Wheel of Fortune (horse)

Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune, circa 1903, in a photograph by W.A. Rouch.
Sire	Adventurer
Grandsire	Newminster
Dam	Queen Bertha
Damsire	Kingston
Sex	Mare
Foaled	1876
Country	United Kingdom
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Evelyn Boscawen, 6th Viscount Falmouth
Owner	Lord Falmouth
Trainer	Mathew Dawson
Record	11:10-1-0
Earnings	£19,740
Major wins
Richmond Stakes (1878) Dewhurst Stakes (1878) 1000 Guineas (1879) Epsom Oaks (1879) Prince of Wales's Stakes (Ascot) (1879) Yorkshire Oaks (1879)

Wheel of Fortune (1876 – November 1903) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a career that lasted from July 1878 to August 1879 she ran eleven times and won ten races. She was the best British two-year-old of either sex in 1878, when she went unbeaten in six races. The following year she won the 1000 Guineas, the Epsom Oaks, the Prince of Wales's Stakes and the Yorkshire Oaks before being injured when suffering her only defeat. She was retired from racing at the end of 1879 and became a modestly successful broodmare. Wheel of Fortune was regarded by contemporary experts as one of the best racemares of the 19th century.

Wheel of Fortune was a small but "beautiful" bay filly standing just over 15 hands high, bred at Mereworth by her owner Evelyn Boscawen, 6th Viscount Falmouth. Her sire, Adventurer won the Gold Vase at Royal Ascot and two runnings of the City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom. At stud, his other winners included the Fillies' Triple Crown winner Apology. Wheel of Fortune's dam, Queen Bertha, won the Oaks in 1863 and went on to become a successful and influential broodmare. Apart from Wheel of Fortune she also produced the 1000 Guineas winner Spinaway (the dam of Busybody) and was the direct female ancestor of many good horses including the Epsom Derby winners My Babu and Larkspur and the Belmont Stakes winner Celtic Ash.

Falmouth sent the filly to be trained at Heath House stable by Mathew Dawson. She was ridden in most of her races by Fred Archer the thirteen times Champion Jockey. At Dawson's stables, Wheel of Fortune was noted for her enormous appetite and particular fondness for oranges, nuts and meat-pies.