The Sporting Dictionary and Rural Repository, Volume 2 (of 2) / Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the Field

by William Taplin

SKYSCRAPER

,—the name of a horse of much present celebrity: he was bred by the late Duke of Bedford, and got by Highflyer out of Everlasting. In the Craven Meeting, at Newmarket, 1789, when two years old, he received forfeit from three for a sweepstakes of 200 guineas each across the flat. The same Meeting he beat Mr. Fox's Maid of all Work across the flat for 500 guineas. The second Spring Meeting (then three years old) he won the Prince's Stakes of 100 guineas each, eight subscribers; the Derby Stakes at Epsom, 50 guineas each, thirty subscribers. At the same place he received 70 guineas compromise from the Earl of Egremont's Tag. In the first October Meeting he received 250 guineas forfeit from Mr. Ladbroke's Magpie, two middle miles of Beacon Course, for 500 guineas, half forfeit. In the second October Meeting he won a sweepstakes of 100 guineas each, from the Ditch-in, nine subscribers. The next day he won the 50l. Plate for three year olds, beating nine others. The same week he received 122½ guineas forfeit in a Post Match with Lord Derby. In the Houghton Meeting he received 130 guineas compromise from Mr. Fox's Sister to Lethe, 300 guineas, half forfeit. The same week he received 130 guineas compromise from Mr. Fox's Braggadocio, across the flat, for 300 guineas, half forfeit.

In 1790, at the first Spring Meeting, he won the Jockey Stakes of 100 guineas each, (half forfeit,) fourteen subscribers, of which nine paid forfeit. In the same week for the Claret Stakes of 200 guineas each, half forfeit, he received from his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales's Sujah ul Dowlah, his Royal Highness the Prince's Deir Sing, Duke of Orleans's Jericho, Lord Egremont's Calomel, and Sir C. Bunbury's Glaucus. In the first October Meeting he received 100 guineas forfeit from Montezuma. In the same Meeting he won half a subscription of 30 guineas each, (seven subscribers,) beating the famous Escape, then the property of his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales.

In the first Spring Meeting of 1791, he won the renewed 1400 guineas, a subscription of 200 guineas each, half forfeit; beating Pipator; fourteen having paid forfeit. In the second Spring Meeting he received 150 guineas forfeit of four, for a sweepstakes of 300 guineas each, over the Beacon. The first Spring Meeting, 1792, he won the King's Plate at Newmarket, beating those famous horses Coriander, Gustavus, and Toby, with the odds ten to one against him at starting. At Stockbridge he won 50l. beating Thalia. He won the King's Plate at Winchester; walked over for a sweepstakes of 10 guineas each, five subscribers, at Bedford; won the King's Hundred in the first October Meeting at Newmarket, beating Skylark; and in the second a subscription of 60 guineas, beating Skylark and Espersykes, with the odds against him at starting. In 1793 he started but twice, and was beat each time by the celebrated Coriander. In 1794, on the first day of the first Spring Meeting at Newmarket, he won a 50l. plate, beating Serpent and No Pretender; about which time the Duke of Bedford beginning to reduce his racing establishment, Skyscraper appeared no more on the turf. He has hitherto covered at Woburn Abbey, in Bedfordshire; but is now announced for the ensuing season, 1803, at Tytherton, near Chippenham, Wilts, at TEN GUINEAS a mare, and half a guinea the groom.