Famous Handicap Races of Foxhall, Daily Racing Form, 1916-03-24

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FAMOUS HANDICAP RACES OF F0XHALL. Foxh..n may or may not be entitled to inclusion in the list of great horses; that is a matter of individual opinion. But that he was an animal of more than average excellence admits of no argument. Foxhall was bred in 1S71 at the W 1- ban Stud. Kentucky, by Mr. A. J. Alexander, and was a bay by King Alfonso out of Jamaica. The colt made his acquaintance with the turf in the autumn of the year lsso, when, in the colors of Mr. J. It. Keene. he took part in the Bedford Stakes at the Newmarket Second October Meeting. He had few friends on this occasion, being allowed to start a! S to 1 against in a field of four, odds of 4 to 1 being laid on a filly belonging to Lord Rosebery. known as Myra. Foxhall. however, defeated the favorite by a head: but twenty-four hours or so liter a colt named Savoyard, also owned by Lord Rosebery. got the better of Un-American in the Ashley Sweepstakes. His final appearance as a juvenile xvas made in the Bretby Nursery at the Houghton Meeting, in which, carrying 124 pounds, he won by a head from the favorite Heyday, to whom he was conceding exactly tw i stone twenty -eight pounds. It will thus be seen that though Foxhall won two of his three races in bis two year-old days, there was nothing particularly striking about his form. In his second season, however, a different tab- had to be told. Altogether as a three-year-old he took part in a half dozen events, four of Which he won. His first effort was made in the City and Suburban, in which, carrying ninety-two pounds, he ran second to the Derby winner of the previous year. Bend Or 121! pounds, having such celebrities as Peter, Petrolic], Preston pans. P.u-chanan and Poulet behind him. The American-bred colt was not again seen out until Ascot w.-ek. when he took part in the race for the Cold Cup. Among other competitors were Robert the Devil, which had won the St. Leger and Cesarewitch in the previous season, and Petronel. which had credited the Duke of Beaufort with the Two Thousand. Substantial odds were laid on "Robert." though the three-year-old was not without friends. The younger colt, however, played an inconspicuous part, the race being easily won by the favorite. Foxhall was then put by until the autumn, being one of four starters for the Crand Duke Michael Stakes at tin- First October meeting. Ishasael start-i d favorite for this event, but Mr. Keenea colt proved a comfortable winner. A more important victory was that of a fortnight later, when he literally ran away with the Cesarewitch. In this be was set to carry 110 pounds and that he was expected to carry it successfully was made evident When he headed the quotations at ! to L against, though the five year-old hippeudale. which had won the long-distance handicap two years earlier, and Retreat were well backed at S to 1. As indicated above, it was a runaway affair, the official verdict in favor of Foxhall being twelve lengths. Chippendale being second and Fiddler third. Among those unplaced were petronel. Reveller and Voluptuary, which in later years won a Crand National and finally figured on the stage as one of the "characters" in that successful drama. "The Prodigal Daughter." As a result of bis Cesarewitch victory. Foxhall had to put up a fourteen pound penalty for the Cambridgeshire, bringing his weight to 120 pounds, a big burden for a three-year old. Yet so impressive was his performance at the Second October function that he was one of the leading fancies. The actual favorite was the Derby winner of the preceding year. Rend Or. carrying Lit i nds, and the mount of Fred Archer, while the lightly -weighted Incendiary and Lucy Hitters were also iKith preferred to the Cesarewitch hero, which wound up on the 10 to 1 mark. Altogether it was a high-class field, as. apart from those named there were Tristan, then a three-year-old. handicapped at lilt! pounds: Peter, which had 110 pounds in the saddle; Petronel. Ur. pounds; Philamiaon. 1U". pounds; Preston pans. 122 pounds; Roulet. 110 pounds; and Corrie Boy, s» poinds, including five pounds overweight, and it was a splendid achievement on the part of the son of King Alfonso to complete a notable double, though it was only by a head that he accounted for Lucy Glitters, while Tristan was but a neck further in the rear. This was considered sufficient for the season, and Foxhall retired into winter quarters with his blushing honors thick upon him. He had. as a matter of fact, almost terminated his career on the track, his subsequent appearances totalling but two. Tin- former of these was made in the Ascot Cold Cup, in which, as recounted abore, he had failed earlier. On the occasion of his accusal essay the opposition stopped short at Petronel. then a fotir-j ear-old. and the three-year-old Faugh -a - Ballagh. loth of which carried the blue and white-hooped livery of the Duke of P.eaufort. Petronel was the fancied one of the pair and started favorite at 18 to s against, odds of 7 ta 4 being laid on Mr. Keetics representative. The race almost resulted in a surprise, as it was only by a neck that Paugh-a Ballagh, quoted at KM to 3 against, succumbed to Foxhall, with Petronel well beaten for second place. Twenty four hours later the Cup winner was again saddled for the thru- mile Ah-xanilra. Plate, for which Petroi! -1 was als.- Included among tin- con testants. It was taken for granted mat Foxhall would add this event to his list of victories, and Lis sapportera laid odds . f .» to 4 on bun; but two races on coatsecutlTe days on the hard ground dis-corered his weak spot, and he was Well trounced by Fiddler, which passed tin- winning post a half doxeii lengths ahea 1 Ol the her ■ of the Newmarket "double." Liter. Foxhall embarked upon his stud career at Leybonrne Grange, but was subsequently purchased by Lord Rosebery and transferred to M. ntmofe. Foxhall achiered relatively little sine ss in hfa new sphere, though he sired a more than useful filly in Corstorphiue. Tins daughter of Cbopette, after running third to Ampfaion and Martagon in the rich Lancashire Plate on tie- oca-ion of her debut. won tin- Dewhnrat Plate from Siphonia ami R. -. trend, with ailmi anion. the unplaced. In the Oaks the following year the last named took her rewnge. Another useful animal for which 1-dxhall was responsible was High Havens, which won inn or three races for Mr. Leopold de Rothschild.— "J. F. P." in Loudon Sporting Life.


Persistent Link: https://drf.uky.edu/catalog/1910s/drf1916032401/drf1916032401_2_10
Local Identifier: drf1916032401_2_10
Library of Congress Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/unk82075800