Penelope

Penelope (1798–1824) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She won sixteen of her twenty-four races, including two Oatlands Stakes, the Jockey-Club Plate and she beat Oaks and Derby winner Eleanor. She was bred and owned by Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton. After retiring from racing she became an influential broodmare, foaling Derby winners Whalebone and Whisker and 1000 Guineas winner Whizgig. Background Penelope was a bay filly bred by Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton, and foaled in 1798. She was sired by Claret Stakes winner Trumpator, who after retiring from racing became British Champion sire in 1803. Amongst his other progeny were Champion sire Sorcerer and Epsom Derby winner Didelot. Penelope's dam, Prunella, was a top broodmare and a daughter of the undefeated Highflyer. Prunella won three races, including a Sweepstakes of 200 guineas each at Newmarket. She also foaled Derby winner Pope and Oaks winner Pelisse. All of Prunella's daughters who lived to produce a foal became top broodmares in their own right. Her daughters Parasol, Pledge, Pawn, Pope Joan and Prudence all foaled Classic winners. Penelope was Prunella's second foal. Racing career 1801: Three-year-old season Penelope made her first racecourse appearance on 22 April 1801 at Newmarket, where she beat a Trumpator colt and a Buzzard colt in a Sweepstakes of 100 guineas each over one mile. She had started as the outsider of the three runner field at 5/2. At Newmarket's Second spring meeting in May she raced in a £50 race for three-year-olds over one mile. Eleven horses started the race, with Paulo starting as the favourite at 5/2 and Penelope and the brother to Spear next in the betting at 5/1. Peneolpe won the race from a brother to Spear, with Paulo finishing in third place. Racing away from Newmarket for the first time on 7 July, she won the King's Purse at Ipswich. She faced a Pot-8-Os filly and Thais in a race consisting of two-mile heats. Penelope won both heats, therefore winning the race.