Orbit (foaled 1885) was a Thoroughbred racehorse. He was trained at Kingsclere by John Porter for the 1st Duke of Westminster. As a three-year-old he won the Eclipse Stakes.
| Orbit | |
|---|---|
 Racing silks of the Duke of Westminster | |
| Sire | Bend Or |
| Grandsire | Doncaster |
| Dam | Fair Alice |
| Damsire | Cambuscan |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1885 |
| Colour | Chestnut |
| Owner | 1st Duke of Westminster |
| Trainer | John Porter |
| Record | 6 wins |
| Earnings | £12,679[1] |
| Major wins | |
| Craven Stakes (1888) Eclipse Stakes (1888) | |
Breeding
editOrbit was the son of Epsom Derby and Champion Stakes winner Bend Or. His dam was Fair Alice, a daughter of July Stakes winner Cambuscan.[2]
Racing career
editOrbit won three races as a two-year-old; the Criterion Nursery Handicap at Newmarket, the Kempton Park Champion Nursery Handicap and the Daveridge Stakes.[3] Orbit started his three-year-old career by winning the Craven Stakes at Newmarket by ¾ length from Cotillon.[4] His next race came in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Friar's Balsam started as the 1/3 favourite for the race, with Ayrshire at 100/12 and Orbit at 100/8. Orbit ran on well in the closing stages to finish in third place. Ayrshire won the race by two lengths from Johnny Morgan, who was a head in front of Orbit.[5] After winning the 2000 Guineas win Ayrshire started as the 5/6 favourite for The Derby and Orbit was second favourite at 11/2. Orbit could only finish in fifth place, over seven lengths behind winner Ayrshire.[6] He then finished second in the Triennial Stakes at Ascot.[1] Orbit started as the 9/4 favourite for the Eclipse Stakes and in the final 100 yards of the race Orbit gradually edged away from stablemate Ossory and beat him by a length.[7]
Stud career
editAfter retiring from racing Orbit was exported to Argentina to stand at stud. He was a successful stallion there and his progeny included Olascoaga[8] and Old Man, who won 18 of his 19 races.[9] Such was his success at stud he was given the nickname "Stockwell Sudamericano" meaning "South American Stockwell" and referring to the British sire Stockwell.[8]
Pedigree
edit| Sire Bend Or ch. 1877 |
Doncaster ch. 1870 |
Stockwell ch. 1849 |
The Baron |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pocahontas | |||
| Marigold ch. 1860 |
Teddington | ||
| Ratan mare | |||
| Rouge Rose ch. 1865 |
Thormanby ch. 1857 |
Windhound | |
| Alice Hawthorn* | |||
| Ellen Horne br. 1844 |
Redshank | ||
| Delhi | |||
| Dam Fair Alice br. 1873 |
Cambuscan ch. 1861 |
Newminster b. 1848 |
Touchstone |
| Beeswing | |||
| The Arrow b. 1850 |
Slane | ||
| Southdown | |||
| Young Alice b. 1865 |
Young Melbourne br. 1855 |
Melbourne | |
| Clarissa | |||
| Sweet Hawthorn br. 1858 |
Sweetmeat | ||
| Alice Hawthorn* |
Note: b. = Bay, br. = Brown, ch. = Chestnut
* Orbit was inbred 4x4 to Alice Hawthorn. This means that the mare appears twice in the fourth generation of his pedigree.
References
edit- ^ a b Porter, John; Moorhouse, Edward (1919). John Porter of Kingsclere. G. Richards Ltd.
- ^ "Cambuscan". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ "TURF GOSSIP". Auckland Star. 28 April 1888. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ "Thursday, April 19". Otago Witness. 1 June 1888. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ "DERBY SPRING MEETING". Otago Witness. 22 June 1888. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ "Wednesday, May 30". Otago Witness. 20 July 1888. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ "RACING IN ENGLAND". Otago Witness. 21 September 1888. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ a b "Bend Or - Orbit". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ "Dollar - Old Man". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
- ^ "Orbit pedigree". equineline.com. Retrieved 2012-09-21.