Skyscraper (horse)

Skyscraper
Skyscraper as painted by George Stubbs, c. 1790.
Sire	Highflyer
Grandsire	Herod
Dam	Everlasting
Damsire	Eclipse
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1786
Country	Kingdom of Great Britain
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford
Owner	Francis Russell, 5th Duke of Bedford
Trainer	Matthew Stephenson
Record	24: 14-7-1
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1789)

Skyscraper (1786–1807) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. One of many notable offspring of the great Highflyer, Skyscraper is best known for winning the Epsom Derby of 1789. He competed until he was seven, when after losing two races he was retired to stud.

Skyscraper was bred at Woburn Abbey by the 5th Duke of Bedford, who was only twenty-one when the horse was foaled. Bedford went on to become a notable breeder, producing two other winners of the Derby, Eager (1788), and the nameless Colt by Fidget (1794), as well as two Oaks winners, Portia (1788) and Caelia (1790). The Duke's turf career was ended by his death in 1802.

Skyscraper's sire was Highflyer (1774), an undefeated racehorse who became the greatest stallion of his time. His grandsire was the noble Herod, the foundation sire through whom Skyscraper was in the direct male line of the Byerley Turk, while his granddam was Rachel, whose grandsire was the Godolphin Arabian.

Skyscraper's dam was Everlasting, a mare by the unbeaten Eclipse. He was a half brother to the mare Sister to Goldfinch (1785), the third dam of Hannibal, who won the Derby in 1804.

Skyscraper was given his name, which is thought to refer to his height, by the Duke of Bedford's racing friend Ralph Dutton. The name also echoes that of his sire, Highflyer.

The word 'skyscraper' was first applied to a building when it was used to describe the Home Insurance Building, Chicago, completed in 1884. However, the word had an earlier nautical meaning, referring to an upper sail of a tall ship.

At the Newmarket Craven meeting of 1789, Skyscraper collected 240 guineas in forfeits and also won a five hundred guineas race for colts and fillies, beating Maid of all Work. At the Newmarket Second Spring meeting he won the Prince's Stakes (one hundred guineas each), beating Earl Grosvenor's Brother to Skylark, Lord Clermont's Pipator, and six others.