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Birdcatcher (horse)

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Birdcatcher (1833–1860), or Irish Birdcatcher, was a Thoroughbred racehorse and a leading sire.

Birdcatcher
Birdcatcher with jockey (1858), painted by Samuel Spode
SireSir Hercules
GrandsireWhalebone
DamGuiccioli
DamsireBob Booty
SexStallion
Foaled1833 (1833)
Died1860 (aged 26–27)
CountryIreland
ColourDark Chestnut
BreederMr. Hunt, Ireland[1]
OwnerWilliam Disney
Record15 starts, 7 wins[2]
Last updated on 15 May 2009

Breeding

[edit]

Foaled in 1833 at the Brownstown Stud, in Ireland, Birdcatcher was by the Irish Thoroughbred stallion Sir Hercules, who lost only once, in the St Leger Stakes in 1829. Birdcatcher's dam, Guiccioli, who had a successful career as a racehorse, foaled the chestnut colt when she was 10. She was also the granddam of another well-known racehorse, Selim, and dam to a full-brother of Birdcatcher, Faugh-a-Ballagh.[1]

Description

[edit]

Birdcatcher was said to have been small, only 15.3 hh, but he had an expressive head, a well-arched neck, and nicely sloping shoulder. His back was short and compact, his loin was deep, and his hindquarters were strong and muscular. His forearms and thighs were large and strong, and attached to fine, light legs. He had an elastic stride that no doubt helped him to win as many races as he did.

Birdcatcher had a large star and narrow blaze, white halfway up to the hock on the left hind. He also had ticking, or white hairs scattered throughout his flanks and at the base of the tail. He passed this trait onto many offspring, including Daniel O'Rourke, so often that the marking came to be called to Birdcatcher ticks.[3] This marking differs from the small white spots known as Birdcatcher spots, and from the dark spots called Bend-Or spots.

Racing career

[edit]

William Disney bought the colt, and raced him once as a 2-year-old before beginning seriously as a three-year-old. The young Thoroughbred raced only at Curragh throughout his career. He broke his maiden at the Madrid Stakes, and then won the Milltown Stakes and fourteen-furlong Peel Stakes, and came second in the ten-furlong Wellington Stakes. His four-year-old career was also quite impressive, with a win in the Kildare and Wellington Stakes (where he walked over the finish line). He finished second after Harkaway in the Northumberland Handicap. In his final race, the Doris Stakes, Birdcatcher was unplaced.

The chestnut colt ended his career with 15 starts and 7 wins, before the horse went on to have a successful breeding career.[2]

Race record

[edit]

Two-year-old

  • Paget Stakes at the Curragh, unplaced

Three-year-old ~raced exclusively at the Curragh

  • Madrid Stakes: won, beating Maria (b.f. by Sir Hercules), Langford (br.c. by Sir Hercules), Quicksilver (b.c. by Memnon), and five other entries
  • Miltown Stakes: won, beating Cushneiche (ch.c. by Roller)
  • Wellington Stakes: came 2nd, after Maria, beating Whim (gr.f. by Drone), and eight others
  • Challenge Stakes: 2nd, after Whim, beating Maria
  • November Mulgrave Handicap: 3rd, after winner Water Witch (bl.f. by Sir Hercules) and Blackfoot (b.c. by Young Blacklock), beating Fusileer (ch.c. by The Colonel), Whim, and three other entries
  • October Mulgrave Handicap: unplaced, won by Langford followed by Whim

Four-year-old ~raced exclusively at the Curragh

  • Kildare Stakes: won, beating Thump (b.c. Humphrey Clinker), Aigirio (gr.c. Roller), Quicksilver, and two others
  • King's Plate: Croughpatrick (br.c. Blacklock) and five others
  • Wellington Stakes: won (walked over)
  • April Challenge Stakes: 2nd, after Blackfoot, beat four others
  • King's Plate: 2nd to Freney
  • King's Plate: 3rd, after winner Harkaway, and Gipsy (bl.f. Sir Hercules)
  • September Challenge Stakes: 3rd, after winner Mercury (gr.c. Drone), and Austerlitz (br.c. Napoleon)
  • Wellington Stakes: unplaced, won by Harkaway
  • Doris Stakes: unplaced, won by Maria

Stud record

[edit]

The stallion retired to stud at his place of foaling, Brownstown, beginning his breeding career as a five-year-old in 1838. Birdcatcher's first crop of foals did well, and he was moved to Barrow's Paddock in Newmarket for 1846 and 1847, before he was leased for 1848 and 1849 to Easby Abbey in Yorkshire. The stallion then returned home to Brownstown for 1850, and was sent back to England for the 1852 season, and returned home to Ireland for the 1859 season.

Birdcatcher's English offspring did well, and earned him the Champion Sire title for 1852 and 1856. He was among the top sires 15 times during his breeding career. Birdcatcher was the first Irish-bred stallion to sire winners of English classic races, including seven offspring accounting for three St. Leger wins, two One Thousand Guineas wins, and a win at the Derby and the Oaks. Birdcatcher also founded two male lines, one with Oxford, and another with The Baron, from whom most Thoroughbreds descend today.

Birdcatcher sired:

Foaled Name Sex Major Wins/Achievements
1841 Mickey Free Stallion
1842 The Baron Stallion St Leger Stakes. Very successful sire.
1843 Chanticleer Stallion Doncaster Cup
1843 Foninnualla Mare Dam of Mincepie (won the Epsom Oaks)
1848 Marquis Stallion
1849 Bird on the Wing Mare 2nd in the Epsom Oaks
1849 Daniel O'Rourke Stallion Epsom Derby (1852)
1849 Mrs Ridgway Mare
1849 Partlet Mare Dam of Jeune Premier (Prix de Diane)
1849 Songstress Mare Epsom Oaks (1852)
1850 England's Beauty Mare Dam of Kingston (a good sire in Australia)
1850 Miss Agnes Mare
1851 Knight of St. George Stallion St Leger Stakes (1854)
1852 Habena Mare 1000 Guineas Stakes (1855)
1853 Manganese Mare 1000 Guineas Stakes (1856)
1853 Warlock Stallion St Leger Stakes (1856)
1854 Ayacanora Mare Dam of Talk O' The Hill (a good sire in Australia)
1854 Saunterer Stallion Goodwood Cup
1856 Red Eagle Stallion
1857 Lady Trespass Mare Park Hill Stakes
1857 Oxford Stallion

[4][5]

The death of Birdcatcher

[edit]

Despite his success as a sire Birdcatcher met with an undeserved execution after he was unable to cover a mare.

His death was accounted by Patrick Connolly. "Among the mares sent to the son of Sir Hercules that year was Mr. Michael Dunne's Queen Bee. She was a mare of good size, and when Birdcatcher attempted to serve her, he failed to do so. Mr. Disney, who owned the stallion, thereupon decided that he should no longer survive. At once a messenger was dispatched to the local police station with orders to bring back with him a constable with a loaded gun, as a horse was required to be destroyed. The police officer – his name was Preston – reported himself to Mr. Disney, who gave the necessary directions for the destruction of Birdcatcher. The horse was placed on the brink of a sandpit situated on the flat opposite Conyngham Lodge, Curragh; without any ceremony he was shot and his carcass tumbled into the pit. Thus ended the career of a good racehorse and a mighty sultan at the age of twenty-seven years. His head was afterwards presented to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Dublin."

Sire line tree

[edit]

Pedigree

[edit]
Pedigree of Birdcatcher (IRE), chestnut stallion, 1833
Sire
Sir Hercules
1826		 Whalebone
1807		 Waxy Potoooooooo
Maria
Penelope Trumpator
Prunella
Peri
1822		 Wanderer Gohanna
Catherine*
Thalestris Alexander
Rival
Dam
Guiccioli
1823		 Bob Booty
1804		 Chanticleer (1787) Woodpecker*
Chanticleer's dam
Ierne Bagot*
mare by Gamahoe
Flight
1809		 Escape Highflyer
mare by Squirrel
Young Heroine Bagot*
Heroine (Family 11-d)[83]

* Birdcatcher is inbred 4D x 4D to the stallion Bagot, meaning that he appears fourth generation twice on the dam side of his pedigree.

* Birdcatcher is inbred 5S x 4D to the stallion Woodpecker, meaning that he appears fifth generation (via Catherine) on the sire side of his pedigree, and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), “Thoroughbred Breeding of the World”, Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970
  2. 1 2 Thoroughbred Heritage – Birdcatcher Retrieved on 15 May 2009
  3. ↑ Christopher McGrath (2017). Mr. Darley's Arabian. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781681773902. Within five years of his death, one expert would concede: 'It cannot be denied that 'Irish Birdcatcher' has done more for the racehorse than any stallion of modern days - probably than ever was heard of; not alone in speed, but in symmetry of shape and power.' His imprint on the Darley Arabian line was to become so indelible that even today silver flecks in the root of a horse's tail, or scattered over the flanks, are known as 'Birdcatcher ticks'. [from the first page of chapter 12]
  4. ↑ "Talk O' The Hill – offspring". Australian Stud Book. Australian Turf Club Limited and Victoria Racing Club Limited. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "Kingston (GB) – offspring". Australian Stud Book. Australian Turf Club Limited and Victoria Racing Club Limited. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  6. ↑ "Darley Arabian Line". www.tbheritage.com.
  7. ↑ Sire Line: Pot-8-Os
  8. ↑ Jumpers: Darley Arabian Sire Line
  9. ↑ Darley Arabian Sire Line: Whalebone Branch
  10. ↑ Darley Arabian Sire Line: Birdcatcher
  11. ↑ Sire Line: Birdcatcher
  12. ↑ Jumpers: Darley Arabian Sire Line, Birdcatcher Branch
  13. ↑ Portrait: Birdcatcher
  14. ↑ Biography: Birdcatcher
  15. ↑ Studbook: Early M
  16. ↑ American Classic Pedigree: Fenian
  17. ↑ Portrait: The Baron
  18. ↑ Biography: The Baron
  19. ↑ Darley Arabian Sire Line: Stockwell Branch
  20. ↑ Sire Line: Stockwell
  21. ↑ Portrait: Stockwell
  22. ↑ Biography: Stockwell
  23. ↑ Portrait: St Albans
  24. ↑ Portrait: Springfield
  25. ↑ American Classic Pedigree: Springfield
  26. ↑ Portrait: Thunderbolt
  27. 1 2 3 Studbook: Early T
  28. ↑ Portrait: Glenelg
  29. ↑ American Classic Pedigree: Glenelg
  30. ↑ Portrait: The Marquis
  31. ↑ Portrait: Blair Athol
  32. 1 2 3 Studbook: Early B
  33. ↑ Portrait: Prince Charlie
  34. ↑ Portrait: Craig Millar
  35. ↑ Portrait: Silvio
  36. ↑ American Classic Pedgiree: The Ill-Used
  37. ↑ Portrait: The Duke
  38. ↑ Portrait: Lord Lyon
  39. ↑ Portrait: Minting
  40. ↑ Portrait: Savernake
  41. ↑ Portrait: Hochstapler
  42. ↑ Portrait: Nickel
  43. ↑ Image: Redpath
  44. ↑ Darley Arabian Sire Line: Doncaster Branch
  45. ↑ Portrait: Doncaster
  46. ↑ Biography: Doncaster
  47. ↑ Portrait: Bend Or
  48. ↑ The Mystery of Bend Or
  49. ↑ Portrait: Rataplan
  50. ↑ Biography & sire line: Rataplan
  51. ↑ Old Burnley: What happened to Kettledrum the racehorse after famous Epsom win?
  52. ↑ Horse Catalogue: Tonnerere des Indes
  53. ↑ Portrait: Chanticleer
  54. ↑ Biography: Chanticleer
  55. ↑ Portrait: Daniel O'Rourke
  56. ↑ Biography: Daniel O'Rourke
  57. 1 2 3 Portrait: St Giles
  58. ↑ Portrait: Knight Of St George
  59. ↑ Biography: Knight Of St George
  60. ↑ Biography: Warlock
  61. ↑ Biography: Saunterer
  62. ↑ Portrait: Oxford
  63. ↑ Studbook: Early NO
  64. ↑ Sire Line: Sterling
  65. ↑ Portrait: Sterling
  66. ↑ Studbook: Early S
  67. ↑ Portrait: Isonomy
  68. ↑ Portrait: Gallinule
  69. ↑ Portrait: Fortunio
  70. ↑ Portrait: Satiety
  71. ↑ Portrait: Common
  72. ↑ Biography: Common
  73. ↑ Portrait: Isinglass
  74. ↑ Biography: Isinglass
  75. ↑ Portrait: Ravensbury
  76. ↑ American Classic Pedigree: Stiletto
  77. ↑ Portrait: Energy
  78. ↑ Portrait: Gouverneur
  79. ↑ Portrait: Harvester
  80. ↑ Portrait: Paradox
  81. ↑ Image: Drogheda
  82. ↑ American Classic Pedigree: Typhoon II
  83. ↑ Morris, Simon; Tesio Power 2000 – Stallions of the World, Syntax Software
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