Americus (USA)
 
 


Americus




Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin
(1828-1909)
Summoned by tales of California gold, Baldwin
headed west, eventually purchasing Rancho
Santa Anita in the San Gabriel Valley. He
established the first Santa Anita race track,
which was situated near the present racecourse.




Richard "Boss" Croker
(1841-1922)
Croker retired from his "Tammany Hall" political
organisation to Berkshire, in England, where he
planned to enjoy racing his horses. Discouraged
by the Newmarket Jockey Club he removed himself
and his horses to his native Ireland, whereby Orby
became the first Irish-trained Derby winner.


 

Sire Line


Highflyer

 






Emperor Of Norfolk, sire of Americus


Norfolk, grandsire of Americus







 

 Americus b c 1892 (Emperoror Of Norfolk - Clara D., by Glenelg) Family A2. Sire Line King Herod.

Bred by Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin, Americus was foaled in 1892 at historic Rancho Santa Anita, Los Angeles county, California. First christened Rey del Carreras (King of the Races), a transcription error resulted in his name entering the official registry Rey del Caredes. He is found under both names, and a remarkably wide variety of spelling variants thereof, in North American racing records. In 1894 he ran as Rey del Caredes. In 1895 it was as Rey del Carreras until October when he was sold to Richard Croker and renamed Americus.

The heavily muscled, 16h, bright bay colt was from the third crop of Baldwin's American Derby winner Emperor of Norfolk (b c 1885 by Norfolk out of Marion by Malcolm). Americus’ dam, the Glenelg mare Clara D. (1875) was bred in Kentucky by M. H. Sanford, purchased as a yearling by Baldwin, and brought to California. She would accumulate a fine record during her three years on the California tracks, winning sweepstakes at over a mile as a two year old , at over a mile and a half and in mile heats at maturity. However, Baldwin’s main motivation in purchasing Clara D. (and later her full sister) was almost certainly the opportunity for close inbreeding to Lexington when crossed with his in-house stallions. Clara D.’s dam (The Nun ch f 1866 Lexington – Novice by *Glencoe) was a full sister to Norfolk. Ergo, Americus was 2x2 to full siblings, unusually close inbreeding for the time if not the place.
 
  Americus Emperor Of Norfolk Norfolk Lexington
Novice
Marian Malcolm
Maggie Mitchell
Clara D. Glenelg Citadel
Babta
The Nun Lexington
Novice
"...the last of the really great flying inbred products of Santa Anita"
 
Inbreeding to Lexington, one of the greatest (and fastest) four mile heat horses, might reasonably be expected to yield stayers and frequently did so. Americus’ full brother Caracas (1891) “amounted to nothing” at any distance on the flat but made something of a name for himself going 4 miles over fences. However, the two closely in-bred colts, Americus and Domino, whose descendants were preeminent in fixing Lexington’s presence in the breed (in spite of the fact that neither horse left many foals), were both far better known for speed than stamina. Hall of Fame jockey Fred Taral named them as the two fastest horses he’d ever ridden. The only time Americus and Domino raced together, going 5.5f at Sheepshead Bay in June, 1895, Domino finished first, 3 lengths ahead of Factotum who just barely got his nose ahead of Americus.

Americus’ racing career for Baldwin’s Santa Anita Stable began inauspiciously 28 Jun 1894 at the Washington Park (Chicago) summer meeting in 1894 with a last place finish in the Kenwood Stakes (5f). Two days later there he came back to win wire-to-wire in a 5f purse race. A week after that he drew his first national attention when it was reported that he “just quit” while several lengths in front with a furlong to go in Wash. Park’s Worlds’ Fair Stakes, ceding a sure win to Lissak. This was the first of many reports spanning his full career of erratic behavior at the start or finish of a race. Americus took the Edgewater Handicap at Latonia and raced at Hawthorne before heading back home to California. In November at San Francisco he won at 6f and placed at 5f in purse races, closing out his 2yo career there in the ~6f stakes race named for his grandsire. There, Americus and another grandson of Norfolk’s, the W. S. Hobart-bred favorite Rey Alfonso (1892 b c by Prince of Norfolk – Haidee by Alfonso), used themselves up in a blistering contest for the early lead, finishing 4th and 6th respectively.

After a few months rest, Americus and the best of the rest of the Santa Anita racing stable were sent east, stopping first at Memphis, though Americus did not run there. He made his first start of 1895 in Louisville where he won a 5f purse race by 6 lengths and ran 2d in the Schulte Stakes. Rather than continuing on the midwestern circuit that year Baldwin decided to take his stable to New York. There, most, maybe all, tracks were governed by racing associations following the rules of the newly minted (1894) Jockey Club (then usually referred to as “of New York”, now the governing authority for North American TB registration and racing eligibility). Preeminent among that organization’s interests was restoring honesty and integrity to the racing environment. The Santa Anita horses had come under considerable criticism for “idiosyncrasies of form”, even in California. The Jockey Club refused to issue a license to the trainer that came to NY with the Santa Anita horses. Baldwin fumed and protested but eventually brought in Sam Hildreth, who had the Jockey Club’s license and blessing, as trainer.

The future Hall-of-Fame inductee Hildreth effected immediate improvement in Americus’ form, also restoring a little luster to Baldwin’s American Derby winner Rey El Santa Anita (b c 1891 by *Cheviot – Alaho by Grinstead) whose record so far as a 4yo contrasted dismally with his 3yo brilliance. During roughly 120 days under Hildreth’s guidance, running 5-9f, frequently under unusually heavy imposts, Americus racked up no fewer than 11 wins, 6 seconds, 3 thirds, and was off the board only once. He won the Atlantic S., Brookwood H., Culver H., and Flying S., finished 2d in the Billow S. and Travers S., and ran 3d in the Fall H., Ocean H., and Reapers S. His preferred running style remained using his exceptional early speed to open a near insurmountable lead but Hildreth seems to have coaxed him to rate somewhat, at least enough to allow him to finish 2d at 9f in stakes company. Reports of erratic behavior diminished but did not disappear altogether. Twenty lengths ahead coming out of the turn toward home in the Brookwood H., he covered the last furlong at a pace characterized in one account as an “amble”, allowing Counter Tenor to finish 2d by only 4 lengths.

This unnecessary drama did not discourage the growing interest of prominent turfmen Richard Croker and Mike Dwyer in securing Americus for their own stables. The two had partnered in assembling a stable of Thoroughbreds that was taken to race in the UK in January, 1895. The early results of that venture were modest at best. The partnership was terminated by May but both men continued separately acquiring American-bred TBs to race in the UK. By early September of 1895 rumors were flying about future plans for Americus and his stablemate Rey El Santa Anita. All centered on the horses being taken to race in the UK, but varied as to whose colors they would carry there, Baldwin’s, Crokers’ or Dwyer’s, and whether if the horses went with Croker or Dwyer it would be by lease or sale. The first week of October the New York Times reported that Americus had been sold to Croker for $20,000. Although he cites the sale price as $35,000, Hildreth confirmed the timeframe of the sale when replying to questions later in the month from the press regarding an inquiry that resulted in Baldwin’s horses being barred from all Jockey Club-sanctioned tracks.

Americus’ only role in the events leading to the inquiry was having been scratched, over Hildreth’s objection that he was fit and ready, from the Woodlawn H., run at Gravesend on 13 Oct 1895. Hildreth further stated that if he hadn’t been scratched he’d have been carrying Croker’s colors in that race. After Americus was scratched, Rey El Santa Anita, still racing for Baldwin, was added as a late entry. Again this was over Hildreth’s objections but in this case that the horse was neither fit nor ready. Having performed well enough under Hildreth’s tutelage to add a couple of recent stakes wins to his resume, Rey El Santa Anita had been looking a lot more like his sparkling 3yo self. He quickly became the betting favorite for the Woodlawn but, in a driving rainstorm, he ran 3d of 3, finishing over 4 lengths behind the winner Rubicon. A week later at Morris Park, on a fast track, at much longer odds, and carrying 10# more, he won in a romp going the same distance (1 mile). Marked difference in track conditions notwithstanding, this none too subtle change in form over 7 days raised concerns among the Westchester Racing Assn. stewards. They refused to accept further entries for Baldwin’s horses and referred the matter to the Jockey Club which quickly affirmed and extended the ban to all its sanctioned tracks. Infuriated, Baldwin requested a review. The request was declined and the Jockey Club took the somewhat unusual step of releasing their reply to that request to the press.

Their action may have had as much to do with suspected infractions of the past as those of the present. Regardless, the Jockey Club’s ruling seems to have been received with approbation by a public wherein there was widespread skepticism in regard to the integrity of the horseracing industry and, where Baldwin was concerned, a perception that the man considered himself above the rules. Along with the privilege of racing in New York, Baldwin also lost his trainer. Hildreth made no secret of feeling that he was in a position where he had to choose between leaving Baldwin’s employ or losing his New York license. The Santa Anita stable soon departed the state, minus not only Americus but Rey El Santa Anita as well. Per Hildreth, he was sold to Croker in late October for $25,000. If so, there may have been a buy back clause. Lightly and unsuccessfully raced in England in 1896 and part of 1897 as just “Santa Anita” he had returned to the US and was covering mares in California by spring, 1898. Never a popular sire, he left no progeny of note but spent the rest of his life in comfort and contentment at Rancho Santa Anita, dying there in 1919. His remains and those of Baldwin’s three other American Derby winners are now interred in the paddock area of Santa Anita racetrack.

For Americus the move was a permanent farewell to the new world and a critical step toward his future as a near ubiquitous fixture in TB back pedigree. In late 1895 he and Rey El Santa Anita were shipped to England with several of Croker’s other recent acquisitions and there settled into the owner’s facility at Wantage, Berkshire. The record reflects only two starts by Americus in 1896. Once again he debuted inauspiciously, finishing well back in the pack for the Great Jubilee Stakes in May. In September he ran a respectable 2d to Grig for the Portland Plate at Doncaster. His calendar was more crowded for 1897. He carried Croker’s Yale blue and gold to victory for the Riddlesdown Plate at Epsom and the Southdown Plate at Brighton and ran well enough to place 2d no fewer than seven times.

Americus didn’t race in 1898 but did commence stud duty that year at Wantage. He covered several of Croker’s mares in 1898 and was available to outside mares but few came calling. His modest success on the track and unfashionable pedigree offered little to commend the horse to English breeders. Looking 'the stallion all over' and 'fat as a showyard bull', as one account put it, Americus returned to the track in 1899. He took the Charlwood H. at Gatwick that year. In 1900 Americus divided his time between light breeding duty and a heavier racing schedule. He secured the Eton H. at Windsor, and added several 2d place finishes to his resume. His record for 1899 and 1900 also reflects several additional reports of erratic behavior at the start or near the finish of several races. Widely regarded as the likely winner of the Challenge S. at Newmarket, and carrying 27# less than when he’d defeated Sonatura previously, Americus finished 2d to him by 4 lengths. The race was one of two that day that resulted in official inquiries. As reported in the Racing Calendar, the stewards found that there was insufficient evidence to determine that Americus had been pulled or to lift the license of his jockey, American Lester Reiff, who had also been material to the inquiry into the other race that day.

Croker retired Americus back to the breeding shed at Wantage for good at the end of the 1901 flat racing season. That year he had covered one or two outside mares and several of Croker’s. In 1902 his son Gladwin (b g 1899 out of Democracy by St. Simon) made a favorable impression on the track, winning the Portland Plate. This no doubt had something to do with the fact that his sire attracted a few more outside mares in 1903. Later that year Croker relocated his stable to French (or French Furze) House on the Curragh in his native Ireland. Americus seems to have been slightly more popular with Irish breeders but was still significantly underutilized. He was sent to stand in Italy in 1906 and was still there in 1907 when his 2yo daughter Americus Girl (out of Palotta 1893 by Gallinule) began displaying her stakes-winning ways.

His reputation as a sire enhanced, Americus returned to Ireland for 1908, standing at Croker’s new facility at Glencairn. Palotta was brought to his court again, as were more other outside mares than he’d seen cumulatively in all previous years in the UK stud. By then, however, all of Croker’s hopes for the future were pinned on Orby, the 1904 ch c by Ormonde out of Croker’s American-bred Rhoda B. by Hanover who had made his breeder’s dream of winning the Derby Stakes at Epsom come true. Orby would be retiring to stud at Glencairn in 1909. The focus was on making him as successful in the breeding shed as he’d been on the track. While Americus’ progeny earnings were more than respectable for a horse with so few foals, this was not the splendid outcome Croker had envisioned when he established his stable in 1891. An offer was made and Americus was sold to Hauptgestüt Trakehnen, the German state-owned stud, in September, 1908. He died at one of the Trakhenen breeding farms 25 Mar 1910, his death duly noted in their stud records.

Orby would go on to become Croker’s most successful sire but it was Americus that would leave the permanent imprint on the Thoroughbred. Through the daughters of Lady Josephine (ch f 1912 by Sundridge out of Americus Girl) he entered the pedigrees of several of the most influential sires of the mid 20th century, including Fair Trial, Mahmoud, Nasrullah, and Royal Charger.
 
Race Record
 
In 1894 (racing for Baldwin's Santa Anita Stables)

Among the field, 28 Jun 1894, Wash. Park, Chicago, Kenwood Stakes (5/8 mi.), Bellicoso won, Handsome 2d, Laureate 3d.

Won wire-to-wire easily by two lengths (111#, Van Kuren up, 1:01, $700) 30 Jun 1894, Wash. Park, Chicago, $1K purse (5f), Diggs (115#) 2d, Rosita (115#) 3d.

Finished 2d by a neck (118#, Miller up, time not given, $2500), 07 Jul 1894 Wash. Park, Chicago, Worlds’ Fair Stakes (5.5f), Lissak (113#) won, Handsome (118#) 3d by 2 lengths.

Among the field (4th) Quickstep Stakes, Wash. Park, Jul 1894.

Won Edgewater Handicap (118#), Latonia 04 Oct 1894.

Finished 2d to Frank K. special race at Hawthorne Oct. 1894, Leo Lake 3d.

Won (106#, Carr up; 1:11-1/4) San Francisco 21 Nov 1895 ~6f, Nellie Peyton 2d, El Tirano 3d.

Among the field, Norfolk Stakes, San Francisco 24 Nov 1894.

(8 of 9) 9-3-2-0 $7630
In 1895
(still racing for Santa Anita)

Won by 6 lengths (105#, McClain up, 1:01-1/2, $300) 13 May 1895 Louisville (5f), Uncle Luke 2d, Merry Monarch 3d by a head.

Finished 2d by a head (115#, Williams up, 1:42-1/4, $200) 20 May 1895 Louisville (1 mi.), Schulte Stakes, Simon W. won, The Commoner 3d by a neck.

Finished 2d by ½ legnth (114#, Doggett up, :59-4/5, $100) Sheepshead Bay 15 Jun 1895 (5f), The Butterflies (109#) won, Ridicule (109#) 3d by 3 lengths.

Finished 3d by a head (109#, Doggett up, 1:08, $50), Sheepshead Bay, 18 Jun 1895, sweepstakes $15/eac. $600 added (5.5f), Domino (122#) won, Factotum (112#) 2d. by 3 lengths.

Won by half a length (120#, Taral up, 1:13, $540), Brighton 04 Jul 1895, sweepstakes $15/ea. $600 added (6f), Hanwell (113#) 2d, Aurelian 3d by 4 lengths.

Won by half a length (106#, Penn up, 1:16, $620) Brighton 08 Jul 1895 (6f), Wernberg 2d., Sir Excess 3d by a head.

Finished 2d by ¾ length (114#, Taral up, 1:41-1/2, $75), Brighton, 12 Jul 1895, sweepstakes $10/ea. $10 addt’l. for starters, $500 added (1 mile), Sir Excess (117#) won, Stonenellie (116#) 3d by 5 lengths.

Won (1:30) Saratoga 22 Jul 1895 (7f), Brandywine 2d., Sufficient 3d.

Won by ½ length (106#, Taral up, 1:16, $620), Brighton , 25 Jul 1895. (¾ mi.) handicap, $20/ea. $600 added. Wernberg (122#) 2d., Sir Excess (112#) 3d by a head, Hurlingham (116#, Hermanita (103#) and Hanwell (97#) also ran. Newspaper accounts reflect him running at Brighton and Saratoga on same day. Most plausibly, the "Rey" that was still at Brighton on 25 Jul was Rel Santa Anita, not Rey del Carreras.

Won (1:42-1/4) Saratoga 25 Jul 1895 (1 mi.), Brandywine 2d, Fannie Louise 3d.

Finished 2d (109#, Martin up, 1:55-1/2), Saratoga, 27 Jul 1895, Travers Stakes (1-1/8 mi.), Liza (104#) won, Maurice (111#) 3d.

Finished 2d (108#, Martin up, 1:14-3/4), Saratoga, 03 Aug 1895, Kearney Stakes (5f), Clifford (127#) won, Bellicose 3d.

Finished 2d (115#, Perkins up, 1:30, $?[$2000]), Saratoga, 08 Aug 1895, (7f), Annisette (106#) won. Lissak (120#) 3d, Lovdal 4th.

Won by 4 lengths (122#, Taral up, 1:11-2/5, $1500), Sheepshead Bay, Flying Stakes (6f), 28 Aug 1895, Ina (103#) 2d, The Bluffer (119#) 3d by 6 lengths.

Finished 3d by ½ length (122#. Sims up, 2:02-2/5, $150), Sheepshead Bay, Reapers Stakes (9.5f), Flying Dutchman won, Dolabra 2d by 1-1/2 lengths.

Among the field, Sheepshead Bay, 08 Sep 1895, Omnium Handicap (1-1/8 mi.) won by Clifford (1890).

Won by 3 lengths (121#, Taral up, 1:01-1/2, $1200), Gravesend, 21 Sep 1895, Atlantic Stakes (5f), Applause (117#) 2d, Handspring (106#) 3d by 3L, Floretta IV and Wernberg also ran.

Won by 4 lengths (121#, Taral up, 1:15, $500), Gravesend, 24 Sep 1895, handicap for all ages (3/4 mi.), Illusion (91#) 2d, Jack of Spades (114#) 3d by 4 lengths, (Note: Domino was scratched from this race and retired. Rey del Carreres was scratched from Ocean View H. same day & entered in this race.)

Won by 3 lengths, 20 lengths ahead coming out of final turn, (129#, Doggett up, 1:51-3/4, $1200), Gravesend, 26 Sep 1895 Brookwood Handicap (8.5f), Counter Tenor (123#) 2d, Dolabra (108#) 3d by 5L, Belmar (95#), Primrose (108#) & Monaco (108#) also ran.

Won by 3 lengths (135#, Taral up, 1:15, $1500), Gravesend, 01 Oct 1895 Culver Handicap (¾ mi.) Crescendo (100-1/2#) 2d, Brandywine (110#) 3d by 2 lengths. Ina, and Hermanita also ran.

Finished 2d by a neck to Handspring (140#, Taral up, 1:14-1/2, $200), Gravesend, 10 Oct 1895. Billow Stakes (¾ mi.), Rubicon 3d by 1-1/2 lengths. Hawarden also ran.

(20 of 22) 22-10-6-4 $9060, incl Flying S, Atlantic S, Culver H & Brookwood H
In 1896
Unplaced for the Kempton Park Great Jubilee Stakes, won by T Worton's Royal Hunt Cup winner Victor Wild (ch c 1890 Albert Victor), 2° to Capt Greer's July Cup winner Kilcock (br c 1892 Kilwarlin), 3° to H McAlmont's The Lombard (b c 1892 Petrarch), 15 started.

Finished 2° for the 500 sovs Portland Plate at Doncaster, won by Leopold De Rothschild's Grig (b f 1892 Crafton), beating Sir J Blundell Maple's Palaverer (b c 1893 Wisdom), 21 started.

(2 of 2)
In 1897
Finished 2° for the 500 sovs Great Surrey Handicap over 5 furlongs at Epsom, won by D Seymour's Sirdar (ch c 1894 Wild Sherry), beating B I Barnato's Miss Primrose (br f 1894 Galopin).

Among the field for the 500 sovs Princess Of Wales's Handicap over 5 furlongs at Sandown Park, won by T Cannon's Deep Sea (b g 1892 Pearl Diver), having been "left at the post."

Won by 4 lengths the 200 sovs Riddlestown Plate over 5 furlongs at Epsom, beating Lord Rosebery's Alizarine (ch f 1895 Bona Vista), and J L Murray-Shireff's Heligoland (b c 1895 Chittabob).

Finished 2° for the 800 sovs Queen's Stand Plate over the TYC at Ascot, won by Prince Soltykoff's Woolsthorpe (b c 1888 Tibthorpe), beating Martin D Rucker's Red Heart (ch c 1892 Hilarious or Cherry Ripe).

Among the field for the 300 sovs Stewards' Cup over the TYC at Goodwood, won by H McCalmont's Amphora (ch f 1893 Amphion), 2° to Lord W Beresford's Diakka (b c 1893 The Sailor Prince), and 3° to Sir S Scott's Ardvourlie (bl f 1893 Barcaldine). Also among the field were R Lebaudy's Count Schomberg (ch c 1892 Aughrim) and E Smithwick's Lesterlin (br c 1892 Gallinule).

Finished 2° for the 150 sovs Singleton Plate over the TYC at Goodwood, won by Lord Wolverton's Ugly (b c 1892 Minting), beating Sir S Scott's Ardvourlie and Prince Soltykoff's Speed (b c 1891 Hampton) among others.

Finished 2° for the 300 sovs Marine Plate over the TYC at Brighton, won by W Mills's Othery (ch f 1893 King Monmouth), beating A F Calvert's Sheeroe (ch f 1894 Blitz).

Won by 8 lengths the 200 sovs Southdown Plate over 6 furlongs at Brighton, beating Mr Jersey's Milford (ch c 1890 Saraband) and T Simpson Jay's Rampion (ch c 1893 Amphion).

Finished 2° by a short head for the 300 sovs De Warrenne Handicap over 5 furlongs at Lewes, won by D Seymour's Sirdar, beating Mr Mills's Othery.

Among the field for the 500 sovs Palatine Handicap over 5 furlongs at Manchester, won by L Pilkington's Canonbury (ch f 1894 Crowberry), 2° to Mr Mills's Othery, 3° to Sir J Blundell Maple's Omladina (br f 1893 Royal Hampton).

Among the field for the 200 sovs Elvaston Castle Plate over 5 furlongs at Nottingham, won by E Melly's Bewitchment (br f 1894 Juggler), 2° to W Mills's Alas (ch f 1893 Despair) and also 2° to D Seymour's Suppliant (bbr c 1893 Atheling or Ashplant).

Among the field, having been left at the post, for the 200 sovs Kennett Plate over the Rous Course at Newmarket, won by Lord Wolverton's Ugly, 2° to J M Hanbury's Tears Of Joy (b f 1895 Amphion), 3° to C Trimmer's Bentworth (b c 1892 Despair).

Finished 3° for the 200 sovs Southfield Plate over the Ab M at Alexandra Park, won by Lord Cadogan's Lowly (b f 1894 Common), 2° to F W Day's Castle Or (b g 1893 Belgrave).
In 1898
Did not run.
In 1899
Finished 4° for the Stewards Cup at Goodwood, won by Horatio Bottomley's Northern Farmer (b c 1894 Laureate), 2° to Sir J Blundell Maple's 1000 Guineas winner Nun Nicer (br f 1895 Common), 3° to C A Mills's Mazeppa (b f 1896 Wolf's Crag), beating July Cup winner Eager (b c 1894 Enthusiast) and the Duke of Devonshire's Middle Park Plate winner Dieudonné (ch c 1895 Amphion).

Among the field, "left at the post," for the September Handicap at Manchester, won by A L Duncan's London (br g 1893 Donovan), 2° to Horatio Bottomley's Le Blizon (ch c 1896 Xaintrailles), 3° to W Mills's Othery (ch f 1890 King Monmouth).

Won by 3 lengths carrying top weight of 8st 10l, the 5f Charlwood Handicap at Gatwick, beating R Maguire's Filassier (bbr g 1893 Hackler) and T Sherwood's Marta Santa (b c 1896 Martley).

Among the field, "left at the post," for the Temple Handicap at Sandown Park, won by Filassier, 2° to D Seymour's Suppliant (bbr c 1893 Atheling or Ashplant), 3° to G Cottrill's Remember Me (ch f 1892 Bread Knife).
In 1900
Finished 2° for the Stewards' Cup over 6 furlongs at Goodwood, won by J A Drake's Royal Flush (ch c 1893 Favo), beating J G Clarke's Melbourne Cup winner The Grafter (br c 1893 Gozo). Among the field were Mr Neumann's Eager (b c 1894 Enthusiast) and Mr Joel's Mazeppa (b f 1896 Wolf's Crag).

Won by a length the 200 sovs Eton Handicap over 5 furlongs at Windsor, beating G Cottrill's Impious (ch g 1895 Chittabob) and Capt Leethan's Amphlett (b f 1897 Amphion).

Finished 2° for the Scurry Handicap over 5 furlongs at Hurst Park, won by E Foster's Marceline (ch f 1895 Marcion), beating J S Curtis's Pearl Rover (ch c 1895 Pearl Diver).

Finished 2° for the Pegasus Cup over 5 furlongs at Cork Park, won by J C Sullivan's Berrill (b c 1896 Rouge Dragon), beating T S Coppinger's St. Helena (b f 1897 St. Florian).

Among the field for the Portland Plate at Doncaster, won by HRH Prince Of Wales's Lucknow (ch c 1895 St. Angelo), 2° to L Neumann's Eager, 3° to J A Drake's Sir Hercules (b c 1896 Sir Hugo).

Finished 2° of two for the Challenge Stakes over the Bretby Stakes Course at Newmarket, won by Sir E Cassell's Sonatura (ch f 1897 Amphion).
In 1901
Finished 2°, carrying the top weight of 9s 6l, for the 1mile Manor Welter Plate at Gatwick, won by W M Brutton's Morningdew (b c 1895 Adieu), beating W Bradford's Simonswood (b c 1897 St. Simon) and 8 others.

Finished 3° for the 6f July Cup at Newmarket, won by Sir J Blundell Maple's Lord Bobs (ch c 1898 Bend Or), 2° to the Duke of Devonshire's Dieudonne (ch c 1895 Amphion), beating 2 others.

Among the field, carrying top weight of 9st 10l, for the 5 furlong Singleton Plate at Goodwood, won by J Hare's Le Blizon (ch c 1896 Xaintrailles), 2° to Sir J Blundell Maple's Ardeer (br c 1897 Ayrshire), 10 ran.

Among the field, carrying top weight of 8st 12l, for the 5 furlong Princess's Plate at Kempton Park, won by Le Blizon, 2° to Ivor E Hughes's Engineer (bbr c 1898 Crafton), 14 ran.

Among the field, carrying top weight of 9st 6l, for the 1 mile East Anglian Plate at Ayr, won by Sir J Blundell Maple's Vidame (br g 1898 Raeburn), 2° to J C Dyer's Sandbag (b c 1898 Carbine), 9 ran.

Finished 3°, carring top weight of 9st 6l, for the 5 furlong Stubbles Handicap at Lingfield Park, won by M Marshall's Nipperkin (br c 1898 Pioneer), 2° to Sir W Ingram's Court Belle (b f 1898 Despair), 9 started.
 

Notable Americus Mares
   

Photograph by W A Rouch
© Thoroughbred




 Futurity (b f 1904), raced by Lord Carnarvon, won 3 of 10 starts as a two year old, including the Tattenham Plate at Epsom. She also finished 2° for the Hurst Park Foal Plate, beating William Clark's Linacre (b c 1904 Wolf's Crag), who was later a prominent stallion in Australia. She was sent to Germany at two, where she became the 3° dam of Princess Aly Khan's King George Stakes winner Neuvy (bbr c 1935 Xandover), and 3° dam of Austria-Preis winner Figaro (ch c 1938 Oleander). Family 19-c.
 
Americus Girl (ch f 1905), ran for her breeder, winning 12 of 29 races over 4 years having a value of £8,372. She was the ancestress of such luminaries as Nasrullah (b c 1940 Nearco), Tudor Minstrel (br c 1944 Owen Tudor), Mahmoud (gr c 1933 Blenheim), Royal Charger (ch c 1942 Nearco) and Fair Trial (ch c 1932 Fairway). Family 9-c. Also see Mumtaz Mahal.
 
Alabama (ch f 1906), bred by Richard Croker and half-sister to Orby, was the 4° dam of Austria-Preis winner Tornado (b c 1951 Torcello), 4° dam of Österreichisches Galopper-Derby winner Apollo (b c 1953 Angelico), and 4° dam of Austria-Preis winner Formosa (b f 1954 Angelico). Family 26.
 
Caspia (b f 1906), ran for C J Blake, winning the Shandon Plate at Cork and finishing 2° for the Midsummer Plate at the Curragh and for the International Foal Stakes at Leopardstown as a two year old. As a three year old she finished 2° for the Irish Oaks in her only start. She was the 2° dam of Irish 1000 Guineas winner Glenshesk (b f 1920 Junior), and several other winners including Victoria Cup winner Carados (b c 1915 Glasgerion). Family 6-f.
 
Mrs. K. (ch f 1906), bred by Mrs Kelly, did not race.  She was ancestress of a small American family of winners including Coaltown (b c 1945 Bull Lea) and CCA Oaks winner Wistful (ch f 1946 Sun Again). Family 7-e.
 
Benanet (b f 1909), was owned by George Joseph Edwardes. She ran for 3 years, winning the Irish Breeders Produce Stakes at Phoenix Park, the Finsbury Mid-Weight Handicap at Alexandria Park and the Whitsuntide Handicap at Wolverhampton. She was the dam of Souviens-Toi (ch c 1917 Santoi), winner of the Prix Boiard and a useful stallion in France.
 
Lady Americus (b f 1909), bred by A H Ledlie, won the Redfern Two Years Old Plate at Kempton Park, and the Coventry Stakes at Ascot as a two year old. She made 2 unsuccessful starts at three. Mr Ledlie reduced his stud in in 1912, and in December sold Lady Americus to Sir Ernest Cassel for 2500gs. She was the ancestress of Queen Mary Stakes winner Belle Travers (b f 1936 Mr. Jinks), British Champions Sprint Stakes (previously called the Diadem Stakes) winner Zanzibar (ch c 1955 King's Bench), Diamond Jubilee Stakes winner Bun Penny (b c 1958 Hook Money) and many others. Family 9-c.
   
  J Baugh