Smolensko (horse)

Smolensko
Smolensko by John Nott Sartorius, c. 1813.
Sire	Sorcerer
Grandsire	Trumpator
Dam	Wowski
Damsire	Mentor
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1810
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Black
Breeder	Charles Bunbury
Owner	1) Charles Bunbury 2) Richard Wilson 3) John Theobald
Trainer	Crouch
Record	8: 7–0–1
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1813) 2,000 Guineas Stakes (1813)

Smolensko (1810 – 10 January 1829) was a Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1813 Epsom Derby and 2,000 Guineas Stakes. Smolensko raced for two years and was retired to stud in 1815. He stood for seven years for his breeder, Charles Bunbury, and spent the remainder of his stud career in Surrey and Suffolk. Before his death at age 19 in 1829, he sired the filly Gulnare (winner of the 1827 Epsom Oaks) and the colt Jerry (winner of the 1824 St. Leger Stakes).

Smolensko was foaled in 1810 at Barton Hall near Bury St. Edmunds, the ancestral home of his breeder Charles Bunbury. His sire, Sorcerer, was also bred by Bunbury and was a half-brother of the 1801 Derby winning mare Eleanor. Sorcerer was a large black horse that was a successful racer and sire. Smolensko's dam, Wowski, was bred by Sir Ferdinando Poole and was a half-sister of the important sire Waxy. Another of Wowski's offspring was Smolensko's full-brother Thunderbolt, a successful racer but short-lived sire. Wowski produced thirteen foals between 1802 and 1822. Smolensko was her fifth foal and she produced seven full-brothers to Smolensko who all inherited the black coat of their parents.

Smolensko was a black colt with a coat mixed with a "few white hairs," a small white star and a sock on his right hind foot. He was "about sixteen and a half hands high" and had a calm and docile temperament. A German count visiting Sir Charles in 1818 described him as, "... a brilliant animal with a beautiful high and formed neck and excellent shoulders and withers. His legs on contrary are in proportion to rest of the body rather longer than those of his father and his arms and hocks are not so broad as those of his parent however notwithstanding his considerable performances his legs are perfectly free from all blemishes."