Busybody (horse)

Busybody
Busybody parades before the Oaks, from Illustrated London News, May 1884
Sire	Petrarch
Grandsire	Lord Clifden
Dam	Spinaway
Damsire	Macaroni
Sex	Mare
Foaled	1881
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Evelyn Boscawen, 6th Viscount Falmouth
Owner	Lord Falmouth George Baird
Trainer	Mathew Dawson Thomas Cannon, Sr.
Record	6:5–1–0
Earnings	£10,620
Major wins
Middle Park Stakes (1883) Great Challenge Stakes (1883) 1000 Guineas (1884) Epsom Oaks (1884)

Busybody (1881–1899), was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won two British Classic Races in 1884. In a racing career which lasted from September 1883 until May 1884 she ran six times and won five races. As a two-year-old in 1883 she won her first three races including the Middle Park Plate and the Great Challenge Stakes before sustaining her only defeat when conceding weight to the winner Queen Adelaide in the Dewhurst Stakes. As a three-year-old she won the 1000 Guineas over one mile at Newmarket and the Epsom Oaks over one and a half miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse a month later. She was then retired to stud where she became a successful broodmare.

Background

Busybody was a small, but exceptionally good-looking^[1] bay filly bred by her first owner Evelyn Boscawen, 6th Viscount Falmouth at his stud at Mereworth Castle in Kent.^[2] She was sired by Petrarch, a horse which won the 2000 Guineas and the St Leger Stakes in 1876. At stud Petrarch was particularly successful as a sire of fillies: his other daughters included Miss Jummy (1000 Guineas and Oaks) and Throstle (St Leger).^[3] Busybody came from an exceptional female family: her dam, Spinaway won the 1000 Guineas and Oaks for Lord Falmouth in 1875 and was a half sister of Wheel of Fortune, an even better racemare who won the same two races four years later. Spinaway and Wheel of Fortune were daughters of the Oaks winner Queen Bertha an influential broodmare,^[4] whose other descendants include the classic winners Larkspur, My Babu, Altesse Royale and Festoon.^[5]

Lord Falmouth sent the filly into training with Mathew Dawson at his Heath House stable in Newmarket, Suffolk.

Racing career

1883: two-year-old season

Busybody first appeared at the misleadingly named "first October meeting", held at Newmarket at the end of September. In the five furlong Rous Memorial Stakes she started the even money favourite in a field of seven runners. Ridden by the champion jockey Fred Archer, she raced just behind the leaders before taking the lead inside the final furlong and winning comfortably by a length from the colt Knight Errant.^[6]

At Newmarket's second October meeting two weeks later, Busybody, with Archer again in the saddle ran in the six furlong Middle Park Plate, the season's most valuable and prestigious race for two-year-olds. She started the 15/8 second favourite in a field of four colts and three fillies, with the Champagne Stakes winner Superba being made the even money favourite. Archer tracked the front-running Royal Fern before taking the lead close to the finish and winning by half a length. Three lengths back in third place was Sir John Willoughby's unnamed filly by Hermit out of Adelaide, who was carrying a seven pound weight penalty as a result of her win in the July Stakes.^[7] On the following afternoon, Busybody contested the weight-for-age Great Challenge Stakes over the same course and distance. She was made 7/4 favourite in a strong field which included the five-year-old Tristan and the four-year-old Despair (winner of the All-Aged Stakes). Ridden by George Fordham, Busybody produced a strong finish to win by a neck from Despair, the first two drawing well clear of Tristan in third.^[7]

At the Newmarket Houghton meeting in late October, Busybody and "the Adelaide filly" met again in the seven furlong Dewhurst Stakes. Busybody was carrying three pounds more than her rival on this occasion but started the 4/5 favourite and Lord Falmouth "declared to win" with her in preference to his other runner, the future Derby winner Harvester. As in her other races, Busybody was held up for a late run but on this occasion she was unable to catch the Adelaide filly and finished second, beaten a neck. Harvester finished last of the ten runners.^[8]

Busybody's earnings for the season totaled £3,895.^[1]

1884: three-year-old season

The finish of the 1884 Oaks from the Illustrated London News. Busybody beats Superba

Before the 1884 flat racing season began, Lord Falmouth decided to retire from the turf and sell all his horses at a public auction.^[9] As a leading classic fancy, Busybody was expected to attract considerable interest, and it was predicted that she would fetch at least £8,000.^[10] At Newmarket on 28 April Busybody was sold for £8,800 to Tom Cannon, acting on behalf of George Alexander Baird (also known as "Mr. Abington").^[11] Cannon was one of the leading jockeys of the day and had been associated for many years with the Danebury trainer John Day, before taking over the stable on Day's death in 1883.^[12]

Four days after her appearance in the auction ring, Busybody returned to Newmarket for the 1,000 Guineas in which she was again matched against "the Adelaide filly", now officially named Queen Adelaide. Busybody was made favourite at odds of 85/40 in a field of six and was ridden by Tom Cannon. The early pace was slow and Busybody pulled hard against Cannon's attempts to restrain her before the race began in earnest two furlongs from the finish. Busybody and Queen Adelaide quickly went to the front, and after "a pretty race", the favourite prevailed by half a length, with Whitelock finishing third ahead of Sandiway,^[13] a filly who went on to win the Coronation Stakes and the Nassau Stakes. Busybody's winning time of 1:47.0 broke the existing race record by three seconds.^[14] Sources differ as to whether Dawson^[15] or Cannon^[16] trained the filly for her Guineas win, but Cannon took over her training from then on.

On 28 May, Queen Adelaide started 5/2 favourite for the Derby and finished a close third to the dead-heaters Harvester and St. Gatien despite having been blocked at a crucial stage.^[17] Two days later Busybody and Queen Adelaide met for the fourth and final time in the Oaks over the same course and distance with Busybody starting favourite at the unusual odds of 100/105 in a field of nine. The race took place in fine weather and attracted a "large and fashionable" crowd.^[18] After several false starts caused by the misbehaviour of Whitelock, the race began and Tom Cannon tracked the leaders on the favourite before taking the lead on the turn in to the straight. Queen Adelaide emerged as a threat, but Busybody, racing down the centre of the course, drew ahead and opened up a clear lead approaching the final furlong. Superba made a strong late challenge but Busybody held on in an exciting finish to win by half a length, the pair finishing well clear of Queen Adelaide in third.^[19]

Following her second classic win, Busybody was regarded as a contender for the St Leger,^[20] but she never raced again and at the end of the season she was retired to stud.

Stud career

Busybody during her retirement, c. 1890

The best of Busybody's progeny was Meddler (sired by St. Gatien), who was a leading two-year-old in Britain^[21] where his wins included the Dewhurst Stakes. He was exported to the United States where he was twice Leading sire in North America.^[22] Busybody's daughters Bass and Meddlesome became successful broodmares.^[4] Busybody was euthanised in 1899 after being infertile for three years.^[23]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Busybody (GB), bay mare, 1883^[24]
Sire Petrarch (FR) 1873	Lord Clifden 1860	Newminster	Touchstone
		Newminster	Beeswing
		The Slave	Melbourne
		The Slave	Volley
	Laura 1860	Orlando	Touchstone
		Orlando	Vulture
		Torment	Alarm
		Torment	Glencoe mare
Dam Spinaway (GB) 1872	Macaroni 1860	Sweetmeat	Gladiator
		Sweetmeat	Lollypop
		Jocose	Pantaloon
		Jocose	Banter
	Queen Bertha 1860	Kingston	Venison
		Kingston	Queen Anne
		Flax	Surplice
		Flax	Odessa (Family:1-w)^[5]

References

1 2 "SPORTING NOTES". Hawke's Bay Herald. 8 May 1884. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
↑ "Meddler". Tbheritage.com. 1916-04-17. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
↑ "Petrarch". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
1 2 Anne Peters. "Queen Bertha". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
1 2 "Queen Bertha - Family 1-w". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
↑ "NEWMARKET FIRST OCTOBER". Otago Witness. 17 November 1883. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
1 2 "RACING IN ENGLAND. NEWMARKET SECOND OCTOBER". Otago Witness. 8 December 1883. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
↑ "RACING IN ENGLAND. NEWMARKET HOUGHTON MEETING". Otago Witness. 29 December 1883. Retrieved 2012-09-16.
↑ "CLIPPINGS". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
↑ "SPORTING". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
↑ "ENGLISH AND FOREIGN". Otago Witness. 21 June 1884. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
↑ "Thomas Cannon Snr". Horseracing History Online. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
↑ "RACING IN ENGLAND". Otago Witness. 28 June 1884. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
↑ "ENGLISH". Otago Witness. 28 June 1884. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
↑ Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1990). Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions (Third Edition). Guinness Publishing. ISBN 0-85112-902-1.
↑ Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books Publishing. ISBN 978-1-873626-15-3.
↑ "THE RACE FOR THE EPSOM DERBY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
↑ "THE OAKS". Auckland Star. 28 June 1884. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
↑ "RACING IN ENGLAND". Otago Witness. 26 July 1884. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
↑ "ENGLISH AND FOREIGN". Otago Daily Times. 9 August 1884. Retrieved 2012-09-17.
↑ "Miscellaneous". Auckland Star. 11 January 1893. Retrieved 2011-11-25.
↑ "Leading Sires of America". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-07-14.
↑ Weatherby (1901). "Busybody". General Stud Book 19: 79.
↑ "Busybody pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-09-16.

1000 Guineas winners

1814 Charlotte 1815 Filly by Selim 1816 Rhoda 1817 Neva 1818 Corinne 1819 Catgut 1820 Rowena 1821 Zeal 1822 Whizgig 1823 Zinc 1824 Cobweb 1825 Tontine 1826 Problem 1827 Arab 1828 Zoe 1829 Young Mouse 1830 Charlotte West 1831 Galantine 1832 Galata 1833 Tarantella 1834 May-day 1835 Preserve 1836 Destiny 1837 Chapeau d'Espagne 1838 Barcarolle 1839 Cara 1840 Crucifix ‡ 1841 Potentia 1842 Firebrand 1843 Extempore 1844 Sorella 1845 Pic-nic 1846 Mendicant 1847 Clementine 1848 Canezou 1849 The Flea 1850 Lady Orford 1851 Aphrodite 1852 Kate 1853 Mentmore Lass 1854 Virago 1855 Habena 1856 Manganese 1857 Imperieuse 1858 Governess 1859 Mayonaise 1860 Sagitta 1861 Nemesis 1862 Hurricane 1863 Lady Augusta 1864 Tomato 1865 Siberia 1866 Repulse 1867 Achievement 1868 Formosa ₩ ‡ 1869 Scottish Queen 1870 Hester 1871 Hannah ₩ 1872 Reine 1873 Cecilia 1874 Apology ₩ 1875 Spinaway 1876 Camelia 1877 Belphoebe 1878 Pilgrimage 1879 Wheel of Fortune 1880 Elizabeth 1881 Thebais 1882 St Marguerite 1883 Hauteur 1884 Busybody 1885 Farewell 1886 Miss Jummy 1887 Reve d'Or 1888 Briarroot 1889 Minthe 1890 Semolina 1891 Mimi 1892 La Fleche ₩ 1893 Siffleuse 1894 Amiable 1895 Galeottia 1896 Thais 1897 Chelandry 1898 Nun Nicer 1899 Sibola 1900 Winifreda 1901 Aida 1902 Sceptre ₩ ‡ 1903 Quintessence 1904 Pretty Polly ₩ 1905 Cherry Lass 1906 Flair 1907 Witch Elm 1908 Rhodora 1909 Electra 1910 Winkipop 1911 Atmah 1912 Tagalie 1913 Jest 1914 Princess Dorrie 1915 Vaucluse 1916 Canyon 1917 Diadem 1918 Ferry 1919 Roseway 1920 Cinna 1921 Bettina 1922 Silver Urn 1923 Tranquil 1924 Plack 1925 Saucy Sue 1926 Pillion 1927 Cresta Run 1928 Scuttle 1929 Taj Mah 1930 Fair Isle 1931 Four Course 1932 Kandy 1933 Brown Betty 1934 Campanula 1935 Mesa 1936 Tide-way 1937 Exhibitionnist 1938 Rockfel 1939 Galatea II 1940 Godiva 1941 Dancing Time 1942 Sun Chariot ₩ 1943 Herringbone 1944 Picture Play 1945 Sun Stream 1946 Hypericum 1947 Imprudence 1948 Queenpot 1949 Musidora 1950 Camaree 1951 Belle of All 1952 Zabara 1953 Happy Laughter 1954 Festoon 1955 Meld ₩ 1956 Honeylight 1957 Rose Royale 1958 Bella Paola 1959 Petite Etoile 1960 Never Too Late 1961 Sweet Solera 1962 Abermaid 1963 Hula Dancer 1964 Pourparler 1965 Night Off 1966 Glad Rags 1967 Fleet 1968 Caergwrle 1969 Full Dress 1970 Humble Duty 1971 Altesse Royale 1972 Waterloo 1973 Mysterious 1974 Highclere 1975 Nocturnal Spree 1976 Flying Water 1977 Mrs McArdy 1978 Enstone Spark 1979 One in a Million 1980 Quick As Lightning 1981 Fairy Footsteps 1982 On The House 1983 Ma Biche 1984 Pebbles 1985 Oh So Sharp ₩ 1986 Midway Lady 1987 Miesque 1988 Ravinella 1989 Musical Bliss 1990 Salsabil 1991 Shadayid 1992 Hatoof 1993 Sayyedati 1994 Las Meninas 1995 Harayir 1996 Bosra Sham 1997 Sleepytime 1998 Cape Verdi 1999 Wince 2000 Lahan 2001 Ameerat 2002 Kazzia 2003 Russian Rhythm 2004 Attraction 2005 Virginia Waters 2006 Speciosa 2007 Finsceal Beo 2008 Natagora 2009 Ghanaati 2010 Special Duty 2011 Blue Bunting 2012 Homecoming Queen 2013 Sky Lantern 2014 Miss France 2015 Legatissimo

Legend - ₩ = Fillies Triple Crown winners, † = Epsom Derby winners, ‡ = 2000 Guineas Stakes winners

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 II 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 Bayunda 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 II 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

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

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, January 12, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.