Caractacus (horse)

Caractacus
Caractacus as painted by Samuel Spode.
SireKingston
GrandsireVenison
DamDefenceless
DamsireDefence
SexStallion
Foaled1859
CountryUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
ColourBay
BreederWilliam Blenkiron
OwnerCharles Snewing
TrainerRobert Smith
Record9:2–2–1
Earnings£7,545[1]
Major wins
Somersetshire Stakes (1862)
Epsom Derby (1862)

Caractacus (1859–1878) was a Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1862 Epsom Derby. The 1862 Derby was memorable due to the large field (34 horses), the winner being ridden by a 16-year-old stable boy and Caractacus' near disqualification for an underweight jockey and a false start. Caractacus was considered a poor choice to win the Derby, which was ultimately his last racing engagement before injury forced his retirement from racing. Caractacus was a breeding stallion in Britain from 1862 until 1873, when he was exported to Russia where he died in 1878. He is not considered to be a successful sire.

  1. ^ Castor (July 1862). "Caractacus, winner of the Derby, 1862". New Sporting Magazine. 259: 23–25.