Plenipotentiary (horse)

Plenipotentiary
Plenipotentiary, by Harry Hall.
Sire	Emilius
Grandsire	Orville
Dam	Harriet
Damsire	Pericles
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1831
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Chestnut
Breeder	Stanlake Batson
Owner	Stanlake Batson
Trainer	George Payne
Record	8: 7-0-0
Major wins
Riddlesworth Stakes (1834) Epsom Derby (1834) St. James's Palace Stakes (1834) Craven Stakes (1835) Port Stakes (1835)

Plenipotentiary (1831–1854) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from April 1834 to April 1835 he ran seven times and won six races. His most important win came in May 1834 when he won The Derby. His only defeat, in the St Leger at Doncaster later that year, was widely believed to be the result of foul play. After three successes as a four-year-old in 1835 he was retired to stud where his record was disappointing. Plenipotentiary was regarded by racing experts as one of the best British racehorses of his era.

Plenipotentiary was a big, heavily built chestnut horse with a narrow white blaze standing 15.2 hands high. He was described as a horse of "extraordinary beauty" but also possessing the size and strength to work "between the shafts of a cabriolet". He was bred by his owner Stanlake Batson of Horseheath, Cambridgeshire. His sire, Emilius, won the Derby in 1823 and went on to become a successful stallion at the Riddlesworth stud which was owned and run by Thomas Thornhill. Apart from Plenipotentiary, Emilius’s best winners included Priam (Derby), Riddlesworth (2000 Guineas) and Mango (St Leger) and he was British Champion sire in 1830 and 1831. Plenipotentiary was one of several good winners produced by the mare Harriet. According to one account, however, there was some doubt about Plenipotentiary’s paternity: Thomas Thornhill’s son-in law claimed that Harriet had actually been covered by a stallion named Merlin.

Plenipotentiary’s rather unwieldy name was habitually shortened to “Plenipo” by racing followers and writers. He was trained at Newmarket, Suffolk by George Payne.

Plenipotentiary was unraced as a two-year-old but was not unknown to the racing world as he appeared in the betting for the 1834 Derby in October 1833 when he was offered by bookmaker at odds of 30/1 and quickly backed down to 15/1.