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Eager (horse)
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Eager (horse)
Eager (1788 – after 1795) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career that lasted from April 1791 to July 1795 he ran twenty-two times and won ten races. In 1791 he proved himself one of the best British colts of his generation, by winning The Derby and four other races. Eager won a further four races in 1792, but the level of his form declined thereafter and he won only one race in his last three seasons. Towards the end of his racing career he was gelded.
Eager was a brown colt bred by his owner the 5th Duke of Bedford. His sire, Florizel won several important races at Newmarket between 1772 and 1774 and went on to become a successful stallion, siring the 1780 Derby winner Diomed (later an important sire in the United States) and two winners of the St Leger. He was the sixth of sixteen foals produced by his dam an unnamed mare by Matchem who had previously produced Fidget, a successful racehorse and sire. The Duke sent the colt into training with his private trainer Matthew Stephenson who also rode him in some of his races, including the Derby.
Until 1913 there was no requirement for British racehorses to be named, and in the late eighteenth century it was common for horses to be known by their owner, colour, sex and pedigree rather than by an official name. The horse who would later become known as Eager raced unnamed as a three-year-old in 1791, being usually referred to as the "brother to Fidget." Later publications refer to the horse as "Eager" when describing the events of the 1791 Derby.
On 25 April "D.of Bedford's brother to Fidget, by Florizel" made his first appearance in a Sweepstakes over ten furlongs ("Across the Flat") at Newmarket. He started the 1/4 favourite and won from his only opponent, a filly named Wagtail.
At Epsom on 9 June "D.of Bedford's br c by Florizel out of Fidget's dam" started the 5/2 second favourite for the Derby in a field of nine runners. Ridden by his trainer Matthew Stephenson, he won from Lord Foley's colt Vermin, the 5/4 favourite, with Proteus third and the Prince of Wales's colt St David in fourth. A month after his Derby win, the brother to Fidget raced at Stockbridge where he had two engagements. On 7 July he was allowed to walk over in a one-mile Sweepstakes when the other six horses entered were withdrawn by their owners. On the following day he started 1/3 favourite for a ten furlong Sweepstakes and won from his only opponent, Hector.
After a three-month break, the still unnamed colt reappeared for the autumn meetings at Newmarket. On 4 October his unbeaten run ended when he was defeated at level weights by Vermin in the 1400 Guineas Stakes, a subscription race over the two mile "Ditch In" course. A month later, the brother to Fidget met Vermin for a third time in a match race over the Ditch In course. Carrying six pounds less than his opponent, he upset the 4/1 odds to win a prize of 300 guineas.
Fidget's brother was named Eager for the 1792 season and began his season with five engagements at the Newmarket spring meetings. The modifier "brother to Fidget" was still printed in racing literature in conjunction with his new name for a few years after he was officially named. Eager made his first appearance on 11 April in the Oatlands Stakes, a two-mile handicap which carried a first prize of more than £5,000, making it far more valuable than any of the Classics. He finished fifth of the twenty runners behind Toby, with the 1790 Derby winner Rhadamanthus and Vermin among the horses further back in the field. At the next meeting the Duke of Bedford claimed over £1,000 in prize money when Eager was allowed to walk over for a valuable Sweepstakes over the four mile Beacon Course. Four days later he ran in the two mile Fortescue Stakes in which he started 2/5 favourite and won from Vermin (beating Lord Foley's colt for the fourth time in five races) and a filly named Peggy. Eager won another prize for his owner without having to race when Mr Fox paid a forfeit when he withdrew his horse Mercutio from a scheduled match race on 7 May. On the following day Eager defeated the odds-on favourite Halbert to win the Jockey Club Plate over the Round Course, with Vermin third.
In summer Eager was sent to Stockbridge for a two-mile Sweepstakes on 27 June. When none of his five opponents appeared to contest the race he was allowed another walk over. A week later, Eager's winning run ended when he was beaten by Sir John Lade's horse Don Quixote in a four-mile Sweepstakes at Winchester.
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Eager (horse)
Eager (1788 – after 1795) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career that lasted from April 1791 to July 1795 he ran twenty-two times and won ten races. In 1791 he proved himself one of the best British colts of his generation, by winning The Derby and four other races. Eager won a further four races in 1792, but the level of his form declined thereafter and he won only one race in his last three seasons. Towards the end of his racing career he was gelded.
Eager was a brown colt bred by his owner the 5th Duke of Bedford. His sire, Florizel won several important races at Newmarket between 1772 and 1774 and went on to become a successful stallion, siring the 1780 Derby winner Diomed (later an important sire in the United States) and two winners of the St Leger. He was the sixth of sixteen foals produced by his dam an unnamed mare by Matchem who had previously produced Fidget, a successful racehorse and sire. The Duke sent the colt into training with his private trainer Matthew Stephenson who also rode him in some of his races, including the Derby.
Until 1913 there was no requirement for British racehorses to be named, and in the late eighteenth century it was common for horses to be known by their owner, colour, sex and pedigree rather than by an official name. The horse who would later become known as Eager raced unnamed as a three-year-old in 1791, being usually referred to as the "brother to Fidget." Later publications refer to the horse as "Eager" when describing the events of the 1791 Derby.
On 25 April "D.of Bedford's brother to Fidget, by Florizel" made his first appearance in a Sweepstakes over ten furlongs ("Across the Flat") at Newmarket. He started the 1/4 favourite and won from his only opponent, a filly named Wagtail.
At Epsom on 9 June "D.of Bedford's br c by Florizel out of Fidget's dam" started the 5/2 second favourite for the Derby in a field of nine runners. Ridden by his trainer Matthew Stephenson, he won from Lord Foley's colt Vermin, the 5/4 favourite, with Proteus third and the Prince of Wales's colt St David in fourth. A month after his Derby win, the brother to Fidget raced at Stockbridge where he had two engagements. On 7 July he was allowed to walk over in a one-mile Sweepstakes when the other six horses entered were withdrawn by their owners. On the following day he started 1/3 favourite for a ten furlong Sweepstakes and won from his only opponent, Hector.
After a three-month break, the still unnamed colt reappeared for the autumn meetings at Newmarket. On 4 October his unbeaten run ended when he was defeated at level weights by Vermin in the 1400 Guineas Stakes, a subscription race over the two mile "Ditch In" course. A month later, the brother to Fidget met Vermin for a third time in a match race over the Ditch In course. Carrying six pounds less than his opponent, he upset the 4/1 odds to win a prize of 300 guineas.
Fidget's brother was named Eager for the 1792 season and began his season with five engagements at the Newmarket spring meetings. The modifier "brother to Fidget" was still printed in racing literature in conjunction with his new name for a few years after he was officially named. Eager made his first appearance on 11 April in the Oatlands Stakes, a two-mile handicap which carried a first prize of more than £5,000, making it far more valuable than any of the Classics. He finished fifth of the twenty runners behind Toby, with the 1790 Derby winner Rhadamanthus and Vermin among the horses further back in the field. At the next meeting the Duke of Bedford claimed over £1,000 in prize money when Eager was allowed to walk over for a valuable Sweepstakes over the four mile Beacon Course. Four days later he ran in the two mile Fortescue Stakes in which he started 2/5 favourite and won from Vermin (beating Lord Foley's colt for the fourth time in five races) and a filly named Peggy. Eager won another prize for his owner without having to race when Mr Fox paid a forfeit when he withdrew his horse Mercutio from a scheduled match race on 7 May. On the following day Eager defeated the odds-on favourite Halbert to win the Jockey Club Plate over the Round Course, with Vermin third.
In summer Eager was sent to Stockbridge for a two-mile Sweepstakes on 27 June. When none of his five opponents appeared to contest the race he was allowed another walk over. A week later, Eager's winning run ended when he was beaten by Sir John Lade's horse Don Quixote in a four-mile Sweepstakes at Winchester.