Whisker (horse)

British Thoroughbred racehorse

Whisker

Whisker by John Frederick Herring, Sr., c. 1820.

Sire| Waxy
Grandsire| Potoooooooo
Dam| Penelope
Damsire| Trumpator
Sex| Stallion
Foaled| 1812
Country| United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour| Bay
Breeder| Duke of Grafton
Owner| 1) Duke of Grafton
2) Lord Darlington
Trainer| Robert Robson
Record| 20: 9-4-2
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1815)
Port Stakes (1816)

Whisker (1812 – 11 March 1832) was a Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1815 Epsom Derby and was a full-brother of the 1810 winner Whalebone. Whisker raced until he was a six-year-old, but did not race in 1817. Whisker was retired to stud in 1819, where he became a successful and influential sire. The offspring of Whisker and Whalebone continued the sire-line of Eclipse into the 20th century.

## Background

[edit]

Whisker was bred by the Duke of Grafton and was foaled in 1812 at his Euston Hall stud farm near Newmarket. Whisker was sired by the 1793 Epsom Derby winner Waxy out of the mare Penelope (foaled in 1798), both owned by the Duke. As a racehorse, Penelope was a contemporary of the 1801 Derby-winning filly Eleanor, beating her several times, and was half-sister to 1809 Derby winner Pope and the mares Pope Joan (both sired by Waxy), Parasol (Partisan's dam) and Prudence.[1] Penelope was a prolific and influential broodmare, producing eight full-siblings to Whisker that achieved success on the turf. She produced 13 foals between 1806 and 1823, all with names beginning with the letter W. Whisker was her seventh foal and his full-siblings include Whalebone (the 1810 Derby winner), Web, Woful, Wilful, Wire, Wildfire and Windfall. Penelope died in 1824.[2]

The racing commentator "The Druid" described Whisker's physique "as near perfection as a horse could be"[3][4] and his only fault was that he was "a little calf-kneed" but was "equally likely to get a racer, hunter, machiner or a hack."[5] Whisker has been lauded as the "handsomest" of Waxy's offspring[6] and his appearance was described more favorably than his brother Whalebone, who was short and had a "Turkish pony-look."[7] All of Waxy's offspring reportedly inherited "short legs, high-bred nostrils and very prominent eyes"[8] with Whisker inheriting his sire's "beautiful quarters."[9]

## Racing career

[edit]

Whisker was trained by Robert Robson at his facility in Newmarket. Robson trained seven Derby winners over his 30-year career, including Whisker's brother Whalebone and his sire Waxy. Whisker did not race as a two-year-old.[10] Whisker won nine races over his three-year racing career. Whisker did not race in 1817, returning to the turf in the spring of 1818,[11] and was retired to stud at the end of the 1818 racing season.

### 1815: three-year-old season

[edit]

At the Craven Meeting in April, Whisker received forfeitures from the Duke of Rutland's unnamed filly sired by Selim (who had died)[12] and from Lord Darlington's unnamed colt sired by Selim,[13] and a few days later received a 50-guinea[3] forfeiture from an unnamed colt sired by Orville (later named Dinmont).[14] At the First Spring Meeting at Newmarket, Whisker was unplaced in the 2,000 Guineas Stakes, which was won by the colt Tigris.[15] The next day, Whisker finished second in the Newmarket Stakes to Lord Lowther's colt Busto.[16]

On 25 May at Epsom, Whisker started in the Derby Stakes against twelve other horses.[17] At the start of the race, General Gower's colt Busto "made severe play," taking the lead after Tattenham Corner and remaining the frontrunner until "within two-hundred yards of the Ending-Post"[18] when he was overtaken by his stablemate Raphael. Raphael maintained the lead in the stretch until "the last two or three strides" when Whisker (ridden by Tom Goodisson) "came up and won by about half a head."[18] The finish was a close contest between the three frontrunners with the other ten contenders "beat a long way."[18] Raphael finished in second place with Busto crossing the finish third but not officially placed. Raphael's jockey, Jackson, who was said to have ridden with "masterly style" was "thrown off" Raphael soon after crossing the finish line.[18] The Sporting Magazine asserted that the running "had given satisfaction to all experienced judges on the Turf."[18]

At the October Meeting at Newmarket, Whisker was unplaced in the St. Leger Stakes which was won by Mr. Payne's colt Quinola.[19] On 16 October, Whisker won 200 guineas after he defeated the colt Equator in a mile-long match race held at Newmarket.[20] Whisker withdrew from the Oatlands Stakes held a few days later, paying 10 guineas forfeit.[21] At the same meeting, Whisker beat Mr. Shakespear's colt Donkey in a match race at 10 to 1 odds,[22] but he lost a match race to Mr. Neville's colt Sir Joshua a few days later.[23]

### 1816: four-year-old season

[edit]

At the Craven Meeting in April, Whisker won the 100-guinea Port Stakes, beating the colt Equator.[24] At Newmarket on 29 April, Whisker beat Lord Darlington's colt Paulus in a mile-long match race, winning 200 guineas.[25] In May at Newmarket, Whisker beat the colt Sir Joshua in a 300-guinea match race.[26] Whisker finished fourth in a 200-guinea sweepstakes race, losing to the horse Bourbon and the colts Sir Thomas and Quinola.[27] On 14 October, Whisker received 70 guineas from Lord Darlington after his horse Paulus backed out of a match race.[28] Whisker was sold to Lord Darlington at Newmarket. A few weeks later running in Lord Darlington's name, Whisker was beaten in a match race by his former rival Equator at the Houghton Meeting.[29] A few days later, Whisker won the Handicap Sweepstakes, beating the filly Duenna and the colts Fandango and Equator.[30]

### 1818: six-year-old season

[edit]

Whisker did not run in 1817 and made his first appearance on 13 April 1818 at the Craven Meeting (still listed as a five-year-old) in the Craven Stakes, for which he ran unplaced in a 22 horse field.[11] At Newmarket, Whisker was third in the Fifty Pound subscription stakes, losing to the four-year-old colt Skim and the horse Fugitive.[31] A few days later, Whisker beat Lord Cavendish's colt Little Dick in a 200-guinea match race.[32] Whisker received 200 guineas forfeiture from the horse Cannonball on 11 May at Newmarket.[33] The next day, Whisker finished third in a handicap race, losing to the colt Merrymaker and the filly Leopoldine (the full-sister to 1816 Derby winner Prince Leopold).[34] At the same meeting, Whisker beat Mr. Prince's colt Manfred in a match race and a few hours later finished fifth (unplaced) in a 50-guinea Cup race won by The Flyer.[35] In his last career start, Whisker was beaten in a match race by the colt The Student at the October Newmarket meeting.[36] Whisker was retired to stud at the end of the racing season.

## Stud career

[edit]

Whisker was retired to stud for the 1819 breeding season, first standing at Morton near Northallerton for 15 guineas per mare.[37] Whisker died on 11 March 1832 at the age of 20 years after "covering a few mares that season."[38]

Whisker sired two St. Leger Stakes winners, Memnon and The Colonel.[6] Whisker was a good broodmare sire.[39] Whisker sired 123 winners, with career earnings of just over £45,961.[40]

Foaled  | Name  | Sex  | Major Wins/Achievements

|
|
|

1822  | Memnon | Stallion  | St Leger Stakes
1825  | The Colonel | Stallion  | St Leger Stakes
| Catherina  | Mare  | Started in 171 races. Won 75 races.
| Economist  | Stallion  | Grandsire of King Tom.
| Emma  | Mare  | Dam of Mundig, Cotherstone, Trustee, Mowerina (dam of West Australian)

## Pedigree

[edit]

Pedigree of Whisker (GB), Bay colt, 1812[41] Sire
Waxy (GB)
Bay, 1790  | Pot-8-Os
1773  | Eclipse | Marske

|
|
|

Spilletta
Sportsmistress  | Sportsman
Golden Locks
Maria
1777  | Herod | Tartar
Cypron
Lisette  | Snap
Miss Windsor
Dam
Penelope (GB)
Bay, 1798  | Trumpator
1782  | Conductor  | Matchem
Snap Mare
Brunette  | Squirrel
Dove
Prunella
1788  | Highflyer | Herod
Rachel
Promise  | Snap
Julia

* Whisker was inbred 3 × 4 to Herod and 4 × 4 to Snap, meaning Herod appears twice in the third and fourth generations and Snap appears twice in the fourth generation of his pedigree.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Weatherby (1834). "Prunella". The General Stud Book. 1: 466.
2. ^ Weatherby (1834). "Penelope". The General Stud Book. 1: 743–744.
3. ^ a b Taunton, Thomas Henry (1887). Portraits of celebrated racehorses of the past and present, Volume 2. Liverpool: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington. p. 123.
4. ^ Taunton, Theodore (1895). Famous horses : with portraits, pedigrees, principal performances, descriptions of races, and various interesting items extending over a period of nearly two centuries (PDF). London: Samston, Lowe, Marston and Co. p. 118.
5. ^ Dixon, William Willmott (1882). Famous racing men, by 'Thormanby'. London: James Hogg. p. 30.
6. ^ a b Merry, Thomas B. (1905). The American Thoroughbred. Los Angeles: Commercial Printing House. p. 38. "whisker handsomest."
7. ^ Fife and Drum (1906). "Horse pedigrees". Natal Agriculture Journal. 9: 1053.
8. ^ Dixon, Henry Hall (1862). Scott and Sebright. London: Richard Clay and Sons. p. 144. "whisker high-bred nostrils."
9. ^ Dixon, Henry Hall (1856). The post and the paddock: with recollections of turf celebrities. London: Piper, Stephenson and Co. p. 198.
10. ^ Lawley, Francis (1890). "Trainers- new and old". Baily's Magazine of Sports & Pastimes. 53: 325.
11. ^ a b Weatherby, Edward and James (1818). "Craven". Racing Calendar. 32: 7. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591250.
12. ^ Staff (1817). "Whisker". Sporting Magazine. 49: 98. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066599436.
13. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1815). "Craven". Racing Calendar. 43: 7. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590781.
14. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1815). "Craven". Racing Calendar. 43: 12. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590781.
15. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1815). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 43: 18. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590781.
16. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1815). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 43: 20. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590781.
17. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1815). "Epsom". Racing Calendar. 43: 35. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590781.
18. ^ a b c d e Staff (1815). "Racing Calendar". Sporting Magazine. 46: 34. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066599444.
19. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1815). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 43: 140. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590781.
20. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1815). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 43: 155. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590781.
21. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1815). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 43: 159. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590781.
22. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1815). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 43: 167. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590781.
23. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1815). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 43: 169. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590781.
24. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1816). "Craven". Racing Calendar. 44: 8. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590773.
25. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1816). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 44: 12. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590773.
26. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1816). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 44: 30. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590773.
27. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1816). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 30: 143. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590773.
28. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1816). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 30: 155. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590773.
29. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1816). "Houghton Meeting". Racing Calendar. 30: 163. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590773.
30. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1816). "Houghton Meeting". Racing Calendar. 30: 168. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066590773.
31. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1818). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 32: 17. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591250.
32. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1818). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 32: 19. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591250.
33. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1818). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 32: 26. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591250.
34. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1818). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 32: 27. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591250.
35. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1818). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 32: 29. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591250.
36. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1818). "Newmarket". Racing Calendar. 32: 138. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591250.
37. ^ Weatherby, Edward and James (1818). "Stallions". Racing Calendar. 32: 435. hdl:2027/nyp.33433066591250.
38. ^ Skinner, J. S. (1834). "Obituary of stallions". The General Stud-book. 1–2: 1031.
39. ^ Erigero, Patricia. "Whisker". Thoroughbred Heritage. Retrieved 5 February 2012.
40. ^ Egan, Pierce (1832). Pierce Egan's Book of sports, and mirror of life. London: T. T. and J. Tegg. p. 235. "whisker darlington 1817."
41. ^ Staff. "Whisker 5x Pedigree". Retrieved 4 February 2012.

* v
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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
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