Alcide (1955–1973) was a British

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

racehorse. It is widely believed that Alcide would have won the 1958

Epsom Derby The Derby Stakes, more commonly known as the Derby and sometimes referred to as the Epsom Derby, is a Group races, Group 1 flat Horse racing, horse race in England open to three-year-old Colt (horse), colts and Filly, fillies. It is run at Ep ...

had not probable foul play prevented him from running. A form line through Nagami, who was third in the Derby, gives credibility to the theory that a fully fit Alcide would have won the race. During this period there was an alarming amount of apparent villainy in racing and it seems likely that the broken rib that Alcide sustained in his stable after he had won the Lingfield Derby Trial was deliberate. As a two-year-old Alcide had won the Horris Hill Stakes at

Newbury Racecourse Newbury Racecourse is a racecourse and events venue in the civil parish of Greenham, adjoining the town of Newbury, Berkshire, Newbury in Berkshire, England. It has courses for flat races and over jumps. It hosts one of Great Britain's List of ...

and his first success in his second season was in the Chester Vase. He then romped home in the Lingfield Derby Trial and after he had recovered from his injury he won the Great Voltigeur Stakes by 12 lengths and the St. Leger by eight. He was held up in his preparation for the

Ascot Gold Cup The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles 3 furlongs and 210 yards (4 ...

the following season, but even so was only just beaten by Wallaby II. Six weeks later he won the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and retired to stud as the winner of eight races worth £56,042.

Stud career

Alcide's stud career was reasonably successful with many of his sons exported to Australasia including Approval, Alderney, Alfonso, Atilla, Colours Flying, Flagon, Gatekeeper, Mironton, Oncidium, Persian Garden II and Swallowtail II.Wicks, B.M., “The Australian Racehorse”, Libra Books, Canberra, 1973 Another son was a good racehorse who was exported to Japan.

References

* ''The Complete Encyclopedia of Horse Racing'' - written by Bill Mooney and George Ennor
Alcide's pedigree and racing stats
{{St Leger Winners 1955 racehorse births 1973 racehorse deaths Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom Thoroughbred family 2-f St Leger winners King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners