Surplice (horse)

Surplice
Surplice. Etching by Charles Hunt after a painting by Harry Hall.
Sire	Touchstone
Grandsire	Camel
Dam	Crucifix
Damsire	Priam
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	21 January 1845
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Lord George Bentinck
Owner	Lord George Bentinck Edward Lloyd-Mostyn Lord Clifden
Trainer	John Kent Robert Stephenson.
Record	14:9-2-1
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1848) St. Leger Stakes (1848)

Surplice (1845–1871) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from July 1847 to October 1849 he ran thirteen times and won nine races. He was the leading colt of his generation in England at both two and three years old, with his wins including the Epsom Derby and the St Leger in 1848: he was the first horse for forty-eight years to win both of these Classics. His later career was less successful and he was retired to stud in 1850. Surplice had limited success as a sire of winners and died in 1871.

Surplice was a dark bay horse with a small white star standing 16.1 hands high, making him an unusually large Thoroughbred for his time. He was bred by Lord George Bentinck, the dominant figure in British horse-racing of his era. In 1846, Bentinck decided to concentrate on his political affairs and sold all his racing interests, including the yearling Surplice, to Edward Lloyd-Mostyn for £10,000. A condition of the deal was that Surplice should remain with his trainer John Kent at Goodwood. Later that year Mostyn sold Surplice to Lord Clifden.

Surplice's sire, Touchstone, won the St Leger and two Ascot Gold Cups, before going on to be an outstandingly successful stallion. Apart from Surplice, his classic winners included Cotherstone, Orlando and Newminster and he was Champion sire on four occasions. Surplice's dam, Crucifix, was an undefeated racemare who won the 1000 Guineas, 2000 Guineas and Epsom Oaks in 1840.