Rhoda

Rhoda (1813–after 1836) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who won the third running of the classic 1000 Guineas at Newmarket Racecourse in 1816 and was the most successful racehorse in Britain (in terms of wins) two years later. Rhoda was one of the most active of all British classic winners, running in at least forty-five contests between 1816 and 1820 and winning twenty-one times. Her actual number of competitive races was even higher as many of her later races were run in multiple heats, with the prize going to the first horse to win twice. She won the 1000 Guineas on her second appearance but did not run as a three-year-old after finishing unplaced in the Oaks Stakes. Rhoda won three races in 1817, ten in 1818, four in 1819 and two in 1820. Background Rhoda was a bay mare with a white blaze and white socks on her hind legs, bred by her owner John Manners, 5th Duke of Rutland. She was sired by Asparagus (a son of Potoooooooo) who was twenty-six years old when Rhoda was foaled, out of Rosabella a mare bred by the Duke of York. Rhoda's great-grand-dam Harriet is the direct female ancestor of all modern members of Thoroughbred family 22 including Mill Reef, Blushing Groom and Lammtarra. Rutland, a member of the Jockey Club, kept a small string of racehorses but had considerable success, winning The Derby with Cadland and the Oaks with Sorcery and Medora. Racing career 1816: three-year-old season Rhoda's racing career began at the Newmarket Craven meeting on 19 April 1816 when she was entered in a match race against a colt (later named Parrot) owned by Sir John Shelley. The colt was strongly favoured in the betting but Rhoda won the race over the Rowley Mile course to win a 300 guinea prize. At the First Spring meeting two weeks later Rhoda was one of six runners for the third running of the 1000 Guineas over the Ditch Mile course. Ridden by Sam Barnard, she won the classic at odds of 3/1, beating Lord Foley's filly Duenna with the favourite Guendolen in third.