Petrarch (horse)

Petrarch
Petrarch, from the Illustrated London News, September 1876
Sire	Lord Clifden
Grandsire	Newminster
Dam	Laura
Damsire	Orlando
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1873
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Mr. Gosden
Owner	Mr. Spencer Lord Dupplin Lord Lonsdale Lord Calthorpe
Trainer	John Dawson Joseph Cannon
Record	16:8-1-1
Major wins
Middle Park Plate (1875) 2000 Guineas (1876) Prince of Wales's Stakes (1876) St. Leger Stakes (1876) Ascot Gold Cup (1877) Rous Memorial Stakes (1878)
Awards
Leading British money winner (1876)

Petrarch (foaled 1873), was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire who won two British Classic Races in 1876. In a career that lasted from October 1875 to October 1878 he ran sixteen times and won eight races. In 1875, Petrarch won the Middle Park Stakes on his only appearance of the season. As a three-year-old in 1876 he won two of the three races which comprise the Triple Crown, taking the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the St Leger at Doncaster. He finished unplaced when favourite for the Epsom Derby. As a four-year-old he won three races including the two and a half mile Ascot Gold Cup which at that time was regarded as the most important weight-for-age race in the world. Petrarch was regarded by contemporary experts as a brilliant, but inconsistent performer. After winning once as a five-year-old in 1878 he was retired to stud where he became a successful sire of winners.

Petrarch was an exceptionally good-looking bay horse bred by J. E. Gosden at Midhurst in West Sussex. He was sired by the 1863 St Leger winner Lord Clifden, whose other progeny included the classic winners Jannette, Wenlock and Hawthornden as well as the leading sire Hampton. Petrarch's performances as a three-year-old enabled Lord Clifden to win his only sires' championship in 1876. Petrarch's dam Laura was a successful broodmare whose other foals included the Doncaster Cup winner Fraulein and the Craven Stakes winner Laureate.