Mameluke (British horse)

Mameluke
Sire	Partisan
Grandsire	Walton
Dam	Miss Sophia
Damsire	Stamford
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1824
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	R. C. Elwes
Owner	Lord Jersey John Gully
Trainer	James Edwards Sykes
Record	13:7-3-0
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1827) Port Stakes (1828)

Mameluke (1824 – after 1839) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from April 1827 to October 1829 he ran thirteen times and won seven races. Unraced as a two-year-old, he proved himself to be one of the best colts of his generation in 1827 when he won the Epsom Derby and finished second in the St Leger. Both races were surrounded by allegations of race-fixing and corruption. Mameluke raced with some success at four and five before retiring to stud. He was not a great success as a stallion.

Mameluke was a "leggy and powerfully-quartered" bay colt with a white blaze and one white foot, bred in Northamptonshire by Mr R. C. Elwes He was bought as a yearling by Lord Jersey. Mameluke was sired by Partisan, one of the leading stallions of the time, whose other offspring included the Classic winners Patron (2000 Guineas), Cyprian (Epsom Oaks) and Zeal (1000 Guineas) as well as the successful sires Gladiator and Venison. Mameluke's dam, Miss Sophia, was a half-sister of the 1000 Guineas winner Charlotte.

Mameluke's career began in controversy when he made his debut at Newmarket in April. He ran in the Riddlesworth Stakes, which at that time had a prestige almost equal to the Classics. Mameluke finished second to an unnamed filly by Partisan (later named Donna Maria), but the judge mistakenly awarded second place to his stable companion Glenartney, who was carrying the same colours. This error would have been unimportant if the winner had not then been disqualified for carrying the wrong weight. Glenartney, rather than Mameluke, was therefore credited as the official winner of the race. Mameluke was then able to take two valuable prizes without having to gallop for them. On 20 April he was allowed to walk over for a Sweepstakes at Newmarket when his opponents were withdrawn. He was next scheduled to take part in a match race on 30 April, but collected the £200 forfeit money without running when his opponent, a filly later named as "Mulebird" failed to appear.

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