Ossory (horse)

{{Short description|British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse}} {{Infobox racehorse | horsename = Ossory | image_name = Duke of Westminster Racing Silks.png | caption = Racing silks of the Duke of Westminster | sire = Bend Or | grandsire = Doncaster | dam = Lily Agnes | damsire = Macaroni | sex = Colt | foaled = 1885 | country = | colour = Chestnut | breeder = 1st Duke of Westminster | owner = 1st Duke of Westminster | trainer = John Porter | record = 5 wins | earnings = £5,358<ref name="JohnPorter">{{cite book |last1=Porter|first1=John|last2=Moorhouse|first2=Edward |title = John Porter of Kingsclere|url=https://archive.org/details/johnporterofking00portuoft| publisher=G. Richards Ltd| year = 1919}}</ref> | race = Prince of Wales's Stakes (1888) St. James's Palace Stakes (1888) Great Yorkshire Stakes (1888) | awards= | honours = |updated= }} '''Ossory''' (1885–1889) was a Thoroughbred racehorse. He was trained at Kingsclere by John Porter for the 1st Duke of Westminster. As a three-year-old he won the Prince of Wales's Stakes and St. James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

==Breeding== Ossory was a full-brother to the unbeaten Triple Crown winner Ormonde. Both being sons of Epsom Derby winner Bend Or and Doncaster Cup winner Lily Agnes. Like his brother Ormonde, Ossory was a roarer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=WH18881101.2.22 |title=Sporting Notes |publisher=Wanganui Herald |date=1 November 1888 |accessdate=2012-08-27}}</ref>

==Racing career== Ossory only raced once as a two-year-old, winning the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18880406.2.66 |title=KINGSCLERE |publisher=Otago Witness |date=6 April 1888 |accessdate=2012-08-27}}</ref> He started as a 50/1 outsider for the 2000 Guineas and finished last out of the six runners.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18880622.2.72.8 |title=DERBY SPRING MEETING |publisher=Otago Witness |date=22 June 1888 |accessdate=2012-08-27}}</ref> He then went to Royal Ascot for the Prince of Wales's Stakes. Starting at odds of 10/1 Ossory pulled away in the last 100 yards to win by three lengths from Galore.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18880727.2.80 |title=RACING IN ENGLAND |publisher=Otago Witness |date=27 July 1888 |accessdate=2012-08-27}}</ref> Ossory and Galore met again at the Royal meeting, this time over a mile in the St. James's Palace Stakes where only the two lined up. With 300 yards to go the two horses were level and then Galore began to edge ahead, but in the closing strides Ossory came back at him and the race finished in a dead heat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18880831.2.7 |title=A GOOD FINISH |publisher=Press |date=31 August 1888 |accessdate=2012-08-27}}</ref>

Ossory next started in the Eclipse Stakes. Starting at 100/6 and ridden by Tom Cannon junior he led the field of thirteen in the opening stages of the race. Three furlongs into the race he had a sizeable lead, but stablemate Orbit had closed the gap as they entered the finishing straight. By the time they entered the final 100 yards Orbit had taken the lead, which he gradually increased to win by a length from Ossory, with Martley a further length back in third place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18880921.2.96 |title=RACING IN ENGLAND |publisher=Otago Witness |date=21 September 1888 |accessdate=2012-08-27}}</ref> Ossory then finished unplaced in the Sussex Stakes. His next race came in at York where he started as the 5/4 joint favourite for the Great Yorkshire Stakes. Ossory led his two rivals into the finishing straight and neither were able to catch him, leaving Ossory to win by a length from Arrandale.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18881026.2.89 |title=RACING IN NEW ZEALAND |publisher=Otago Witness |date=26 October 1888 |accessdate=2012-08-27}}</ref> He made the running in the St Leger Stakes and finished unplaced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=TO18881110.2.32 |title=THE LAST OF THE CLASSIC RACES |publisher=Observer |date=10 November 1888 |accessdate=2012-08-27}}</ref>

==Death== After the 1888 season Ossory was sold for stud duties and exported to South America. He left in January 1889, but while on the journey they experienced severe weather conditions in the Atlantic Ocean. As a result of this Ossory died from exhaustion and was thrown overboard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=OW18890404.2.104 |title=IN A NUTSHELL |publisher=Otago Witness |date=4 April 1889 |accessdate=2012-08-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=CHP18890408.2.4 |title=SPORTING NOTES |publisher=Press |date=8 April 1889 |accessdate=2012-08-27}}</ref>

==Pedigree== {{Pedigree |name = Ossory, chestnut colt, 1885 |f = Bend Or ch. 1877 |m = Lily Agnes b. 1871 |ff = Doncaster ch. 1870 |fm = Rouge Rose ch. 1865 |mf = Macaroni b. 1860 |mm = Polly Agnes b./br. 1865 |fff = Stockwell ch. 1849 |ffm = Marigold ch. 1860 |fmf = Thormanby ch. 1857 |fmm = Ellen Horne br. 1844 |mff = Sweetmeat br. 1842 |mfm = Jocose b. 1843 |mmf = The Cure b. 1841 |mmm = Miss Agnes br. 1850 |ffff = The Baron |fffm = Pocahontas |ffmf = Teddington |ffmm = ''Ratan mare'' |fmff = Windhound |fmfm = Alice Hawthorn |fmmf = Redshank |fmmm = Delhi |mfff = Gladiator |mffm = Lollypop |mfmf = Pantaloon |mfmm = Banter |mmff = Physician |mmfm = Morsel |mmmf = Birdcatcher |mmmm = Agnes (Family: 16-h) }} ''Note: b. = Bay, br. = Brown, ch. = Chestnut''

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:1885 racehorse births Category:1889 racehorse deaths Category:Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom Category:Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom Category:Thoroughbred family 16-h