Musjid (horse)

Musjid
Musjid by Charles Hunt & Son
Sire	Newminster
Grandsire	Touchstone
Dam	Peggy
Damsire	Muley Moloch
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1856
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Brown
Breeder	Lord Scarborough
Owner	Sir Joseph Hawley
Trainer	George Manning
Record	4: 3-0-1
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1862)

Musjid (1856–1865) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In 1863 he won both of his races including the Epsom Derby in which he landed a huge gamble for his owner despite concerted efforts to prevent him winning. Musjid developed leg problems after the Derby and never ran again. He was retired to stud, where he made little impression before his early death in 1865.

Musjid was a "stylish-looking" brown horse with a white star on his head who stood 15.3 hands high. He was bred by Lord Scarborough at his Tickhill stud in Yorkshire. Musjid was sent to the Doncaster sales, where he failed to find a buyer willing to pay the reserve price of 300 guineas. He was later sold for £200 in a private deal to Sir Joseph Hawley, with a proviso that Sir Joseph would pay an additional £500 if the colt won the Derby.

Musjid was sent into training with George Manning, who trained Hawley's colt Beadsman to win the 1858 derby, at his stable at Cannons Heath, near Kingsclere in Hampshire. Manning's stable was converted barn and was not noted for its hygiene: a stagnant pond "where frogs and beetles revel" stood close by the entrance and was blamed for causing outbreaks of fever and "malaria" among the inmates.

Musjid was the subject of very positive rumours before his debut, but ran disappointingly and finished third to North Lincoln in the New Stakes at Ascot on 2 June. On 17 June he started 5/4 favourite for the Mottisford Stakes at and won easily by a length from Sir Hercules. One source also claims that he won a race at Newmarket later that year. After his win at Stockbridge, the New Sporting Magazine noted that while he seemed to lack the pace to be a leading two-year-old, he looked like a potential Derby horse.