Camel (horse)

Camel
From American turf register and sporting magazine (1843)
Sire	Whalebone
Grandsire	Waxy
Dam	Selim mare
Damsire	Selim
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1822
Country	Great Britain
Colour	Brown
Breeder	3rd Earl of Egremont
Owner	Hon Charles Wyndham
Record	7: 5-2-0
Major wins
One-third Subscription of 25 sov (1825) Match against Tarandus (1825) Port Stakes (1826) Match against Redgauntlet (1827)
Awards
Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland (1838)

Camel (1822 – 6 November 1844) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He won five of his seven races, including the Port Stakes in 1825, but his appearances were limited by leg problems. Throughout his racing career he was owned by Charles Wyndham. After retiring from racing Camel became a successful stallion, siring St. Leger winners Touchstone and Launcelot and becoming British Champion sire in 1838.

Background

Camel was a brown colt bred by George Wyndham, 3rd Earl of Egremont, and foaled in 1822.^[1] He was sired by Whalebone, who won the Newmarket Stakes and Epsom Derby in 1834. After retiring from racing he was a successful stallion, becoming Champion sire twice. Amongst his other progeny were Derby winners Lap-dog and Spaniel, as well as the top sire Sir Hercules.^[2] Camel's dam was an unnamed daughter of Selim.^[1] Camel was owned by Egremont's son Charles Wyndham.

Racing career

Camel was due to race the colt Peter Proteus in a match race at Newmarket on 21 April 1825, but Peter Proteus paid a forfeit and was withdrawn.^[3] They following day he contested the Newmarket Stakes, facing eight rivals. Cramer was the pre-race favourite at 6/4, with Camel second favourite at 3/1. The race was won by 17/1 outsider Crockery, with Camel finishing second.^[4] On 3 May he started as the 5/4 favourite for a £50 race for three-year-olds over the Rowley Mile at Newmarket. Ridden by W. Arnull, Camel won the race from Adeliza.^[5] At Newmarket's Second October meeting he beat Dahlia, Mortgage and 1000 Guineas winner Tontine in a race for one-third of a subscription of 25 sovereigns each.^[6] At the beginning of November he beat Tarandus in a match race over 5+1⁄2 furlongs at Newmarket.^[7] Two days later Camel lost a match against the filly Scandel.^[8]

Camel only raced once in 1826, when he started as the 7/4 favourite for the Port Stakes at Newmarket. Ridden as usual by Arnull, he won the race from Redgauntlet, with Lionel Lincoln finishing in third place. Two others finished behind Lionel Lincoln, but were not placed by the judge.^[9] He was scheduled to run in the Garden Stakes in October, but was withdrawn from the race, which was won by Bizarre.^[10] He raced only once again in 1827, after suffering with leg problems since his win in the Port Stakes.^[11] This was at Newmarket in October, where he beat Redgauntlet easily by two lengths over one mile.^[12]

Stud career

Camel initially stood as a stallion at Earl Grosvenor's Eaton Stud near Chester. In 1830 he stood for a fee of ten guineas and half a guinea for the groom.^[13] He became a successful stallion and was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1838.^[14] His most important progeny were:

• Touchstone (1831) – won the St. Leger in 1834. He sired many classic winners, including Cotherstone, Orlando, Surplice and Newminster.^[15]
• Caravan (1834) – won the Ascot Gold Cup.^[14]
• Prism (1836) – foaled The Oaks winner Refraction.^[14]
• Black Bess (1837) – was the dam of 2000 Guineas winner Hernandez.^[14]
• Launcelot (1837) – won the St. Leger in 1840.^[14]
• Fiammetta (1838) – won the Poule d'Essai.^[14]
• Misdeal (1839) – won the St. James's Palace Stakes.^[14]

Camel died on 6 November 1844.^[14]

Sire line tree

Pedigree

Note: b. = Bay, bl. = Black, br. = Brown, ch. = Chestnut

* Camel is inbred 4S x 5S x 5D x 5D x 5D to the stallion Herod, meaning that he appears fourth generation and fifth generation (via Highflyer) on the sire side of his pedigree, and fifth generation thrice (via Woodpecker, Highflyer, and Phoeomenon) on the dam side of his pedigree.

* Camel is inbred 4S x 4D to the stallion Highflyer, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree, and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

* Camel is inbred 4S x 5D to the stallion Eclipse, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree, and fifth generation (via Alexander) on the dam side of his pedigree.

References