Saxon

Saxon (1871–1895) was a British-bred American-trained Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1874 Belmont Stakes, the eighth running of that stakes race. Background Saxon was a brown stallion sired by Beadsman, and was bred in England, by Joseph Hawley. He was imported into the United States by Pierre Lorillard, along with his dam. Saxon's dam was the imported mare Girasol, who was sired by Asteroid and out of the mare Gillyflower. Gillyflower was sired by Venison. Racing career As a two-year-old, Saxon won the 1873 August Stakes. Saxon won the 1874 Belmont while owned by Pierre Lorillard. This was the eighth running of the stakes race. The race was run on June 13, 1871 at a distance of miles (i.e. ) on a fast track. He finished first by a neck over Grinstead, and third place went to Aaron Pennington. All the horses in the race carried , and the value to the winner was $4,200 (about $ today), with the winning time being 2 minutes and seconds. The winning jockey was George Barbee, and the winning trainer was William Pryor.