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

WOODPECKER

—was a horse whose blood and performances rendered him, as a racer, and stallion, of the most distinguished celebrity. He was bred by Sir C. Davers; foaled in 1773; got by Herod, dam (Miss Ramsden) by Old Cade, grand-dam by Lord Lonsdale's Bay Arabian. His winnings are now become too remote to give in the detail. As a stallion, his progeny are infinite; amongst the principal of which the following have been the most conspicuous. In 1789, Bullfinch won 300 guineas, 100 guineas, 20 guineas, 100 guineas, 100 guineas, and 50 guineas, at Newmarket. Chanticleer, 650 guineas, 500 guineas, and 400 guineas, at Newmarket. Cormorant, 135 guineas, 62 guineas, 40 guineas, 200 guineas, 300 guineas, 62½ guineas, 300 guineas, and 75 guineas, at Newmarket. Hawk, 100 guineas, 150 guineas, and 50 guineas, at Newmarket. Seagull, 35 guineas, and 800 guineas, 200 guineas, 100 guineas, 62 guineas, 250 guineas, 200 guineas, 20 guineas, 200 guineas, 400 guineas, 160 guineas, and 300 guineas, at Newmarket. Swallow, 100 guineas, and 100 guineas, at Newmarket. Woodlark, 50l. at Stockbridge, and the King's Hundred Guineas, at Winchester, and Salisbury.

In 1790, twenty-seven of his get started, and were the winners of seventy-eight subscriptions, sweepstakes, matches, and plates. Bat won 100 guineas, 50 guineas, 100 guineas, 100 guineas, and 100 guineas, at Newmarket. A bay filly out of Camilla, 200 guineas, 143 guineas, and 200 guineas, at the same. Buzzard, 100 guineas, 50 guineas, 200 guineas, and 200 guineas, at Newmarket. Chanticleer, 300 guineas, 200 guineas, 100 guineas, and 152 guineas, at Newmarket. Cormorant, 50l. 100 guineas, 200 guineas, 400 guineas, 200 guineas, and 60 guineas, at Newmarket. Dragon, 200 guineas, 200 guineas, 200 guineas, 450 guineas, 100 guineas, 88 guineas, 45 guineas, 200 guineas, and 200 guineas, at the same. Griffin, 300 guineas, 120 guineas, and 125 guineas, at Newmarket. Isabel, 50l. 100 guineas, 300 guineas, and 150 guineas, at Newmarket. Mrs. Candour, 50 guineas, 50 guineas, 100 guineas, and 100 guineas, at the same. Pecker, 100 guineas, 100 guineas, 100 guineas, 100 guineas, 200 guineas, 100 guineas, and 100 guineas, at Newmarket. Seagull, 200 guineas, 500 guineas, and the Grosvenor Stakes, at Newmarket; the Oatlands Stakes, of 100 guineas each, nineteen subscribers, and 500 guineas, at Ascot Heath; 60 guineas, 250 guineas, 200 guineas, and 300 guineas, at Newmarket; and Tom Tit, 50l. at Stamford, 97l. 5s. 0d. at Nottingham, and 50l. at Derby.

In 1791, twenty-two of his produce started, and were winners of fifty-eight prizes. Buzzard won 250 guineas, 200 guineas, 120 guineas, and 300 guineas, at Newmarket, and two fifties at Chesterfield. Chanticleer, 150 guineas, 200 guineas, the Grosvenor Stakes, 100 guineas, and 200 guineas, at Newmarket. Cormorant, 100 guineas, 100 guineas, 300 guineas, 100 guineas, and 80 guineas, at Newmarket. Dancing Master, 200 guineas, 100 guineas, and 130 guineas, at Newmarket. Dragon, the Claret and Fortescue Stakes, the Jockey Club Plate, the 140 guineas, 50l. 1000 guineas, the Prince's Plate, and 70 guineas, at Newmarket. Hawk, 100 guineas, 100 guineas, 100 guineas, and 150 guineas, at Stockbridge. Isabel, the Queen's 100 guineas at Chelmsford, and the King's Plate at Lincoln. Pecker, 200 guineas, 100 guineas, and the Give and Take Plate, at Newmarket. Seagull, 600 guineas at Newmarket; and Tree Creeper, 200 guineas, 50 guineas, 60 guineas, and 50l. all at Newmarket. In 1792, Bustard won 200 guineas, 100 guineas, 100 guineas, 50l. and 100 guineas, at Newmarket, and 200 guineas, 37½ guineas, 200 guineas, 100 guineas, and 50 guineas, at the same. Chanticleer, 100 guineas, 500 guineas, 500 guineas, 500 guineas, and 400 guineas, at Newmarket. Dragon, 275 guineas, the Whip (with 400 guineas,) and 300 guineas, at Newmarket. Hawk, 100 guineas at Newmarket, and the Bowl at Salisbury. Ostrich, 80 guineas at Newmarket, 50l. at Brighton, and the King's Plate at Canterbury. Rover, 50 guineas, and 90 guineas, at Exeter; and 50l. at Dorchester. Tree Creeper, 100 guineas, the second class and main of the Filly Stakes, and 200 guineas, at Newmarket; and the Prince's Stakes of 50 guineas each, half forfeit, seventeen subscribers, at Brighton.

In 1793, Buzzard won the Craven Stakes, 200 guineas, 200 guineas, 60 guineas, 100 guineas, and 60 guineas, at Newmarket; and a two year old bay filly of Lord Grosvenor's, the July Filly Stakes at Newmarket, and the Orleans Stakes at Brighton. In 1794, Buzzard won the Craven Stakes, 50 guineas, the Jockey Club Plate, 200 guineas, 50l. and 100 guineas, at Newmarket. Jack of Newbury, 50l. at Bath, 40 guineas at Tewksbury, and 60 guineas at Abingdon. Paroquet, 300 guineas at Newmarket; and Seagull, 50 guineas, 100 guineas, and 105 guineas, at the same. In 1795, Atropa (at two years old) won 400 guineas at Newmarket. Colibri, (two years old,) 50 guineas, and 75 guineas, at Brighton; 200 guineas, 100 guineas, 100 guineas, 80 guineas, and 100 guineas, at Newmarket. Ida, 100 guineas at Ascot Heath, 50l. and 50 guineas at Brighton, and 50l. at Lewes. Shoveller, 150 guineas at Ascot; and Pecker, 500 guineas at Newmarket. In 1796, nine of his get started, and received nineteen prizes. In 1797, six were the winners of ten. In 1798, three only started, and were winners of five. In 1799, Vivalde, three years old, won 300 guineas, 200 guineas, 100 guineas, and 100 guineas, at Newmarket, and 100 guineas at Stamford; and Thrush, only two years old, 100 guineas, 50 guineas, and 45 guineas, at Newmarket. In 1800, Ephemera won the Oaks Stakes, of 50 guineas each, (twenty-four subscribers,) at Epsom, and 50l. at Newmarket. Sophia, 100 guineas at Brighton. Thrush, 100 guineas, and 20 guineas, at Newmarket. Vivalde, 200 guineas, and 45 guineas, at Newmarket; 50l. at Epsom; and 50l. at Reading. In 1801, Crazy Poetess won 100 guineas at Lewes. Cocoa-Tree, the Brocket Stakes of 100 guineas at Brocket Hall; 100 guineas, 75 guineas, and 50 guineas, at Newmarket; and Anna Maria, 60 guineas at Epsom. In 1802, Mystery won 60 guineas, and 50l. at Goodwood, and 50 guineas at Epsom; Paulo winning a 50l. plate at Northampton. So that, upon a review of Woodpecker's progeny, he has proved himself inferior to but very few of his predecessors.