Moses (horse)

Moses
Moses, by James Pollard
Sire	Seymour or Whalebone
Grandsire	Delpini
Dam	Gohanna mare (1807)
Damsire	Gohanna
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1819
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
Owner	Prince Frederick, Duke of York and Albany
Trainer	William Butler
Record	5:4-1-0
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1822) Albany Stakes (1822) Claret Stakes (1823)

Moses (1819 – after 1830) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from April 1822 to May 1823 he ran five times and won four races. In 1822, when three years old, he won all three of his races and became the second of six colts owned by members of the British Royal Family to win the Epsom Derby. His subsequent career was restricted by injuries and he was retired after sustaining his only defeat. He had limited success as a sire of winners and was exported to Germany in 1830.

Moses was bred and owned by the Duke of York, the heir presumptive who raced under the name of his friend "Mr. Greville". The Duke had previously won the Derby in 1816 with Prince Leopold. Moses was foaled at one of the Duke's studs, either at Hampton Court or Oatlands, and was reportedly one of his favourite horses. Both Moses and Prince Leopold were trained by William Butler.

The identity of Moses's father is uncertain. His dam, an unnamed mare by Gohanna, was covered by two stallions, first Whalebone and then Seymour in the spring of 1818. A second covering would usually take place only if the first was thought to have been unsuccessful. The fact that Moses was usually described as being by the former may simply reflect the fact that Whalebone was the much more successful and famous of the two stallions. Whalebone won the 1810 Derby and thirteen other races before becoming a successful and important stallion. He was British Champion sire in 1826 and 1827 and through his son Sir Hercules, is the male-line ancestor of most modern Thoroughbreds. The Gohanna mare went on to produce the filly Rachel, a highly successful racehorse whose wins included the Oatlands Stakes.

Moses was unraced as a two-year-old but had acquired enough of a reputation to be regarded as one of the leading contenders for the Derby before the season began. He made his racecourse debut on 23 April 1822 at Newmarket. He was made the 6/4 favourite for a six furlong Sweepstakes and claimed the 200-guinea prize, beating two opponents. Although he won easily, the quality of the beaten horses was questionable.

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