Shotover (horse)

Shotover
Shotover, from Illustrated London News, 1882
Sire	Hermit
Grandsire	Newminster
Dam	Stray Shot
Damsire	Toxophilite
Sex	Mare
Foaled	1879
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Henry Chaplin, 1st Viscount Chaplin
Owner	Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster
Trainer	Robert Peck John Porter
Record	15: 5-3-3
Earnings	£12,205 win prize money only
Major wins
2000 Guineas (1882) Epsom Derby (1882) Ascot Derby (1882) Triennial Stakes (1882) Park Hill Stakes (1882)

Shotover (1879–1898) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a career that lasted from 1882 to 1884, she ran 15 times and won five races. As a three-year-old, racing against colts, she became the first filly to win the first two legs of the English Triple Crown: the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Derby at Epsom. She went on to win twice at Royal Ascot, but failed in her bid for the Triple Crown when she finished third in the St Leger at Doncaster. She was retired in 1884 and became a successful and influential broodmare. Shotover died in 1898.

Shotover was a powerfully built chestnut filly with a white star, standing just under 15.3 hands high, who was praised for her "lean and game-looking" head and "beautifully formed" legs. She was bred by Henry Chaplin, who was best known for winning the Derby with Shotover’s sire Hermit in 1867. As a yearling, she was bought for 1,600 guineas by the trainer Robert Peck on behalf of the Duke of Westminster, the "richest man in England", who agreed to buy the filly after some hesitation. When Peck retired at the end of Shotover’s two-year-old season, the filly was moved to the stable of John Porter at Kingsclere.

After his retirement from racing, Shotover’s sire Hermit became an outstandingly successful stallion, being Champion Sire for seven successive years. In addition to Shotover, he sired the Classic winners St. Blaise (Derby), St. Marguerite (1000 Guineas), Lonely (Oaks) and Thebais (1000 Guineas & Oaks).