Highflyer

Highflyer (1774 – 18 October 1793) was an undefeated Thoroughbred racehorse and a very successful sire of the 18th century. Breeding Bred by Sir Charles Bunbury, 6th Baronet, the colt was foaled at Great Barton, in the West Suffolk district of Suffolk, England, in 1774. Highflyer's sire was the important Herod, one of the foundation stallions for the classic Thoroughbred, and himself an excellent racehorse and stud, producing Florizel (b. 1768) and Woodpecker (b. 1773). His dam, Rachel (1763) was by Blank, and out of a mare by Regulus, both stallions by the Godolphin Arabian, making Rachel inbred 2x3 to the great stallion. Blank also sired Pacolet (1763). Highflyer was a half-brother to Mark Anthony (b c 1767 Spectator) who sired the Epsom Derby winner Aimwell. Racing career Highflyer began his racing career at a time when the trend was shifting from starting Thoroughbreds at the track at age 5, to instead begin racing them at the younger age of 3. His maiden race was in October 1777, in a 2-mile event for 3-year-olds at Newmarket, which he won. He returned to Newmarket the following year in 1778, beating out the 4-year-olds in both the July and October meet, before winning an open stakes, as well as a match against the Matchem son, Dictator. In 1779, he won an additional two races before Lord Bolingbroke accepted an offer from Richard Tattersall, who bought the colt for 2,500 pounds. Highflyer continued to race, winning with a walk over at Nottingham and in York at the Great Subscription Stakes. He then won the Great Subscription Stakes for a second time, before winning the King's Purse at Lichfield. He finished his racing career undefeated in 14 race starts.