Dante (horse)
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| Dante | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Nearco |
| Grandsire | Pharos |
| Dam | Rosy Legend |
| Damsire | Dark Legend |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 1942 |
| Country | Great Britain  |
| Colour | Brown |
| Breeder | Sir Eric Ohlson |
| Owner | Sir Eric Ohlson |
| Trainer | Matthew Peacock |
| Record | 9: 8-1-0 |
| Earnings | US$52,485 (equivalent) |
| Major Racing Wins, Awards and Honours | |
| Major Racing Wins | |
| Coventry Stakes (1944) Middle Park Stakes (1944) British Classic Race wins: |
|
| Honours | |
| Dante Stakes at York Racecourse | |
| Infobox last updated on: 06:34, Friday June 13, 2008 (UTC). | |
Dante (1942-1956) was an British Thoroughbred racehorse who was the last horse trained in northern England to win the English Derby. Sired by Nearco, the Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland in 1947 and 1949, and one of the most important sires of the 20th century, he was out of the mare Rosy Legend who was a granddaughter of the influential sire, Dark Ronald.
Bred and raced by Sir Eric Ohlson, Dante was foaled and raised at Manor House Stud in Middleham in North Yorkshire and conditioned for racing by Matthew Peacock. At age two, the colt went undefeated in six starts, notably winning the Coventry and Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse.
At age three, after winning a prep race at the Stockton racetrack, Dante ran second by a neck in the 2,000 Guineas behind winner Court Martial and ahead of third-place finisher and another son of Nearco, Royal Charger. In England's most prestigious race, the Epsom Derby, Dante turned the tables. Run that year at Newmarket Racecourse due to World War II, he defeated Court Martial who finished third behind runner-up Midas. Afflicted by a degenerative disease that ultimately left him blind, Dante never raced again.
Retired to Theakston Stud in Theakston, North Yorkshire, Dante proved a successful sire whose offspring included:
- Toulouse Lautrec (b. 1950) - won Gran Premio d'Italia, Gran Premio di Milano
- Darius (b. 1951) - won Champagne Stakes (1953), July Stakes (1953), 2,000 Guineas (1954), St. James's Palace Stakes (1954), Eclipse Stakes (1955)
- Carrozza (b. 1954) - won Epsom Oaks for owner, Queen Elizabeth II
- Discorea (b. 1956) - won 1959 Irish Oaks
- Derring-Do (b. 1961) - won 1965 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, sired High Top and Dominion and was a sire of significant broodmares.
Dante died in 1956 at Theakston Stud. The Dante Stakes at York Racecourse is named in his honor.
