Henbit (horse)

Henbit
Sire	Hawaii
Grandsire	Utrillo
Dam	Chateaucreek
Damsire	Chateaugay
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	28 March 1977
Country	United States
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Helen Drake Jones
Owner	Etti Plesch
Trainer	Dick Hern
Record	8: 4-0-0
Earnings	$430,882
Major wins
Guardian Classic Trial (1980) Chester Vase (1980) Epsom Derby (1980)
Awards
Timeform rating 118 (1979), 130 (1980)
Last updated on August 29, 2007

Henbit (28 March 1977 – 1997) was an American-bred and British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the Epsom Derby in 1980. After winning one minor race as a two-year-old he showed improved form in 1980 to win the Classic Trial Stakes and the Chester Vase. He won the Derby in a fast time but sustained a leg injury in the race which ruled him out for the rest of the year. He failed when returning as a four-year-old and was retired to stud, where he had limited success as a sire of winners.

Henbit was a "leggy" bay horse bred in Kentucky by Helen Drake Jones, owner of Mineola Farm near Lexington. His sire was Hawaii, a South African Champion at two and three and then in the United States, the 1969 American Champion Turf Horse. Henbit's dam Chateaucreek was a daughter of the 1963 Kentucky Derby winner and American Champion Three-Year-Old Colt, Chateaugay. As a descendant of the American broodmare Some More, Chateacreek came from the branch of Thoroughbred family 3-d which also produced Dancing Brave, Lucky Debonair and Delta Blues.

As a yearling, Henbit was sold for $24,000 and was owned during his racing career by Etti Plesch, who had previously won the Derby with Psidium in 1961 and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1970 with Sassafras. Henbit was trained by Dick Hern at West Ilsley and ridden in most of his races by Willie Carson.

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