My girls are related to the Irish Thoroughbred, Birdcatcher, born in 1833 to Sir Hercules and Guiccioli. Hailee also has Birdcatcher's full-brother, Faugh-a-Ballagh, which is Gaelic for "Clear the Way!" Birdcatcher had 15 starts and won 7 influential races. He raced only at the Curragh. He was retired at 5 to be a sire, and was a magnificent one. He is the grandsire of my girls' Stockwell, pictured here in Harry Hall's painting. Stockwell was known as the "Emperor of Stallions." Birdcatcher travelled a bit as a stud, serving at Newmarket, Easby Abbey, and Brownstown. He was champion sire in 1852 and 1856, and was among the top sires 15 times in his long breeding career. He was the first Irish stallion to breed English race horse winners. Seven of his children won 3 St. Legers, 2 1,000 Guineas Stakes, and a win of the Epsom Derby and win of the Epsom Oaks. He was a beautiful dark chestnut with a large star and narrow attached blaze. And he had a left hind leg white stocking. And he had what are now known as "Birdcatcher spots" -- this white ticking on his flanks. Now, here's the sad part, just so you know how vulnerable horses are -- even the hard-working champions. When he was 27, he was to be bred to a large mare named Queen Bee, but he could not complete the service. So, his owner, Mr. Disney, ordered his execution.
Here's the report: "Among the mares sent to the son of Sir Hercules that year was Mr Michael Dunne's Queen Bee. She was a mare of good size, and when Birdcatcher attempted to serve her, he failed to do so. Mr Disney, who owned the stallion, thereupon decided that he should no longer survive. At once a messenger was dispatched to the local police station with orders to bring back with him a constable with a loaded gun, as a horse was required to be destroyed. The police officer - his name was Preston - reported himself to Mr Disney, who gave the necessary directions for the destruction of Birdcatcher. The horse was placed on the brink of a sandpit situated on the flat opposite Conyngham Lodge, Curragh; without any ceremony he was shot and his carcase tumbled into the pit. Thus ended the career of a good racehorse and a mighty sultan at the age of twenty-seven years. His head was afterwards presented to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Dublin."
Can you believe that ending of a champion race horse and peerless sire who brought glory, fame and wealth to his owner?
You can read more about this champion, handsome creature at the following links:
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