Election (horse)

Election (1804 – June 1821) was a

Election, described as "one of the smallest and most delicate"[1] of his sire's offspring, was foaled in 1804 at Lord Egremont's estate Petworth House. His dam, Chestnut Skim, was bred by Lord Egremont and produced nine foals between 1802 and 1817. Election was her third foal and one of six sired by Gohanna. Full-siblings to Election include the colt Prodigal and the fillies Bribery and the Gohanna Mare (the grandam of Frederick and Cedric).^[2] Election was trained by F. Neale at Newmarket.^[3]

Racing career

1807: three-year-old season

Election's first and only start as a three-year-old was for the Derby Stakes held on 14 May at Epsom Downs Racecourse. Thirteen horses participated in the running out of the original 38 subscribers to the race. At the start, Mr. Wilson's colt Sir Solomon took the lead and was the pace-setter for much of the race until the final stretch. Sir Solomon was passed by Mr. Lake's colt Coriolanus near the finish with Election "immediately after" taking the lead and winning the race by a length. The running was described as a "very fine race."^[4] Sir Solomon finished second and Mr. Lake's colt Coriolanus (also sired by Gohanna) was third.^[5] Election was ridden "with masterly style" by John Arnold of Newmarket, who was an older gentleman, as he died at an "advanced age" four years later.^[6]

1808: four-year-old season

In his first start of 1808, Election won the 60-guinea Ladies' Plate held at

In his first start of the season, Election walked over for the Ladies' Plate at Goodwood on 1 June.^[20] On 12 June at the Guildford meeting, Election won both heats of the King's Plate "cleverly" from Mr. Dilly's horse Gnat-Ho!, who carried two extra pounds than Election in both four-mile heats.^[21] Election was entered in the £100 Plate at Brighton, which was supposed to be run on Friday, 27 July, but due to "one of the greatest storms ever witnessed at Brighton" the running was postponed to the following day. Election beat Mr. Ladbroke's horse Guardy who "bolted" in the four-mile race.^[22] On 2 August at Lewes, Election won the 100-guinea King's Plate against the horse Discount, winning both four-mile heats. The next day, Election again was pitted against Mr. Ladbroke's horse Guardy in a 100-guinea sweepstakes race, winning the race after Guardy again "bolted" in the race. On 4 August, Election walked over for the four-mile, 60-guinea Ladies' Plate.^[23]

1811: seven-year-old season

On 1 June at the Guildford meeting, Election walked over for the King's Purse.^[24] At Lewes on 1 August, Election lost the 100-guinea King's Plate to the four-year-old colt Wildboy. Election won the first heat "with much difficulty," was second in the second heat and was disqualified in the deciding heat due to falling during the running. The next day, Election was second, and last, in the Ladies' Plate to the horse Scorpion who "won easy."^[25]

Stud career

Election was retired to stud in 1812 and first stood at the Royal Stud at Hampton-court for a fee of 10 guineas per mare.

• Election was extremely inbred (3 × 3 x 3) to Herod, meaning that this horse appears three times in the third generation of his pedigree.

References