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Birdcatcher (horse)
Birdcatcher (horse)
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

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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

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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
1842 The Baron Stallion St Leger Stakes. Very successful sire.
1843 Chanticleer Doncaster Cup
1849 Daniel O'Rourke Stallion Epsom Derby (1852)
1849 Songstress Mare Epsom Oaks (1852)
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)
Ayacanora Mare Dam of Talk O' The Hill (a good sire in Australia)
Bird on the Wing Mare 2nd in the Epsom Oaks
England's Beauty Mare Dam of Kingston (a good sire in Australia)
Foninnualla Mare Dam of Mincepie (won the Epsom Oaks)
Lady Trespass Mare Park Hill Stakes
Marquis
Mickey Free
Miss Agnes Mare
Mrs. Ridgway Mare
Oxford
Partlet Mare Dam of Jeune Premier (Prix de Diane)
Red Eagle
Reine Blanche Mare Dam of Florentin (Prix du Jockey Club)
Saunterer Goodwood Cup

[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."

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)[6]

* 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]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Birdcatcher (horse)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Birdcatcher (1833–1860) was an influential Irish racehorse and breeding stallion who achieved moderate success on the track before becoming a leading in both and during the mid-19th century. Foaled in 1833 at Brownstown Stud near in , , Birdcatcher was bred by George Knox and was by the stallion out of the mare Guiccioli, a daughter of Bob Booty. As a horse standing about 15 hands high, he was noted for his compact build and distinctive dark flecking on his coat, later termed "Birdcatcher spots" or "ticks," a marking that became associated with many of his descendants. Birdcatcher's racing career spanned from age two to four, with 15 starts yielding seven wins, primarily over distances of up to two miles on Irish tracks. He debuted unsuccessfully at in 1835 but secured victories in the Madrid Stakes and Milltown Stakes in 1836, followed by the prestigious Peel Stakes at that year, where he reportedly "ran another mile down the precipitous back road to Newbridge" after winning. In 1837, at age four, he won the Kildare Stakes and other stakes before retiring later that season, having earned a reputation as a consistent but not dominant performer against top competition. Retired to stud in 1838 at Brownstown, Birdcatcher shuttled between and over the next two decades, standing at locations including Barrow's Paddocks in and Easby Abbey in . His stud rose from modest beginnings to 25 guineas by the , reflecting his growing success; he topped the Anglo-Irish sires list in 1852 and 1856. Among his notable progeny were The Baron, winner of the 1845 and grandsire of the great ; Daniel O'Rourke, victor of the 1852 ; , the 1852 Oaks Stakes winner; Rataplan; and , who took the 1856 1,000 Guineas. Birdcatcher's legacy endures through his male line, which influenced foundational bloodlines including those of , , Blandford, and , thereby shaping modern racing worldwide and enhancing the reputation of Irish breeding. He was euthanized in March 1860 at age 27 due to , marking the end of a stallion career that produced over 200 winners and left an indelible mark on the breed.

Background

Breeding

Birdcatcher was foaled in 1833 at Brownstown Stud on in , . He was by the influential Irish stallion , out of the mare Guiccioli by Bob Booty; , from the first crop of which Birdcatcher came, played a key role in elevating the standard of Irish breeding through his progeny. The colt was bred by George Knox at Brownstown Stud and subsequently sold as a yearling to William Disney of Lark Lodge, adjacent to the stud, who became his initial owner and arranged for his racing career. Under Disney's ownership, Birdcatcher received early training and preparation at , debuting as a juvenile in 1835 before competing more extensively at age three.

Description

Birdcatcher was a Thoroughbred stallion noted for his compact stature, measuring 15.3 hands high at maturity—a height deemed small by the standards of 19th-century racehorses. His coat was a deep chestnut color, accented by distinctive "Birdcatcher ticks," which consisted of small, scattered grey or white hairs primarily on his flanks, shoulders, and at the root of his tail; these markings, later termed "Birdcatcher spots" or "ticks," represented a heritable trait that appeared in many of his descendants. Additional facial and leg markings included a large star on his forehead, a narrow blaze extending downward, and a stocking on his left hind leg. In conformation, Birdcatcher displayed an elegant yet powerful build, characterized by a well-proportioned, agile frame with strong hindquarters that contributed to his prowess in speed-oriented events over middle distances. Contemporary observers praised his overall form as a near-perfection of masculine strength and refinement, blending compactness with explosive . Birdcatcher's was spirited and occasionally excitable, particularly evident in his behavior, yet he proved manageable under and handling. One prominent historical depiction of Birdcatcher is an 1858 oil painting by Irish equestrian artist Samuel Spode, portraying the stallion with a jockey astride, capturing his alert posture and distinctive coat markings in a stable setting.

Racing Career

Principal Victories

Birdcatcher's racing career, confined entirely to Irish tracks, began promisingly at age three in 1836, with his breakthrough victory in the Madrid Stakes at the Curragh, where he won his division and broke his maiden against a field of rivals over approximately two miles. This success marked his emergence as a contender, highlighting his ability to handle longer distances early in his development. Later that season, he added the Milltown Stakes at the same venue, in a display of improving form. His most impressive performance of 1836 came in the Peel Stakes at , contested over 14 furlongs, where Birdcatcher powered to a decisive win and reportedly ran an additional mile uncontrollably after crossing the finish line, underscoring his abundant stamina and raw energy. Entering his four-year-old campaign in 1837, he opened with a strong victory in the Kildare Stakes at , solidifying his reputation as one of Ireland's leading milers through consistent performances on familiar ground. He followed this by walking over unopposed in the Wellington Stakes and securing another win in the Royal Plate, both at , further emphasizing his dominance in domestic competition. Throughout his career, Birdcatcher amassed seven victories from 15 starts, all achieved at , where his blend of speed over shorter trips and endurance at distances up to four miles established him as a versatile and reliable performer on Irish soil. These , though not against top English opposition, contributed significantly to elevating the profile of Irish during the .

Race Record

Birdcatcher competed in 15 races between 1835 and 1837, achieving 7 wins, 4 second-place finishes, and 3 third-place finishes. His career began modestly as a two-year-old with a single unplaced effort, but he reached his peak form at three and four years old, securing multiple victories at , including several stakes races over distances up to four miles. He retired to stud following an unplaced performance in the Doric Stakes at age four. The following table summarizes his complete race record:
DateRace NameVenueDistanceFinish PositionNotes
October 1835Paget StakesUnspecifiedUnplacedDebut race; one of six entries by sire .
May 1836Madrid StakesUnspecified1stBreakthrough win.
June 1836Milltown StakesUnspecified1stVictory over others.
September 1836 StakesUnspecified2ndBeaten by a head to Maria.
September 1836 Stakes (2nd running)Unspecified2ndFinished behind Whim.
October 1836Peel Cup14 furlongs1stRunaway win against 3 rivals.
November 1836Mulgrave HandicapUnspecified3rdGave 17 lb to winner Water Witch.
April 1837Kildare StakesUnspecified1stBeat Thump, Aigirio, Quicksilver, and two others.
April 1837 StakesUnspecified2ndFinished second to Blackfoot.
April 1837 Stakes ChallengeUnspecified1stWalkover victory.
June 1837Match RaceUnspecified1stReceived forfeit from opponent.
June 1837 (Royal Plate)2 miles1stClear win.
June 1837 HandicapUnspecified2ndBeaten by Harkaway, who received 20 lb.
June 18373 miles3rdLast of three; won by Harkaway.
October 1837Doric StakesUnspecifiedUnplacedFinal career start, triggering retirement.

Stud Career

Achievements as a Sire

Birdcatcher commenced his stud career in 1838 at Brownstown Stud in Ireland, where he stood alongside his , , until 1845. He subsequently moved to Barrow's Paddocks in Newmarket, (1846–1847), then to Easby Abbey in under Mr. Mostyn (1848–1849), before returning to Brownstown Stud (1850–1851 and from 1853 onward), with additional seasons in until 1858. During this period, he contributed to a prolific output. As a , Birdcatcher achieved champion status in in 1852 and 1856, rankings determined by the earnings of his progeny, and he placed among the leading sires fifteen times overall. His success underscored his value in elevating the quality of bloodstock, particularly through the transmission of stamina and speed inherited from his prowess. Birdcatcher founded two enduring male lines that significantly influenced modern pedigrees. One branch extended through his son The Baron, who in turn sired —the "Emperor of Stallions"—leading to influential descendants like and ultimately , a cornerstone of contemporary sire lines. The other line passed via , sire of Sterling and Nuneham, further propagating Birdcatcher's genetic legacy. His breeding impact extended to enhancing the reputation of Irish Thoroughbreds in the post-1840s era, as he became the first Irish-bred stallion to sire multiple English Classic winners, thereby boosting the international standing of Irish sires alongside his own dam sire, . This foundational role helped transform Irish racing from a peripheral concern to a respected contributor to the global breed.

Notable Progeny

Birdcatcher's most prominent son, The Baron (foaled 1842), achieved classic success by winning the 1845 at , showcasing the speed and stamina inherited from his sire. As a stallion, The Baron proved highly influential, siring the great (winner of the 1847 St. Leger and 2000 Guineas) and Rataplan, who in turn produced Derby winner Kettledrum (1861), thereby establishing Birdcatcher as a grandsire of numerous champions and contributing directly to enduring sire lines like that of . Another key son, (foaled 1857), extended Birdcatcher's male line through his own progeny, including Sterling and Nuneham, who sired multiple winners and helped propagate the Birdcatcher influence into later generations of Thoroughbreds. Birdcatcher's early crops in England yielded notable classic performers, including three St. Leger winners (The Baron in 1845, Knight of St. George in 1854, and in 1856), two 1,000 Guineas victors (Habena in 1855 and in 1856), the 1852 Derby winner Daniel O'Rourke, and Oaks winner (1852). These successes highlighted Birdcatcher's ability to transmit speed, with at least 14 stakes winners emerging from his initial foal crops, underscoring his rapid impact as a sire. Birdcatcher's daughters also played a vital role in his legacy, producing influential broodmares that supported lines leading to champions like Lord Lyon (1866 Derby and St. Leger winner). For instance, daughters such as and others contributed to tail-female lines that bolstered the breed's genetic diversity and performance.

Later Life and Legacy

Death and Burial

Birdcatcher, the renowned Irish stallion, died in March 1860 at the age of 27 while at Training Grounds in , . By this stage in his stud career, his had notably declined, rendering further breeding efforts uneconomical. In a final attempt, he was tasked with covering a named Queen Bee—a granddaughter of his own progeny—but proved incapable, leading his owner, William , to order his execution in line with 19th-century practices for aged, unproductive stallions. The horse was led to the brink of a on the flat opposite Conyngham Lodge at , where he was shot without ceremony by a using a loaded ; his body then tumbled into the pit for . His head was preserved and presented to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in . This abrupt end marked the close of Birdcatcher's personal life, a stark contrast to his earlier triumphs on the track and at stud.

Enduring Influence

Birdcatcher's most distinctive genetic legacy is the eponymous "Birdcatcher spots," small, transient white markings that appear spontaneously on the coats of solid-colored horses, typically no larger than an inch in diameter and often found on the flanks, shoulders, or neck. These spots, which Birdcatcher himself exhibited, are believed to result from a benign genetic that causes localized without underlying health issues, and they tend to run in families while appearing more frequently in s, Arabians, and chestnuts or bays. Recent veterinary assessments, including a analysis by equine Dr. Lydia Gray, confirm their non-pathological nature, distinguishing them from conditions like or injury-related marks, with no evidence of progression or harm to . Observations of these spots extend to other breeds, such as Quarter Horses and Warmbloods, particularly in lines with influence. In the realm of breeding, Birdcatcher played a pivotal role in elevating Irish sires during the and , transforming the perception of Irish racing stock from secondary to competitive with English lines. Alongside his sire , Birdcatcher's progeny helped establish as a breeding powerhouse, with his bloodlines contributing to the success of classic winners and influencing the broader European population through key sons like The Baron. This era marked a shift where Irish-bred stallions began siring major English Derby and Oaks victors, solidifying Birdcatcher's foundational impact on national breeding strategies. Birdcatcher's influence persists in modern pedigrees, with his descendants tracing through Stockwell to distant champions such as the legendary Australian racehorse (1926–1932), whose lineage includes Birdcatcher via the 1842 stallion The Baron. These lines continue to appear in contemporary and breeding programs, underscoring his enduring contribution to speed and stamina traits. Culturally, the spots bearing his name have been featured in equine literature and veterinary texts since the mid-19th century, with 2024–2025 resources like those from Ranvet affirming their harmless, aesthetic appeal without new pathological concerns emerging.

Pedigree

Immediate Pedigree

Birdcatcher, a stallion foaled in 1833 in Ireland, was sired by the stallion (1826–1852) out of the mare Guiccioli (1823). The following table outlines his immediate pedigree, including parents and grandparents:
RelationName (Year, Color)Sire LineDam Line
Sire (1826, )Whalebone (1807, ) by Waxy (1790, ) (1798, ) by Trumpator (1782, )
DamGuiccioli (1823, )Bob Booty (1804, ) by Chanticleer (1787, )Flight (1809, ) by Escape (1780, )
Birdcatcher's ancestry traces to all three foundation sires of the breed: the through Herod (a direct descendant) in multiple maternal lines, including via Escape and Bagot; the through Matchem (sire of Trumpator) in the paternal granddam's line; and the through the line in the paternal ancestry via Pot-8-Os and Waxy. Notable inbreeding occurs in the dam's pedigree, with Guiccioli linebred 3×3 to Bagot (1780, a son of Herod), appearing as the sire of both her sire's dam (Ierne) and her dam's dam (a daughter of Bagot), thereby intensifying the Byerley Turk influence.

Ancestral Influence

Birdcatcher's sire, Sir Hercules, derived from the influential Whalebone line, which was renowned for imparting stamina essential for longer races, a trait that played a pivotal role in the revival of Irish Thoroughbred breeding during the 1830s. As an Irish-bred son of Whalebone, Sir Hercules himself demonstrated endurance by competing successfully in high-stakes events like the St. Leger, and his progeny, including Birdcatcher, carried forward this staying power, enabling performances over distances up to 14 furlongs. This lineage helped elevate Irish stock from a position of relative obscurity to one capable of challenging dominant English breeding programs, with Sir Hercules and his descendants marking a turning point in the era's racing landscape. Birdcatcher's dam, Guiccioli, contributed speed and agility through her pedigree, which likely influenced his quick acceleration and distinctive roaning pattern known as "Birdcatcher ticks," a rabicano characteristic visible in his coat and passed to many offspring. Guiccioli herself had a solid racing record and produced other notable winners, such as Birdcatcher's full brother Faugh-a-Ballagh, the first Irish-bred to win an English , and Gramachree, whose descendants included the winner Selim in 1866, underscoring her value as a broodmare. On a broader scale, the Whalebone influence extended Birdcatcher's ancestry to foundational sires like Waxy, connecting him directly to the legendary through the male line, a heritage that bolstered his aptitude for middle-distance races and reinforced the stamina-speed balance critical to his success. These ancestral ties not only shaped Birdcatcher's physical traits—such as his compact build and robust constitution—but also positioned his forebears as catalysts for Irish breeders to produce horses competitive against elite English bloodlines by the mid-19th century.
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