Pussy (horse)

British Thoroughbred racehorse

Pussy

Pussy in an 1834 painting by John E. Ferneley

Sire| Pollio
Grandsire| Orville
Dam| Valve
Damsire| Bob Booty
Sex| Mare
Foaled| 1831
Country| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour| Brown
Breeder| Mr. Lechmere Charlton
Owner| Thomas Cosby
Trainer| W. E. Day
Record| 25: 8-7-6
Major wins
Epsom Oaks (1834)
Ascot Derby (1834)

Pussy (1831 – after 1852) was a Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1834 Epsom Oaks. In a racing career that lasted from 1833 until 1837, Pussy started 25 times winning eight races. She initially raced under Thomas Cosby's name and was sold in 1835 to Lord Bentinck but raced under the Duke of Richmond's name. Pussy was retired to Bentinck's stud in 1837 but did not produce any noteworthy offspring. She was sold at auction in 1846, and her last foal was born in 1848.

## Background

[edit]

Pussy was bred by Mr. Lechmere Charlton and was foaled in 1831 near Ludford Park in Salop.[1] Pussy's sire, Pollio, stood for 10 sovereigns at the Ludford Stud Farm near Ludlow and was described by the Racing Calendar as a "beautiful dark brown, without white, nearly 16 hands high, with very great bone and power."[2] Pussy's dam, Valve, was bred by the Marquess of Sligo and was foaled in Ireland in 1820.[3] Valve's dam, Wire, was a full-sister to the Derby winners Whisker and Whalebone and was a successful racehorse in England and Ireland.[4] Pussy was Valve's fourth foal and the first of two foals sired by Pollio, with Pussy's full-sister Griselda foaled in 1832.[3] Griselda was sold to H. Bland and exported to Belgium in 1835.[5] A half-brother to Pussy, The Steamer (sired by Emilius) was a noted sire of hunters after his racing career "was foiled by his bad legs."[6]

Pussy was a "very dark brown mare, almost black"[1] with "remarkably fine" action.[7] Pussy was sold by Mr. Shackel for £80 "in [a] low and ragged condition" to Thomas Cosby.[7] Pussy was trained at Danebury by William Day, the brother of Pussy's regular jockey John Barham Day.[8] Pussy did not train well as a yearling or two-year-old and was noted as having gone "amiss all the summer of 1833."[7]

## Racing career

[edit]

### 1833: two-year-old season

[edit]

In June at Ascot, Pussy received a forfeiture from Mr. Ricardo's filly Ellen,[9] and a few days later, was third to the filly Louisa and the colt Comet in a 210-sovereign sweepstakes race.[10] At Goodwood in July, Pussy was beaten in a match race by Mr. Kent's filly Baleine.[11] Thomas Henry Taunton, the author of Portraits of celebrated racehorses of the past and present, noted that Pussy was "sadly out of condition at this time."[1] Pussy won a 100-guinea sweepstakes race against General Grosvenor's horse "Dick"[12] and was second to a filly sired by Merlin in the Nursery Handicap run in October at the Houghton Meeting.[1]

### 1834: three-year-old season

[edit]

On 20 May at Epsom, Pussy ran in the Oaks Stakes against fourteen other horses. The start of the race was delayed for half an hour owing to Mr. Walker's filly Cotillion (the betting favourite) having a "skittish temperament" and trying to jump over the starting rope, which "gave great delight to the spectators."[13] The pacesetter was Lord Jersey's filly Nell Gwynne who maintained the lead until the first turn when she was passed by Colonel Peel's entry Rosalie. Rosalie tired at "the corner" and was overtaken by Mr. Forth's Louisa. Lord Berners's entry May-Day broke her leg and fell after "pulling hard" to outrun Louisa and was euthanised on the racetrack shortly after the race.[13] Pussy overtook Louisa "halfway up the distance" and won by "more than a length" uncontested by Louisa.[13] Louisa finished second followed by "W. Richardson's bay filly by Young Phantom"[13] (later named Lady de Gros) in third.[14] Taunton notes "But for [May-Day's] accident, Pussy might have not returned the winner."[15] In June at Ascot, Pussy won the inaugural[16] 500-sovereign Ascot Derby against three other horses including the betting favorite and former Oaks rival Louisa.[17] Commentary in New Sporting Magazine asserted that "Pussy was on her own ground and won with even greater ease than she did at Epsom."[18] Pussy's full-sister Griselda won the race by 20 lengths the following year in what was described by the Earl of Errol as something that could "scarcely be called a race", being "more like a hunt".[19]

### 1835: four-year-old season

[edit]

On 16 June at Ascot, Pussy walked over for the Oatlands Stakes, was second to the colt Lucifer in the His Majesty's Plate held the same day and was unplaced for the Gold Cup the next day.[20] Pussy was third in the Oxfordshire Stakes held 18 August, losing to the colt Paris and the horse Revenge.[21] She won the Egham Stakes against Mr. Martyn's Pincher and at the Second October Meeting at Newmarket was unplaced in the Handicap Plate. Pussy finished the season with a win in a 100-sovereign Handicap Plate, beating Tramp and Lucifer, "winning by a length, without turning a hair."[22] Lord Bentinck purchased Pussy from Mr. Cosby in late 1835, but the mare was registered and raced in the Duke of Richmond's name.[23]

### 1836: five-year-old season

[edit]

On 4 April at the Craven Meeting, Pussy finished third to the colts Redshank and Coriolanus in the Craven Stakes.[24] At Newmarket a few weeks later, Pussy was second to Mr. Forth's mare Famine in the King's Plate.[25] Pussy was beaten by the colts Knobstick and Jacob Faithful for the gold Cup Stakes run in May at Epsom.[26] At Reigate, Pussy was third for the Gold Cup, losing to Colonel Peel's Jacob Faithful and Mr. Robertson's gelding Olympic.[27] Pussy was unplaced for the Goodwood Stakes and the Duke of Richmond's Plate of £100 run at Goodwood in July[28] and the Brighton Stakes.[29] At Egham on 23 August, Pussy finished second to the colt Lucifer in a gold cup race, was third in the Surrey and Middlesex Stakes[30] and won the Egham Stakes. Pussy won the Rockingham Stakes held at Rochester on 6 September, running against one other horse.[31]

### 1837: six-year-old season

[edit]

On 24 April at Newmarket, Lord Suffield's colt Alfred beat Pussy in a match race.[32] The next day at the same meeting, Pussy won the King's Plate, beating three other mares.[33] In the last start of her racing career, Pussy finished second in the Jockey Club Plate to the colt Calmuck.[34] She was then "put to the stud."[35] In horseman George Tattersall's opinion, Pussy "fairly earned the character of an industrious mare though [she was] scarcely entitled to the name and fame of a good or fortunate racer."[36]

## Stud career

[edit]

Pussy was retired to Lord Bentinck's stud in 1837. Pussy was sold on 14 September 1846 at Doncaster for 185 guineas.[37] Pussy was purchased by Anton Ritter v. Myslowski and exported to Poland in November 1847. Pussy produced ten foals between 1839 and 1850.[38][39]

## Pedigree

[edit]

Pedigree of Pussy (GB), Brown filly, 1831[40] Sire
Pollio (GB)
1823  | Orville
1799  | Beningbrough | King Fergus

|
|
|

Fenwicks Herod Mare
Evelina  | Highflyer
Termangant
Blue Stockings
1816  | Popinjay  | Buzzard
Boudrow Mare
Briseis  | Beningbrough
Lady Jane
Dam
Valve (IRE)
1820  | Bob Booty
1804  | Chanticleer  | Woodpecker
Eclipse Mare
Ierne  | Bagot
Gamahoe Mare
Wire
1811  | Waxy | Pot-8-Os
Maria
Penelope | Trumpator
Prunella

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Taunton, Thomas Henry (1888). Portraits of celebrated racehorses of the past and present, Volume 3. Liverpool: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington. p. 154.
2. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1833). "Pollio". Racing Calendar. 61: 562.
3. ^ a b Weatherby (1840). "Valve". General Stud Book. 4: 471.
4. ^ Edited by George Ripley and Charles Anderson Dana (1883). The American cyclopaedia: a popular dictionary of general knowledge, Volume 16. New York: D. Appleton and Co. p. 49. `{{cite book}}`: `|last=` has generic name (help)
5. ^ Staff (1836). "CHEVAUX ENTIERS JUMENS POULAINS ET POULICHES DE PUR SANG EXPORTÉS D ANGLETERRE PENDANT l aNNÉE 1835". Journal des haras, chasses, et courses de chevaux, des progrès des sciences zooïatriques et de médecine comparée. 4: 188.
6. ^ Dixon, Henry Hall (1862). The post and paddock. London: Rogerson & Tuxford. p. 255. "the steamer valve emilius."
7. ^ a b c Staff (1834). "Pussy". Sporting Magazine. 9 New Series, 84 Old Series: 290.
8. ^ Staff (1918). "Training". The National Review. 71: 71.
9. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1833). "Ascot". Racing Calendar. 42: 59. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591110.
10. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1833). "Ascot". Racing Calendar. 42: 61. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591110.
11. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1833). "Goodwood". Racing Calendar. 42: 111. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591110.
12. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1833). "Houghton". Racing Calendar. 42: 224. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591110.
13. ^ a b c d Staff (1834). "Epsom". New Sporting Magazine. 7: 201–202\. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066623467.
14. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1834). "Epsom". Racing Calendar. 43: 51. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591102.
15. ^ Taunton, Thomas Henry (1888). Portraits of celebrated racehorses of the past and present, Volume 3. Liverpool: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington. p. 156.
16. ^ Cawthorne, George James and Richard S. Herod (1902). Royal Ascot: its history & its associations. London: A. Treherne. p. 313. "ascot derby pussy."
17. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1834). "Ascot". Racing Calendar. 43: 57. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591102.
18. ^ Staff (1834). "Ascot". New Sporting Magazine. 7: 203. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066623467.
19. ^ The Earl of Errol (1835). "Ascot". New Sporting Magazine. 9 (51): 198.
20. ^ Staff (1834). "Ascot Heath". New Sporting Magazine. 9: 39–40\. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066623459.
21. ^ Staff (1834). "Oxford". New Sporting Magazine. 9: 84. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066623459.
22. ^ Tattersall, George (1850). The pictorial gallery of English race horses. London: Henry G. Bohn. pp. 92–93. "pussy cosby."
23. ^ Kent, John and Francis Charles Lawley (1892). Racing life of Lord George Cavendish Bentinck, M. P. and other reminiscences. London: W. Blackwood. p. 55. "pussy Bentinck."
24. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1836). "Craven". Racing Calendar. 45: 8. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591094.
25. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1836). "newmarket". Racing Calendar. 45: 22. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591094.
26. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1836). "Epsom". Racing Calendar. 45: 48. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591094.
27. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1836). "Reigate". Racing Calendar. 45: 56. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591094.
28. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1836). "Goodwood". Racing Calendar. 45: 102–103\. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591094.
29. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1836). "Brighton". Racing Calendar. 45: 115. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591094.
30. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1836). "Egham". Racing Calendar. 45: 142–143\. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591094.
31. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1836). "Rochester and Chatham". Racing Calendar. 45: 155. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591094.
32. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1837). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 46: 23. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591086.
33. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1837). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 46: 25. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591086.
34. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1837). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 46: 41. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591086.
35. ^ Hunter, Robert J (1837). "Index". Racing Calendar. 46: 574. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591086.
36. ^ Tattersall, George (1850). The pictorial gallery of English race horses. London: Henry G. Bohn. pp. 96.
37. ^ Staff (16 September 1846). "Sporting Intelligence. Doncaster Races., Doncaster, Monday Night 11 O'clock". The Times. p. 6.
38. ^ Weatherby (1856). "Pussy". General Stud Book. 6: 159.
39. ^ Vogler, C.H. (1852). "Pussy". Allgemeines Gestüt-Buch: ein Verzeichnis der Vollblut-Pferde. 2: 268.
40. ^ "Pussy (GB) Pedigree". Equineline. Retrieved May 28, 2015.

* v
* t
* e

Epsom Oaks winners

* 1779 Bridget
* 1780 Tetotum
* 1781 Faith
* 1782 Ceres
* 1783 Maid of the Oaks
* 1784 Stella
* 1785 Trifle
* 1786 Yellow Filly
* 1787 Annette
* 1788 Nightshade
* 1789 Tag
* 1790 Hippolyta
* 1791 Portia
* 1792 Volante
* 1793 Caelia
* 1794 Hermione
* 1795 Platina
* 1796 Parisot
* 1797 Nike
* 1798 Bellissima
* 1799 Bellina
* 1800 Ephemera
* 1801 Eleanor †
* 1802 Scotia
* 1803 Theophania
* 1804 Pelisse
* 1805 Meteora
* 1806 Bronze
* 1807 Briseis
* 1808 Morel
* 1809 Maid of Orleans
* 1810 Oriana
* 1811 Sorcery
* 1812 Manuella
* 1813 Music
* 1814 Medora
* 1815 Minuet
* 1816 Landscape
* 1817 Neva
* 1818 Corinne
* 1819 Shoveler
* 1820 Caroline
* 1821 Augusta
* 1822 Pastille ‡
* 1823 Zinc
* 1824 Cobweb
* 1825 Wings
* 1826 Lilias
* 1827 Gulnare
* 1828 Turquoise
* 1829 Green Mantle
* 1830 Variation
* 1831 Oxygen
* 1832 Galata
* 1833 Vespa
* 1834 Pussy
* 1835 Queen of Trumps
* 1836 Cyprian
* 1837 Miss Letty
* 1838 Industry
* 1839 Deception
* 1840 Crucifix ‡
* 1841 Ghuznee
* 1842 Our Nell
* 1843 Poison
* 1844 The Princess
* 1845 Refraction
* 1846 Mendicant
* 1847 Miami
* 1848 Cymba
* 1849 Lady Evelyn
* 1850 Rhedycina
* 1851 Iris
* 1852 Songstress
* 1853 Catherine Hayes
* 1854 Mincemeat
* 1855 Marchioness
* 1856 Mincepie
* 1857 Blink Bonny †
* 1858 Governess
* 1859 Summerside
* 1860 Butterfly
* 1861 Brown Duchess
* 1862 Feu de Joie
* 1863 Queen Bertha
* 1864 Fille de l'Air
* 1865 Regalia
* 1866 Tormentor
* 1867 Hippia
* 1868 Formosa ₩ ‡
* 1869 Brigantine
* 1870 Gamos
* 1871 Hannah ₩
* 1872 Reine
* 1873 Marie Stuart
* 1874 Apology ₩
* 1875 Spinaway
* 1876 Camelia (dh)
* 1876 Enguerrande (dh)
* 1877 Placida
* 1878 Jannette
* 1879 Wheel of Fortune
* 1880 Jenny Howlet
* 1881 Thebais
* 1882 Geheimniss
* 1883 Bonny Jean
* 1884 Busybody
* 1885 Lonely
* 1886 Miss Jummy
* 1887 Reve d'Or
* 1888 Seabreeze
* 1889 L'Abbesse de Jouarre
* 1890 Memoir
* 1891 Mimi
* 1892 La Fleche ₩
* 1893 Mrs Butterwick
* 1894 Amiable
* 1895 La Sagesse
* 1896 Canterbury Pilgrim
* 1897 Limasol
* 1898 Airs and Graces
* 1899 Musa
* 1900 La Roche
* 1901 Cap and Bells II
* 1902 Sceptre ₩ ‡
* 1903 Our Lassie
* 1904 Pretty Polly ₩
* 1905 Cherry Lass
* 1906 Keystone
* 1907 Glass Doll
* 1908 Signorinetta †
* 1909 Perola
* 1910 Rosedrop
* 1911 Cherimoya
* 1912 Mirska
* 1913 Jest
* 1914 Princess Dorrie
* 1915 Snow Marten
* 1916 Fifinella †
* 1917 Sunny Jane
* 1918 My Dear
* 1919 Bayuda
* 1920 Charlebelle
* 1921 Love in Idleness
* 1922 Pogrom
* 1923 Brownhylda
* 1924 Straitlace
* 1925 Saucy Sue
* 1926 Short Story
* 1927 Beam
* 1928 Toboggan
* 1929 Pennycomequick
* 1930 Rose of England
* 1931 Brulette
* 1932 Udaipur
* 1933 Chatelaine
* 1934 Light Brocade
* 1935 Quashed
* 1936 Lovely Rosa
* 1937 Exhibitionnist
* 1938 Rockfel
* 1939 Galatea
* 1940 Godiva
* 1941 Commotion
* 1942 Sun Chariot ₩
* 1943 Why Hurry
* 1944 Hycilla
* 1945 Sun Stream
* 1946 Steady Aim
* 1947 Imprudence
* 1948 Masaka
* 1949 Musidora
* 1950 Asmena
* 1951 Neasham Belle
* 1952 Frieze
* 1953 Ambiguity
* 1954 Sun Cap
* 1955 Meld ₩
* 1956 Sicarelle
* 1957 Carrozza
* 1958 Bella Paola
* 1959 Petite Etoile
* 1960 Never Too Late
* 1961 Sweet Solera
* 1962 Monade
* 1963 Noblesse
* 1964 Homeward Bound
* 1965 Long Look
* 1966 Valoris
* 1967 Pia
* 1968 La Lagune
* 1969 Sleeping Partner
* 1970 Lupe
* 1971 Altesse Royale
* 1972 Ginevra
* 1973 Mysterious
* 1974 Polygamy
* 1975 Juliette Marny
* 1976 Pawneese
* 1977 Dunfermline
* 1978 Fair Salinia
* 1979 Scintillate
* 1980 Bireme
* 1981 Blue Wind
* 1982 Time Charter
* 1983 Sun Princess
* 1984 Circus Plume
* 1985 Oh So Sharp ₩
* 1986 Midway Lady
* 1987 Unite
* 1988 Diminuendo
* 1989 Snow Bride
* 1990 Salsabil
* 1991 Jet Ski Lady
* 1992 User Friendly
* 1993 Intrepidity
* 1994 Balanchine
* 1995 Moonshell
* 1996 Lady Carla
* 1997 Reams of Verse
* 1998 Shahtoush
* 1999 Ramruma
* 2000 Love Divine
* 2001 Imagine
* 2002 Kazzia
* 2003 Casual Look
* 2004 Ouija Board
* 2005 Eswarah
* 2006 Alexandrova
* 2007 Light Shift
* 2008 Look Here
* 2009 Sariska
* 2010 Snow Fairy
* 2011 Dancing Rain
* 2012 Was
* 2013 Talent
* 2014 Taghrooda
* 2015 Qualify
* 2016 Minding
* 2017 Enable
* 2018 Forever Together
* 2019 Anapurna
* 2020 Love
* 2021 Snowfall
* 2022 Tuesday
* 2023 Soul Sister
* 2024 Ezeliya

Legend \- ₩ = Fillies Triple Crown Winners, † = Epsom Derby Winners, ‡ = 2,000 Guineas Stakes Winners
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