Amiable

Amiable
Amiable in 1903 at the Welbeck Stud.
Sire	St. Simon
Grandsire	Galopin
Dam	Tact
Damsire	Wisdom
Sex	Mare
Foaled	1891
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Bay
Breeder	William Cavendish-Bentinck, 6th Duke of Portland
Owner	6th Duke of Portland
Trainer	George Dawson
Major wins
1,000 Guineas Stakes (1894) Epsom Oaks (1894) Park Hill Stakes (1894)

Amiable (1891–1915) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1894 Epsom Oaks and 1,000 Guineas Stakes despite having severe stringhalt in both hind limbs. Amiable raced until she was three years old, retiring in 1895 to the Duke of Portland's Welbeck Stud. Plagued with fertility problems, Amiable was a failure as a broodmare and produced only one foal that survived to adulthood. She was pensioned for the last 11 years of her life and was euthanized at the age of 24 in November 1915.

Amiable was foaled in 1891 at the Welbeck Stud near Welbeck Abbey in North Nottinghamshire, the estate of her breeder the Duke of Portland. Amiable's sire, St. Simon, won the 1884 Ascot Gold Cup and was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland for much of the 1890s and first decade of the 20th century. Her dam, Tact, was a full-sister to the mare Gravity, the dam of 1901 Ascot Gold Cup winner William the Third, and Florence. Tact was bought by Lord Lurgan as a potential racing prospect, but when the mare did not succeed on the turf was given to the Duke of Portland for use as a broodmare at the Welbeck Stud. As a stipulation of the transfer, any produce of Tact were to be jointly owned by Lord Lurgan and the Duke of Portland. In addition to Amiable, Tact produced the good racehorses Charm and Manners.

Amiable had severe stringhalt in both her hind limbs, causing her to greatly flex her hocks and pick her feet high off the ground with every step. The condition was more evident when Amiable walked than when she galloped and grew more pronounced toward the end of her racing career. "Our Van", writing for Baily's Magazine, described her appearance in the paddock before the 1894 St. Leger Stakes as a "half comic element" because the filly "kept picking up her legs as if she were walking on hot bricks."

Amiable was trained by George Dawson, who had also trained the Epsom Derby winners Donovan and Ayrshire for the Duke of Portland. Amiable was jointly owned by the Duke of Portland and Lord Lurgan during her racing career.