Andover (horse)

Andover
Andover and Alfred Day. Painting by Harry Hall.
Sire	Bay Middleton
Grandsire	Sultan
Dam	Defence mare
Damsire	Defence
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1851
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Brown
Breeder	W. Etwall
Owner	John Gully
Trainer	John Day
Record	10:8-0-1
Major wins
Molecomb Stakes (1853) Epsom Derby (1854)

Andover (1851 – after 1865) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from July 1853 to September 1854 he ran ten times and won eight races. After being beaten in his first racecourse appearance he won his next seven races including the 1854 Epsom Derby. Andover was retired to stud at the end of the his three-year-old season. After less than two years as a stallion in England he sold and exported to Russia.

Andover was a strongly built bay horse with one white foot, standing 15.2 hands high. He was bred by William Etwall, of near the Hampshire town of Andover, after which the colt was named. He was sired by Bay Middleton, an unbeaten champion racehorse who won the 2000 Guineas and the Derby in 1836. He was also a highly successful stallion being Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1844 and 1849 and siring the Derby and St Leger winner The Flying Dutchman. Andover's dam (sometimes referred to as the sister to Aegis) was an unnamed mare by Defence, who went on to produce Anton, a colt who finished second in the 2000 Guineas and won the St. James's Palace Stakes.

Andover was offered for sale as a yearling and was bought by the former prize-fighter John Gully who owned the colt in partnership with Henry Padwick (also known as Mr Howard). Andover was sent into training with John Day at Danebury in Hampshire and ridden in most of his races by Alfred Day, his trainer's younger brother.