Springfield (GB)
1873 – March 31, 1898
St. Albans (GB) x Viridis (GB), by Marsyas (GB)
Family 12-b
1873 – March 31, 1898
St. Albans (GB) x Viridis (GB), by Marsyas (GB)
Family 12-b
Considered the fastest English horse of his time, Springfield lost twice as a 2-year-old but was unbeaten and unextended at ages 3 and 4 while racing at distances from 5 furlongs to a little over 10 furlongs. Although he sired the 1890 Derby Stakes winner Sainfoin, he was best known as a reliable source of speed. Watercress was probably his best son at stud, but Springfield's male line owed its long-term survival to Sainfoin's one high-class son, 1903 English Triple Crown winner Rock Sand.
Race record
19 starts, 17 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, £8,920
1875:
1876:
1877:
As an individual
A handsome bay horse, Springfield had a long, powerful hip. His best-known photograph shows him as having a markedly dipped back. He fractured his pelvis shortly after his sale to Houldsworth but apparently recovered without incident.
As a stallion
Springfield was a successful sire and was noted as a source of speed.
Notable progeny
Briar-Root (GB), Morganette (GB), Neapolis (GB), Pastorella (GB), Sainfoin (GB), Sierra (GB), Watercress (GB)
Connections
Springfield was bred by Queen Victoria at her Hampton Court Stud. He was owned by J. H. Houldsworth, who purchased Springfield for 320 guineas from the 1874 Hampton Court yearling sale. He was trained by James Ryan. He entered stud in 1878 at Hampton Court.
Pedigree notes
Springfield is inbred 5x4 to six-time English leading sire Sultan. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1838 English leading sire Camel and the important English matron Banter through the full sister and brother Pasquinade and Touchstone (winner of the 1834 St, Leger Stakes and a four-time leading sire in England), and has an additional cross of Camel at the fifth remove. His dam Viridis is a full sister to 1865 Ebor Handicap winner Verdant and to Cybele, second dam of the good English and French stakes winner Best Man (by Melton). Viridis is also a half sister to Eltham Lass (by Kingston), dam of 1870 Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner Kingfisher (by Lexington) and second dam of 1887 Suburban Handicap winner Eurus. Viridis and her sisters were produced from Maid of Palmyra, by Pyrrhus the First.
Books and media
Springfield is one of 50 stallions profiled in Joe Palmer's Names in Pedigrees (1939, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; reprinted in 1974).
Fun facts
Race record
19 starts, 17 wins, 2 seconds, 0 thirds, £8,920
1875:
- Won Prince of Wales's Plate (ENG, about 5.25FT, York)
- Won Gimcrack Stakes (ENG, 6FT, York)
- Won October 2YO Stakes (ENG, 4FT, Newmarket)
- 2nd Criterion Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
- 2nd Dewhurst Stakes (ENG, 7FT, Newmarket)
1876:
- Won Free Handicap (ENG, about 10.25 FT, Newmarket)
- Won Fern Hill Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Ascot)
- Won New Biennial Stakes (ENG, about 5.5FT, Ascot)
- Won Stockbridge Cup (ENG, 6FT, Stockbridge)
- Won July Cup (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- Won Bagnor Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Goodwood)
- Won Bradgate Stakes (ENG, about 5.5FT, Doncaster)
- Won Eglinton Stakes (ENG, Doncaster; by walkover)
- Won Select Stakes (ENG, about 8FT, Newmarket; by walkover)
1877:
- Won Champion Stakes (ENG, about 10.25FT, Newmarket)
- Won July Cup (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- Won All-Aged Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- Won Queen's Stand Plate (ENG, about 5.5FT, Ascot)
- Won New Biennial Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Ascot)
As an individual
A handsome bay horse, Springfield had a long, powerful hip. His best-known photograph shows him as having a markedly dipped back. He fractured his pelvis shortly after his sale to Houldsworth but apparently recovered without incident.
As a stallion
Springfield was a successful sire and was noted as a source of speed.
Notable progeny
Briar-Root (GB), Morganette (GB), Neapolis (GB), Pastorella (GB), Sainfoin (GB), Sierra (GB), Watercress (GB)
Connections
Springfield was bred by Queen Victoria at her Hampton Court Stud. He was owned by J. H. Houldsworth, who purchased Springfield for 320 guineas from the 1874 Hampton Court yearling sale. He was trained by James Ryan. He entered stud in 1878 at Hampton Court.
Pedigree notes
Springfield is inbred 5x4 to six-time English leading sire Sultan. He is also inbred 5x5 to 1838 English leading sire Camel and the important English matron Banter through the full sister and brother Pasquinade and Touchstone (winner of the 1834 St, Leger Stakes and a four-time leading sire in England), and has an additional cross of Camel at the fifth remove. His dam Viridis is a full sister to 1865 Ebor Handicap winner Verdant and to Cybele, second dam of the good English and French stakes winner Best Man (by Melton). Viridis is also a half sister to Eltham Lass (by Kingston), dam of 1870 Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner Kingfisher (by Lexington) and second dam of 1887 Suburban Handicap winner Eurus. Viridis and her sisters were produced from Maid of Palmyra, by Pyrrhus the First.
Books and media
Springfield is one of 50 stallions profiled in Joe Palmer's Names in Pedigrees (1939, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; reprinted in 1974).
Fun facts
- Springfield made his first start at odds of 4 to 1, the longest he would ever be seen at.
- Although Springfield proved a very sound horse himself, he had difficulty attracting stud patronage at first because of the unsoundness associated with his sire St. Albans.