Bendigo (horse)

Bendigo
Sire	Ben Battle
Grandsire	Rataplan
Dam	Hasty Girl
Damsire	Lord Gough
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1880
Country	Great Britain
Colour	Brown
Owner	H. T. Barclay
Trainer	C. Jousiffe
Earnings	£20,100
Major wins
Cambridgeshire Stakes (1883) Lincolnshire Handicap (1885) Hardwicke Stakes (1885) Eclipse Stakes (1886) Jubilee Stakes (1887) Champion Stakes (1887)
Last updated on 6 October 2012

Bendigo (foaled 1880) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was owned by H. T. Barclay and trained by C. Jousiffe. He won the first running of the Eclipse Stakes, the most valuable race in Britain. He also won the Champion Stakes and was noted for his performances in the top handicap races.

Bendigo was sired by Irish Derby winner Ben Battle. Ben Battle was a son of Doncaster Cup winner Rataplan. Bendigo's dam was Hasty Girl, a daughter of Lord Gough. Hasty Girl also foaled 1887 St. Leger Stakes winner Kilwarlin.

Bendigo did not run as a two-year-old. On 9 October 1883 he ran in the Cesarewitch Stakes at the Newmarket Houghton meeting. Carrying 6 st 7 lb he started a 40/1 outsider in the field of 22. He finished in about sixth place, behind winner Don Juan. Two weeks later he ran in the Cambridgeshire Stakes. He again started as an outsider, this time starting at 50/1. Carrying 6 st 10 lb he won the race by a neck from Tonans, with Medicus a further three lengths back in third place. Bendigo had drifted left so badly that many people did not see him at the finish.

For the Cambridgeshire Stakes of 1884 he started at 100/8, but was carrying significantly more weight (8 st 2 lb). Bendigo and the favourite, Florence, were the leaders in the closing stages. After Bendigo swerved left slightly, Florence won by a head. The two had pulled well clear of Pizarro, who finished in third.

Bendigo started the 1885 season in March in the Lincolnshire Handicap. He started as the 11/4 favourite and won by three quarters of a length from Bird of Freedom. At Royal Ascot he lined up for the Hardwicke Stakes, where he started as the 4/6 favourite and faced six opponents. He was ridden by J. Snowden and the horses closest to him in the betting were Crafton at 4/1 and Lucerne at 10/1. As the field turned into the finishing straight Crafton took the inside line and went into the lead, followed by Bendigo and Lucerne. As they neared to finish Bendigo caught Crafton and went clear to win by four lengths from Willie Darling, who just caught Crafton for second place on the finishing line. The race was run in 2 minutes 43.4 seconds and was worth £2727. In October Bendigo again lined up for the Cambridgeshire Stakes. After his previous performances he was assigned the weight of 9 st 8 lb and started at 100/8. In the closing stages of the race Bendigo fought with Eastern Emperor for second, the former coming out on top by a neck. Neither could catch Plaisanterie though, who won easily by a couple of lengths.

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