King Herod b c 1758 (Tartar - Cypron, by Blaze). Sire Line King Herod. Family 26.

His original name was King Herod although it was later shortened by common usage to simply Herod. He was bred by His Royal Highness William Augustus (1721-1765), Duke of Cumberland, from his mare Cypron, who had been purchased from Sir William St Quintin. The Duke, third son of King George II, also bred Eclipse (ch c 1764 Marske). King Herod was foaled at Mr Anthony Smith's stud at Oulston, near Easingwold, in Yorkshire, where his sire Tartar stood. Following the death of the Duke in 1765, Herod was sold to Sir John Moore. He was described as a very fine, powerful horse, who performed admirably on the turf. His turf career spanned five years.

He retired to stud at Netherhall, near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, where his fee rose from 10 guineas to 25 guineas, remaining there until his death. An overwhelming success as a stallion, he sired 497 winners of £201,505 during his nineteen year stud career. In his Racing Calendar William Pick succinctly summarised his contribution to bloodstock breeding: "King Herod was a remarkable fine horse, with uncommon power, and allowed to be one of the best Horses this kingdom ever produced, and as a Stallion inferior to none, being sire of a larger number of Racers, Stallions, and Brood-Mares than any other Horse before or since his time." The Eclipse - King Herod cross contributed to the development of the breed, though success was tempered by the descent of King Herod's vascular problems along with his genes. Although all horses today probably have both King Herod and Eclipse in their pedigrees, horses from that era who were responsible for this result include such influential sires as Waxy (b c 1790 Pot8os), Beningbrough (b c 1791 King Fergus), Gohanna (b c 1790 Mercury) and Dick Andrews (b c 1797 Joe Andrews).

King Herod was the great great grandson of the Byerley Turk and the one to immortalise that Turk as one of the only three Oriental sires that all of today's thoroughbreds descend from. The King Herod sire line continued in three main branches: through his sons Highflyer and Woodpecker in England, with the line of Woodpecker branching to the Dollar sire line in France, and through his grandson Diomed in America.

King Herod's best son was Highflyer (b c 1774), undefeated on the turf and a Champion Sire himself from 1785 to 1796, and again in 1798. Highflyer sired winners of nine classic races, including the great Sir Peter Teazle (br c 1784), who won the Derby Stakes and was Champion Sire ten times. From Sir Peter descend Macaroni (b c 1860 Sweetmeat), Buccaneer (b c 1857 Wild Dayrell) and Filho da Puta (br c 1812 Haphazard).

Woodpecker (ch c 1773) was 2nd on the list of Champion Sires for four years. He had one classic winner to his credit, Ephemera (ch f 1797), who won the Oaks Stakes. From the Castrel (ch c 1801 Buzzard) branch came Thormanby (ch c 1857 Windhound) and The Tetrarch (gr c 1911 Roi Herode). From the Selim (ch c 1802 Buzzard) branch came Dollar (b c 1860 The Flying Dutchman), who established the King Herod line in France from which Djebel (b c 1937 Tourbillon) descends.

Although King Herod was born too early for most of his offspring to have made a mark on the yet to be established classic races, he still managed to sire three Oaks winners, Bridget (b f 1776), Faith (b f 1778) and Maid of the Oaks (ch f 1780), and the St Leger winner Phoenomenon (ch c 1780).

He was Champion Sire from 1777 to 1784 and died at Netherhall (written as Neather Hall in the old calendars) in 1780.

Pedigree

King Herod Tartar Croft's Partner Jigg Sister to Mixbury Meliora Fox Witty's Milkmaid Cypron Blaze Childers Confederate Filly Salome Bethell's Arabian Champion Mare

Race Record

In 1763 he won 500 guineas at Newmarket defeating the Duke of Ancaster's Roman (b c 1758 Blank), in which they both carried 8st 7lbs over the Beacon Course.

In 1764 he won a 300 guineas sweepstakes at Newmarket beating Sir John Moore's Tartar (b c 1758 Tartar) over the Beacon Course, each carrying 10st. In June at Ascot Heath he won a 1000 guineas match with Lord Rockingham's Tom Tinker (bl c 1758 Sampson) over 4 miles, conceding 6 pounds to the latter. Back at Newmarket in October he won a match for 500 guineas, beating the Duke of Grafton's Antinous (ch c 1758 Blank) over the Beacon Course, conceding him 3 pounds.

In May of 1765 he won 1000 guineas match at Newmarket over the Beacon Course, again defeating Antinous, and again conceding him weight. Later in October he was beaten by Sir James Lowther's Ascham (br c 1759 Regulus) in a match for 1000 guineas over the Beacon Course, while conceding 1st to the winner.

In 1766, now owned by Sir John Moore, he lost to Lord Bolingbroke's Turf (b c 1760 Matchem) in a match for 1000 guineas over the Beacon Course at Newmarket. Later that year he started for the Subscription Purse at York but broke a blood vessel and came in last.

At Newmarket in 1767 he placed second in a 500 guineas sweepstakes over the Beacon Course to Bay Malton (b c 1760 Sampson), although he beat both Ascham and Turf. A month later, in May, in his final race he won a match for 1000 guineas defeating Ascham, (now Mr Shafto's), over the Beacon Course.

Notable Offspring

Bourdeaux (GB)

[Bordeaux, ex-Nebuchadnezzar] gr c 1774 (King Herod - Sister to Gog, by Cygnet). Sire Line Herod. Family 5. Bred in Lincolnshire by Thomas Douglas of Grantham, who also bred the St Leger winner Serina (b f 1778 Goldfinder) and the Oaks winners Tetotum (b f 1777 Matchem) and Trifle (br f 1782 Justice), Bourdeaux was a full brother to Florizel and half brother to Flimnap* (b c 1765 South). His dam was purchased at Sir Patrick Blake's sale in 1773 when in foal with Bourdeaux. In 1778 he won a 100gs each sweepstakes at Newmarket First Spring beating Mr Scawen's Laburnum and 10 others, collected a 50gs forfeit from Mr Panton's King Herod colt at the same meeting, won the Jockey Club Purse at Newmarket Second Spring beating Mr Vernon's Firm and 5 others, collected a 50gs forfeit from Mr Brand's Myrtle (b f 1774 King Herod) at the same meeting, won a 25gs each sweepstakes at Grantham in June beating the Duke of Portland's Pastorella (b f 1774 Otho) and 2 others, won a 25gs each sweepstakes at Nottingham in August beating Mr Musters's Laburnum and 7 others, won a 100gs each sweepstakes at York beating Lord Rockingham's Monkey (b c 1774 Saanah Arabian), won the £309 subscription purse at the same meeting beating Sir J Pennyman's Northern Light (b c 1774 Twig) and 1 other, and collected 150gs forfeit from Mr Barry's Wildair colt at Newmarket First October. In 1779 he collected an 80gs compromise from Sir John Shelley's Comet at Newmarket First Spring, won a 300gs each sweepstakes at Newmarket Second Spring beating Lord Derby's Laburnum (b c 1774 King Herod) and Lord Clermont's Il'mio (b c 1774 King Herod) who broke his leg, and won a 200gs match at the same meeting beating Lord Clermont's Masquerade (gr f 1771 Marske). In 1780 he won 400gs in a match at Newmarket Second Spring from Sir C Davers's Woodpecker (ch c 1773 King Herod). In 1781 he won a 300gs match at Newmarket First Spring from Girandola. He entered the stud at Grantham, then moved to Newmarket and later to Hunstanton in Norfolk. His fee varied from 5 to 10gs. He got a number of winners and some good broodmare daughters as well as Highlander* (gr c 1783).

Florizel (GB)

b c 1768 (King Herod - Sister to Gog, by Cygnet). Sire Line Herod. Family 5. Bred by Sir John Moore and later owned by Christopher Blake and the Honourable Richard Vernon, he was thought to be one of the best runners of his generation and was the only horse that ever defeated Sweetwilliam (ch c 1768 Syphon). In 1772 running for Mr Blake he walked over for a 300gs each sweepstakes at Newmarket First Spring, won a 1000gs match at the same meeting from Mr Ogilvy's Pincher (ch c 1765 Shakespeare), won a 200gs each sweepstakes at Newmarket Second Spring beating Mr Pratt's Florist (b c 1768 Matchem), won a 500gs match at the same meeting from Mr Fox's Valentine. In 1773 he won a 300gs match at Newmarket First Spring from Mr Fox's Zamora, running for Mr Vernon he won the 100gs Grosvenor Plate at Newmarket in November beating Mr Foley's Firetail and 6 others. In 1774 he won a 300gs match at Newmarket First Spring from Mr Pigott's Shark (br c 1771 Marske), won a 200gs match at the same meeting from Lord Abingdon's Myrtilla, won a 100gs each sweepstakes at Newmarket Second Spring beating Mr Strode's Britannicus (b c 1766 Old England) and 2 others, won a 10gs each subscription at Newmarket Second October beating Lord Grosvenor's Sweetwilliam (ch c 1768 Syphon) and 4 others, won a 108gs subscription plate at Newmarket in November beating Mr Vernon's Jack-of-Hilton (b c 1771 Marske) and 10 others. In 1775 he ran without success. In the stud for eighteen years, he sired two Derby winners, Diomed (ch c 1777) and Eager (b c 1778), and two St Leger winners, Ninety-Three (b c 1790) and Tartar (ch c 1789). Florizel's son Diomed* (ch c 1777) was sent to America in 1798 where his influence was immediate and profound. From him descend Boston (ch c 1833 Timoleon), probably the best race horse in America in the nineteenth century, and Boston's son, Lexington (b c 1850), who led the sires' list an unprecedented sixteen times, fourteen of them in succession.

Woodpecker (GB)

ch c 1773 (King Herod - Miss Ramsden, by Cade). Sire Line Herod. Family 1. Owned by Sir Charles Davers, bt, and later by the Hon Richard Vernon, he ran for 5 years, winning 15 races. In 1777 he won a 200gs each sweepstakes at Newmarket First Spring, collected a 125gs compromise from Lord Rockingham's Brother to Solon (br c 1773 Sampson) at Newmarket Second Spring, won the King's Plate at Ipswich beating Sir J Pennyman's North Pole (b c 1773 Doge) and 2 others, and won a 100gs match at Newmarket in July from Lord Clermont's Hydaspes (b c 1773 Squirrel). In 1778 he won the Craven Stakes at Newmarket beating Mr Pratt's Maiden (ch f 1770 Matchem) and 27 others, collected a 200gs each forfeit from Lord Clermont's Mistley (b c 1773 King Herod) and Sir Charles Bunbury's Comedy (b c 1774 Gimcrack) at Newmarket First Spring, won £50 at the same meeting beating Lord Abingdon's Hurlothrumbo (b c 1773 Domitian) and 2 others, won £50 at Newmarket Second Spring beating Lord Abingdon's Magna Charta (ch c 1774 King Herod) and 2 others. In 1779 he won the 10gs each Craven Stakes at Newmarket beating the Duke of Grafton's Stormer (b c 1774 Goldfinder) and 14 others including Lord Grosvenor's Mambrino (gr c 1768 Engineer) who went lame, won a 100gs match at Newmarket Second Spring from the Duke of Bolton's Cow (ch f 1788 Assassin). In 1780 he won a 200gs each sweepstakes at Newmarket First Spring beating Mr Douglas's Bourdeaux (gr c 1774 King Herod), Lord Grosvenor's Pot8os (ch c 1773 Eclipse), Lord Derby's Laburnum (b c 1774 King Herod) and Lord Ossory's Dorimant (ch c 1772 Otho). In 1781 running for Mr Vernon he won the 10gs each Craven Stakes at Newmarket beating Captain Bertie's Flying Gib (br c 1776 Marske) and 14 others including Mr O'Kelly's King Fergus (ch c 1775 Eclipse), won £50 at Newmarket First October beating Sir J Shelley's Clandon (b c 1776 King Herod) and 1 other, won a 200gs match at the same meeting from Mr Fox's Spitfire, walked over for the Clermont Cup at Newmarket Second October, won 140gs at the same meeting beating Lord Grosvenor's Pot8os, won a 5gs each subscription at the same meeting beating Lord Clermont's Hollandaise (gr f 1775 Matchem) and 1 other. He entered the stud at Rushbrook near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk and covered there and at Lord Egremont's stud at Petworth in Sussex for his entire career. His fee varied from 3gs to 30 gs. Second on the Sires' List four times, he sired the Oaks winner Ephemera (ch f 1797) and the good stallion Buzzard* (ch c 1787) as well as many other winners. Woodpecker died at Petworth late in 1798.