1835 Mundig
* 1836 Bay Middleton
* 1837 Phosphorus
* 1838 Amato
* 1839 Bloomsbury
* 1840 Little Wonder
* 1841 Coronation
* 1842 Attila
* 1843 Cotherstone
* 1844 Orlando
* 1845 The Merry Monarch
* 1846 Pyrrhus The First
* 1847 Cossack
* 1848 Surplice
* 1849 The Flying Dutchman
* 1850 Voltigeur
* 1851 Teddington
* 1852 Daniel O'Rourke
* 1853 West Australian ₩
* 1854 Andover
* 1855 Wild Dayrell
* 1856 Ellington
* 1857 Blink Bonny ♥
* 1858 Beadsman
* 1859 Musjid
* 1860 Thormanby
* 1861 Kettledrum
* 1862 Caractacus
* 1863 Macaroni
* 1864 Blair Athol
* 1865 Gladiateur ₩
* 1866 Lord Lyon ₩
* 1867 Hermit
* 1868 Blue Gown
* 1869 Pretender
* 1870 Kingcraft
* 1871 Favonius
* 1872 Cremorne
* 1873 Doncaster
* 1874 George Frederick
* 1875 Galopin
* 1876 Kisber
* 1877 Silvio
* 1878 Sefton
* 1879 Sir Bevys
* 1880 Bend Or
* 1881 Iroquois
* 1882 Shotover ♥
* 1883 St. Blaise
* 1884 St. Gatien
* Harvester
* 1885 Melton
* 1886 Ormonde ₩
* 1887 Merry Hampton
* 1888 Ayrshire
* 1889 Donovan
* 1890 Sainfoin
* 1891 Common ₩
* 1892 Sir Hugo
* 1893 Isinglass ₩
* 1894 Ladas
* 1895 Sir Visto
* 1896 Persimmon
* 1897 Galtee More ₩
* 1898 Jeddah
* 1899 Flying Fox ₩
* 1900 Diamond Jubilee ₩
* 1901 Volodyovski
* 1902 Ard Patrick
* 1903 Rock Sand ₩
* 1904 St. Amant
* 1905 Cicero
* 1906 Spearmint
* 1907 Orby
* 1908 Signorinetta ♥
* 1909 Minoru
* 1910 Lemberg
* 1911 Sunstar
* 1912 Tagalie ♥
* 1913 Aboyeur
* 1914 Durbar
* 1915 Pommern ₩
* 1916 Fifinella ♥
* 1917 Gay Crusader ₩
* 1918 Gainsborough ₩
* 1919 Grand Parade
* 1920 Spion Kop
* 1921 Humorist
* 1922 Captain Cuttle
* 1923 Papyrus
* 1924 Sansovino
* 1925 Manna
* 1926 Coronach
* 1927 Call Boy
* 1928 Felstead
* 1929 Trigo
* 1930 Blenheim
* 1931 Cameronian
* 1932 April the Fifth
* 1933 Hyperion
* 1934 Windsor Lad
* 1935 Bahram ₩
* 1936 Mahmoud
* 1937 Mid-day Sun
* 1938 Bois Roussel
* 1939 Blue Peter
* 1940 Pont l'Eveque
* 1941 Owen Tudor
* 1942 Watling Street
* 1943 Straight Deal
* 1944 Ocean Swell
* 1945 Dante
* 1946 Airborne
* 1947 Pearl Diver
* 1948 My Love
* 1949 Nimbus
* 1950 Galcador
* 1951 Arctic Prince
* 1952 Tulyar
* 1953 Pinza
* 1954 Never Say Die
* 1955 Phil Drake
* 1956 Lavandin
* 1957 Crepello
* 1958 Hard Ridden
* 1959 Parthia
* 1960 St. Paddy
* 1961 Psidium
* 1962 Larkspur
* 1963 Relko
* 1964 Santa Claus
* 1965 Sea Bird
* 1966 Charlottown
* 1967 Royal Palace
* 1968 Sir Ivor
* 1969 Blakeney
* 1970 Nijinsky ₩
* 1971 Mill Reef
* 1972 Roberto
* 1973 Morston
* 1974 Snow Knight
* 1975 Grundy
* 1976 Empery
* 1977 The Minstrel
* 1978 Shirley Heights
* 1979 Troy
* 1980 Henbit
* 1981 Shergar
* 1982 Golden Fleece
* 1983 Teenoso
* 1984 Secreto
* 1985 Slip Anchor
* 1986 Shahrastani
* 1987 Reference Point
* 1988 Kahyasi
* 1989 Nashwan
* 1990 Quest For Fame
* 1991 Generous
* 1992 Dr Devious
* 1993 Commander in Chief
* 1994 Erhaab
* 1995 Lammtarra
* 1996 Shaamit
* 1997 Benny the Dip
* 1998 High-Rise
* 1999 Oath
* 2000 Sinndar
* 2001 Galileo
* 2002 High Chaparral
* 2003 Kris Kin
* 2004 North Light
* 2005 Motivator
* 2006 Sir Percy
* 2007 Authorized
* 2008 New Approach
* 2009 Sea the Stars
* 2010 Workforce
* 2011 Pour Moi
* 2012 Camelot
* 2013 Ruler of the World
* 2014 Australia
* 2015 Golden Horn
* 2016 Harzand
* 2017 Wings of Eagles
* 2018 Masar
* 2019 Anthony Van Dyck
* 2020 Serpentine
* 2021 Adayar
* 2022 Desert Crown
* 2023 Auguste Rodin
* 2024 City of Troy
* 2025 Lambourn

Legend \- ₩ = Triple Crown Winners, ♥ = Filly

* v
* t
* e

St Leger Stakes winners

* 1776 Allabaculia ♥
* 1777 Bourbon
* 1778 Hollandoise ♥
* 1779 Tommy
* 1780 Ruler
* 1781 Serina ♥
* 1782 Imperatrix ♥
* 1783 Phoenomenon
* 1784 Omphale ♥
* 1785 Cowslip ♥
* 1786 Paragon
* 1787 Spadille
* 1788 Young Flora
* 1789 Pewett ♥
* 1790 Ambidexter
* 1791 Young Traveller
* 1792 Tartar
* 1793 Ninety-three
* 1794 Beningbrough
* 1795 Hambletonian
* 1796 Ambrosio
* 1797 Lounger
* 1798 Symmetry
* 1799 Cockfighter
* 1800 Champion
* 1801 Quiz
* 1802 Orville
* 1803 Remembrancer
* 1804 Sancho
* 1805 Staveley
* 1806 Fyldener
* 1807 Paulina ♥
* 1808 Petronius
* 1809 Ashton
* 1810 Octavian
* 1811 Soothsayer
* 1812 Otterington
* 1813 Altisidora ♥
* 1814 William
* 1815 Filho da Puta
* 1816 The Duchess ♥
* 1817 Ebor
* 1818 Reveller
* 1819 Antonio
* 1820 St Patrick
* 1821 Jack Spigot
* 1822 Theodore
* 1823 Barefoot
* 1824 Jerry
* 1825 Memnon
* 1826 Tarrare
* 1827 Matilda ♥
* 1828 The Colonel
* 1829 Rowton
* 1830 Birmingham
* 1831 Chorister
* 1832 Margrave
* 1833 Rockingham
* 1834 Touchstone
* 1835 Queen of Trumps ♥
* 1836 Elis
* 1837 Mango
* 1838 Don John
* 1839 Charles the Twelfth
* 1840 Launcelot
* 1841 Satirist
* 1842 Blue Bonnet ♥
* 1843 Nutwith
* 1844 Faugh-a-Ballagh
* 1845 The Baron
* 1846 Sir Tatton Sykes
* 1847 Van Tromp
* 1848 Surplice
* 1849 The Flying Dutchman
* 1850 Voltigeur
* 1851 Newminster
* 1852 Stockwell
* 1853 West Australian ₩
* 1854 Knight of St George
* 1855 Saucebox
* 1856 Warlock
* 1857 Imperieuse ♥
* 1858 Sunbeam ♥
* 1859 Gamester
* 1860 St Albans
* 1861 Caller Ou ♥
* 1862 The Marquis
* 1863 Lord Clifden
* 1864 Blair Athol
* 1865 Gladiateur ₩
* 1866 Lord Lyon ₩
* 1867 Achievement ♥
* 1868 Formosa ♥ ₩
* 1869 Pero Gomez
* 1870 Hawthornden
* 1871 Hannah ♥ ₩
* 1872 Wenlock
* 1873 Marie Stuart ♥
* 1874 Apology ♥ ₩
* 1875 Craig Millar
* 1876 Petrarch
* 1877 Silvio
* 1878 Jannette ♥
* 1879 Rayon d'Or
* 1880 Robert the Devil
* 1881 Iroquois
* 1882 Dutch Oven ♥
* 1883 Ossian
* 1884 The Lambkin
* 1885 Melton
* 1886 Ormonde ₩
* 1887 Kilwarlin
* 1888 Seabreeze ♥
* 1889 Donovan
* 1890 Memoir ♥
* 1891 Common ₩
* 1892 La Fleche ♥ ₩
* 1893 Isinglass ₩
* 1894 Throstle ♥
* 1895 Sir Visto
* 1896 Persimmon
* 1897 Galtee More ₩
* 1898 Wildfowler
* 1899 Flying Fox ₩
* 1900 Diamond Jubilee ₩
* 1901 Doricles
* 1902 Sceptre ♥ ₩
* 1903 Rock Sand ₩
* 1904 Pretty Polly ♥ ₩
* 1905 Challacombe
* 1906 Troutbeck
* 1907 Wool Winder
* 1908 Your Majesty
* 1909 Bayardo
* 1910 Swynford
* 1911 Prince Palatine
* 1912 Tracery
* 1913 Night Hawk
* 1914 Black Jester
* 1915 Pommern ₩
* 1916 Hurry On
* 1917 Gay Crusader ₩
* 1918 Gainsborough ₩
* 1919 Keysoe ♥
* 1920 Caligula
* 1921 Polemarch
* 1922 Royal Lancer
* 1923 Tranquil ♥
* 1924 Salmon-Trout
* 1925 Solario
* 1926 Coronach
* 1927 Book Law ♥
* 1928 Fairway
* 1929 Trigo
* 1930 Singapore
* 1931 Sandwich
* 1932 Firdaussi
* 1933 Hyperion
* 1934 Windsor Lad
* 1935 Bahram ₩
* 1936 Boswell
* 1937 Chulmleigh
* 1938 Scottish Union
* 1940 Turkhan
* 1941 Sun Castle
* 1942 Sun Chariot ♥ ₩
* 1943 Herringbone ♥
* 1944 Tehran
* 1945 Chamossaire
* 1946 Airborne
* 1947 Sayajirao
* 1948 Black Tarquin
* 1949 Ridge Wood
* 1950 Scratch
* 1951 Talma
* 1952 Tulyar
* 1953 Premonition
* 1954 Never Say Die
* 1955 Meld ♥ ₩
* 1956 Cambremer
* 1957 Ballymoss
* 1958 Alcide
* 1959 Cantelo ♥
* 1960 St. Paddy
* 1961 Aurelius
* 1962 Hethersett
* 1963 Ragusa
* 1964 Indiana
* 1965 Provoke
* 1966 Sodium
* 1967 Ribocco
* 1968 Ribero
* 1969 Intermezzo
* 1970 Nijinsky ₩
* 1971 Athens Wood
* 1972 Boucher
* 1973 Peleid
* 1974 Bustino
* 1975 Bruni
* 1976 Crow
* 1977 Dunfermline ♥
* 1978 Julio Mariner
* 1979 Son of Love
* 1980 Light Cavalry
* 1981 Cut Above
* 1982 Touching Wood
* 1983 Sun Princess ♥
* 1984 Commanche Run
* 1985 Oh So Sharp ♥ ₩
* 1986 Moon Madness
* 1987 Reference Point
* 1988 Minster Son
* 1989 Michelozzo
* 1990 Snurge
* 1991 Toulon
* 1992 User Friendly ♥
* 1993 Bob's Return
* 1994 Moonax
* 1995 Classic Cliche
* 1996 Shantou
* 1997 Silver Patriarch
* 1998 Nedawi
* 1999 Mutafaweq
* 2000 Millenary
* 2001 Milan
* 2002 Bollin Eric
* 2003 Brian Boru
* 2004 Rule of Law
* 2005 Scorpion
* 2006 Sixties Icon
* 2007 Lucarno
* 2008 Conduit
* 2009 Mastery
* 2010 Arctic Cosmos
* 2011 Masked Marvel
* 2012 Encke
* 2013 Leading Light
* 2014 Kingston Hill
* 2015 Simple Verse ♥
* 2016 Harbour Law
* 2017 Capri
* 2018 Kew Gardens
* 2019 Logician
* 2020 Galileo Chrome
* 2021 Hurricane Lane
* 2022 Eldar Eldarov
* 2023 Continuous

Legend \- ₩ = Triple Crown Winners, ♥ = Filly

19th-century American Thoroughbred racehorse
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template