Symmetry (horse)

Symmetry
Symmetry defeats Sorcerer at Newmarket on 30 September 1800.
Sire	Delpini
Grandsire	Highflyer
Dam	Violet
Damsire	Shark
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1795
Country	Kingdom of Great Britain
Colour	Grey
Breeder	Sir Thomas Gascoigne, 8th Baronet
Owner	Sir Thomas Gascoigne, 8th Baronet William Fortescue, 1st Earl of Clermont Mr Heathcote
Trainer	Sam King
Record	13: 7-3-3
Major wins
St Leger Stakes (1798) Match against Sir Harry (1799) Match against Sorcerer (1800) Match against Diamond (1800) Match against Humbug (1800)

Symmetry (foaled 1795) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire best known for winning the classic St Leger Stakes in 1798. Originally trained in Yorkshire won the St Leger at Donacaster on his final appearance as a three-year-old and when on to defeat the Epsom Derby winner Sir Harry in a match race at York in the following year. As a five-year-old he was transferred to race at Newmarket where he lost a rematch with Sir Harry, but won his three remaining races, including matches against Sorcerer and Diamond, two of the leading racehorss of the time. After his retirement from racing, Symmetry was sold and exported to stand as a breeding stallion in Russia.

Symmetry was a grey horse bred by his owner Sir Thomas Gascoigne, 8th Baronet. His sire Delpini, from whom he inherited his colour, was a successful rachorse who won eight consecutive races at Newmarket in 1786 and 1787, before becoming a leading sire in the north of England. His stock were particularly noted for their stamina. Symmetry's dam Violet, also bred by Gascoigne, was a highly successful broodmare who also produced the Oaks winner Theophania (by Delpini) and Golden Locks, the dam of Soothsayer. Symmetry was the third of fourteen foals produced by Violet between 1793 and 1807.

Symmetry made his racecourse debut on 12 April at Catterick Bridge Racecourse in Yorkshire where he finished second of the twelve runners behind Brough in a two-mile sweepstakes. On 25 May at York Racecourse, Symmetry was pitted against the 1797 St Leger winner Lounger in a race over one and a half miles in which he carried twelve pounds less than the older horse. Symmetry ran Lounger to a dead heat, but was beaten in a run-off. Three weeks later, Symmetry recorded his first win when he defeated five other three-year-olds in a one and a half mile sweepstakes at Beverley Racecourse.