Rhoda (horse)

Rhoda
Rhoda in an 1821 engraving by W. Smith.
Sire	Asparagus
Grandsire	Potoooooooo
Dam	Rosabella
Damsire	Whiskey
Sex	Mare
Foaled	1813
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Bay
Breeder	John Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland
Owner	5th Duke of Rutland J. Turner H. Edwards
Trainer	Dixon Boyce
Record	45:21-10-2
Major wins
Match against Parrot (1816) 1000 Guineas (1816) Leicester Gold Cup (1817) King's Plate (Chelmsford) (1818) Chelmsford Gold Cup (1818) Wellington Stakes (1818) Northampton Gold Cup (1818) Leicester Burgesses' Plate (1818, 1819) Brighton Town Plate (1819) Northampton County Plate (1819) Chelmsford Stewards' Purse (1820) Northampton Town Plate (1820)

Rhoda (1813–after 1836) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the third running of the classic 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse in 1816 and was the most successful racehorse in Britain (in terms of wins) two years later. Rhoda was one of the most active of all British classic winners, running in at least forty-five contests between 1816 and 1820 and winning twenty-one times. Her actual number of competitive races was even higher as many of her later races were run in multiple heats, with the prize going to the first horse to win twice. She won the 1000 Guineas on her second appearance but did not run as a three-year-old after finishing unplaced in the Oaks Stakes. Rhoda won three races in 1817, ten in 1818, four in 1819 and two in 1820.

Rhoda was a bay mare with a white blaze and white socks on her hind legs, bred by her owner John Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland. She was sired by Asparagus (a son of Potoooooooo) who was twenty-six years old when Rhoda was foaled, out of Rosabella a mare bred by the Duke of York. Rhoda's great-grand-dam Harriet is the direct female ancestor of all modern members of Thoroughbred family 22 including Mill Reef, Blushing Groom and Lammtarra. Rutland, a member of the Jockey Club, kept a small string of racehorses but had considerable success, winning the Epsom Derby with Cadland and the Oaks with Sorcery and Medora.