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Briseis (British horse)

Briseis
Sire Beningbrough
Grandsire King Fergus
Dam Lady Jane
Damsire Sir Peter Teazle
Sex Mare
Foaled 1804
Country United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour Bay
Owner Thomas Grosvenor
Trainer Robert Robson
Record 6: 3-1-0
Major wins
Match against Superstition (1807)
Oaks Stakes (1807)

Briseis (1804–1824) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the classic Oaks Stakes at Epsom Downs Racecourse in 1807. Her win in the Oaks was her third win from as many starts, but she was beaten in her remaining three races before being retired from racing in 1808. At stud she proved to be a successful broodmare, producing several good winners including the dual classic winner Corinne. The mare's name was often spelled Briseïs.

Briseis was a bay mare bred by her owner Thomas Grosvenor a cousin of Robert Grosvenor, 1st Marquess of Westminster. Thomas Grosvenor was a career soldier who eventually attained the rank of Field Marshal: during Briseis' racing career he was usually referred to as General Grosvenor. Briseis was sired by the St Leger winner Beningbrough, who at the time was based at Middleham in Yorkshire. Beningbrough also sired the Oaks winner Oriana, the outstanding stayer and stallion Orville and the Doncaster Cup winner Scud, who in turn sired the Epsom Derby winners Sailor and Sam.

Until 1913 there was no requirement for British racehorses to have official names (two-year-olds were allowed to race unnamed until 1946). The filly who would become known as Briseis was scheduled to make her debut as "Gen. Grosvenor's b. f. by Beningbrough out of Lady Jane" in a 100 guinea match race on 2 April at the Craven meeting at Newmarket Racecourse. She did not have to compete, however, as her opponent, a filly named Sour Crout, did not appear for the race over the Rowley Mile. On 13 April at Newmarket's First Spring Meeting General Grosvenor's filly, now officially named Briseis had her first competitive race against a four-year-old colt named Superstition. Receiving two stones from her opponent, and ridden by "a boy of Mr Mellish's", she won the race over the Ancaster Mile course to win a prize of 100 guineas. Two days later at the same course, Briseis won a Sweepstakes over ten furlongs when she defeated the Duke of St Albans' filly Morgiana for 50 guineas after "a good race". On 15 May, Briseis was one of thirteen fillies, from an original entry of thirty-one to contest the Oaks Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom. Mr Howorth's filly Lauretta was made favourite, with Briseis being relatively unfancied and starting at odds of 15/1. Ridden by Sam Chifney, Jr., Briseis took the lead after a mile and won the classic by half a length from Margaret, with Pantina third and Lauretta finishing unplaced.


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