Crucifix (1837–1857) was an undefeated, Classic Race winning,

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-bred

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 ...

racemare. She was also the dam of three sires who had a great influence on the breed.

Breeding

Crucifix was a bay filly foaled in 1837, by The Derby winner, Priam; her dam was the then 21-year-old, Octaviana by Octavian.Leicester, Sir Charles, ''Bloodstock Breeding'', J.A. Allen & Co, London, 1969 Her breeder was

George Stanhope, 6th Earl of Chesterfield George Stanhope, 6th Earl of Chesterfield, PC (23 May 1805 – 1 June 1866), styled Lord Stanhope until 1815, was a British Tory politician, courtier and race horse owner. He served as Master of the Buckhounds under Sir Robert Peel from 1834 to ...

. Crucifix was a sister to Chesterfield, who sired the stakes-winner, The Hero. Her sire, Priam, also sired The Oaks winners Miss Letty and Industry before he was sold for 3,500 guineas and exported in 1837 to

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...

in the United States.Morris, Simon; ''Tesio Power 2000 - Stallions of the World'', Syntax Software The powerful racing figure,

Lord George Bentinck Lord William George Frederick Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck (27 February 180221 September 1848), better known as Lord George Bentinck, was an English Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician and racehorse owner noted for his role (with Benj ...

, bought Crucifix as a foal at foot with her 22-year-old dam for 65 guineas. At maturity, Crucifix stood nearly 16 hands high, with her body being described as "wiry", and she possessed a temperamental disposition.Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), ''Thoroughbred Breeding of the World'', Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970

Racing record

At two years: 1839

Crucifix had nine starts for wins in the Chesterfield Stakes (carrying top weight), Lavant Stakes, July Stakes and Molecombe Stakes, the Hopeful Stakes at Newmarket, the Clearwell Stakes, the Prendergast Stakes, and a walk-over in a sweepstakes at Newmarket; in the ninth race, the

Criterion Stakes The Criterion Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 7 furlongs (1,408 metres) ...

she dead-heated with Gibraltar. Her prize money for that season was a record £4,587.

At three years: 1840

In her three starts as a three-year-old, Crucifix won the Two Thousand Guineas, One Thousand Guineas and Epsom Oaks. The false starts resorted to at the start of the Oaks lasted about an hour, and it took about 15 attempts to get the 15 runners started. As a result of these tactics to defeat favourites, Lord George introduced reforms to inhibit this practice. Welfare ran second to Crucifix and she, too, was by Priam. After the running of the Oaks, Crucifix pulled up lame, and was retired with earnings of £10,287. Crucifix became the shortest odds winner of the 1,000 Guineas when she was 1/10 odds on. She was also the first of only four horses to ever win both the 1,000 Guineas and the 2,000 Guineas in the same year, when the two races were run two days apart. In her dead-heat in the Criterion Stakes at

Newmarket Racecourse Newmarket Racecourse is a British Thoroughbred horse racing venue in Newmarket, Suffolk, Newmarket, Suffolk, comprising two individual racecourses: the Rowley Mile and the July Course. Newmarket is often referred to as the headquarters of ...

and her win in the Oaks Stakes at Epsom, Crucifix defeated the good mare

Pocahontas Pocahontas (, ; born Amonute, also known as Matoaka and Rebecca Rolfe; 1596 – March 1617) was a Native American woman belonging to the Powhatan people, notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. S ...

and others on each occasion.

Stud record

Crucifix was the dam of: * 1842 colt, Cowl by Bay Middleton, sire * 1844 b colt, Crozier by Lancercost * 1845 b colt, Surplice by Touchstone, won Epsom Derby and

St. Leger Stakes The St Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over ...

, sire of Florin, (won

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) and others, and broodmare sire of Queen Bertha * 1846 Cucullus by Bay Middleton, died * 1847 colt, Pontifex by Touchstone * 1849 filly, Rosary by Touchstone * 1850 b colt, Constantine, by Cotherstone * 1851 b colt, Cardinal, by Touchstone * 1852 filly, Chalice by Orlando, won Royal Hunt Cup, second dam of Placida (Epsom Oaks) In order to pursue his political career Lord Bentinck sold his entire racing interests, including at least 60 horses along with Crucifix and her son, and future Epsom Derby winner, Surplice, for £10,000 to

Edward Lloyd-Mostyn, 2nd Baron Mostyn Edward Mostyn Lloyd-Mostyn, 2nd Baron Mostyn (13 January 1795 – 17 March 1884), was a British peer and Member of Parliament (MP). Mostyn was the son of Edward Lloyd, 1st Baron Mostyn. Born Edward Mostyn Lloyd, he assumed by royal licenc ...

.Montgomery, E.S, “The Thoroughbred”, Arco, New York, 1973 Crucifix was later sold to Henry Agar-Ellis, 3rd Viscount Clifden.

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, the undefeated French Derby winner and sire, great broodmare Double Life (dam of

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and Persian Gulf), and many other good horses descend from Crucifix in the distaff line. Crucifix also became the 12th dam of another great race-mare, Meld who won the

British Fillies Triple Crown The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing, often shortened to Triple Crown, is a series of horse races for Thoroughbreds, often restricted to three-year-olds. Winning all three of these Thoroughbred horse races is considered the greatest accompl ...

. Crucifix is the taproot mare of Family 2-i. Crucifix died in 1857 and was buried beside

Bay Middleton Captain William George Middleton (16 April 1846 – 9 April 1892) was a noted British horseman, officer of the Royal Lancers, and equerry to Lord Spencer, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He was described as "one of the best riders to hounds that e ...

at the Days' stables, Danebury, near

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.Thoroughbred Bloodlines: Crucifix
Retrieved 24 April 2010

Pedigree

References

{{Epsom Oaks Winners 1837 racehorse births 1857 racehorse deaths Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom Undefeated racehorses Thoroughbred family 2-c Thoroughbred family 2-i 2000 Guineas winners 1000 Guineas winners Epsom Oaks winners