Margrave (USA)
1893 – After Spring 1905
St. Blaise (GB) x Lady Margaret (USA), by The Ill-Used (GB)
Family 4-r
1893 – After Spring 1905
St. Blaise (GB) x Lady Margaret (USA), by The Ill-Used (GB)
Family 4-r
Although the classic Preakness Stakes was inaugurated at Maryland’s Pimlico Race Course, where it is contested today, it was a much less prestigious race in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and for a while was contested on the New York circuit, a circumstance that led to the Preakness editions of 1890-1908 being known as the “lost Preaknesses.” Margrave was one of the winners during those “lost” years. He won several other stakes events of some importance as a 3-year-old and was considered a top sprinter-miler but faded into obscurity after that.
Race record
Complete record unavailable
1895:
1896:
As an individual
A big, long-striding chestnut horse, Margrave was said to have been unusually light and quick on his feet and was a fast horse at the break. He was also said to be a good-natured horse. He came out of the 1896 Tidal Stakes lame and was out for the remainder of his 3-year-old season; an attempted comeback at 4 was not successful.
As a stallion
According to Clio Hogan’s Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967, Margrave sired only one stakes winner, the colt Margraviate.
Connections
Margrave was bred and owned by August Belmont II, who bred the horse at his Nursery Stud and raced him in the name of Blemton Stable (co-owned by a silent partner). Margrave was trained by Byron McClelland and was ridden to his Preakness score by Henry Griffin. His last foals appear to have been registered in 1906.
Pedigree notes
Margrave is inbred 4x5 to three-time English champion sire Orlando, winner of the 1844 Derby Stakes. He is a half brother to 1902 Belmont Stakes winner Masterman (by Hastings), to multiple juvenile stakes winner Magistrate (by Hastings), and to Masthead (by Hastings), dam of the high-class sprinter Old Koenig (by Golden Maxiim) and stakes winner Mainmast (by Superman). Margrave is also a half brother to Lady Madge (by Rayon d’Or), dam of juvenile stakes winner Madman (by Hastings), second dam of 1921 American co-champion handicap male Mad Hatter and 1924 Belmont Stakes winner Mad Play, and third dam of three-time American champion handicap horse Sun Beau.
Margrave is out of multiple juvenile stakes winner Lady Margaret (by The Ill-Used). Lady Margaret is a full sister to 1892 American champion 2-year-old filly Lady Violet, dam of 1911 Preakness winner Watervale (by Watercress), 1904 Saratoga Handicap winner Lord of the Vale (by Hastings), and multiple stakes winner Lady of the Valley (by St. Saviour); second dam of the good French stakes winner and useful sire Vulcain; and third dam of Aqueduct Handicap and Manhattan Handicap winner Action. Lady Margaret is also a full sister to Lady Primrose, second dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Fort Hunter and 1904 Queens County Handicap winner Rosetint.
Lady Rosebery (Kingfisher x Lady Blessington, by Eclipse), the dam of Lady Margaret and her siblings, won the 1880 Champagne Stakes. She is a full sister to 1884 Ladies’ Handicap and Monmouth Oaks winner Duchess, dam of two-time American champion Clifford (by Bramble) and juvenile stakes winner Archduke (by Luke Blackburn). She is also a half sister to stakes winner The Countess (by Kentucky), second dam of multiple stakes winner Patrician.
Fun facts
Last updated: July 2, 2024
Race record
Complete record unavailable
1895:
- 2nd Holly Handicap (USA, 5FD, Gravesend)
- 2nd Great Eastern Handicap (USA, 5FD, Sheepshead Bay)
1896:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Gravesend)
- Won Tidal Stakes (USA, 8FD, Morris Park; declared to win over stablemate Hastings)
- Won Boulevard Stakes (USA, 8FD, Gravesend)
- Won Hempstead Handicap (USA, 6FD, Gravesend)
As an individual
A big, long-striding chestnut horse, Margrave was said to have been unusually light and quick on his feet and was a fast horse at the break. He was also said to be a good-natured horse. He came out of the 1896 Tidal Stakes lame and was out for the remainder of his 3-year-old season; an attempted comeback at 4 was not successful.
As a stallion
According to Clio Hogan’s Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967, Margrave sired only one stakes winner, the colt Margraviate.
Connections
Margrave was bred and owned by August Belmont II, who bred the horse at his Nursery Stud and raced him in the name of Blemton Stable (co-owned by a silent partner). Margrave was trained by Byron McClelland and was ridden to his Preakness score by Henry Griffin. His last foals appear to have been registered in 1906.
Pedigree notes
Margrave is inbred 4x5 to three-time English champion sire Orlando, winner of the 1844 Derby Stakes. He is a half brother to 1902 Belmont Stakes winner Masterman (by Hastings), to multiple juvenile stakes winner Magistrate (by Hastings), and to Masthead (by Hastings), dam of the high-class sprinter Old Koenig (by Golden Maxiim) and stakes winner Mainmast (by Superman). Margrave is also a half brother to Lady Madge (by Rayon d’Or), dam of juvenile stakes winner Madman (by Hastings), second dam of 1921 American co-champion handicap male Mad Hatter and 1924 Belmont Stakes winner Mad Play, and third dam of three-time American champion handicap horse Sun Beau.
Margrave is out of multiple juvenile stakes winner Lady Margaret (by The Ill-Used). Lady Margaret is a full sister to 1892 American champion 2-year-old filly Lady Violet, dam of 1911 Preakness winner Watervale (by Watercress), 1904 Saratoga Handicap winner Lord of the Vale (by Hastings), and multiple stakes winner Lady of the Valley (by St. Saviour); second dam of the good French stakes winner and useful sire Vulcain; and third dam of Aqueduct Handicap and Manhattan Handicap winner Action. Lady Margaret is also a full sister to Lady Primrose, second dam of multiple Canadian stakes winner Fort Hunter and 1904 Queens County Handicap winner Rosetint.
Lady Rosebery (Kingfisher x Lady Blessington, by Eclipse), the dam of Lady Margaret and her siblings, won the 1880 Champagne Stakes. She is a full sister to 1884 Ladies’ Handicap and Monmouth Oaks winner Duchess, dam of two-time American champion Clifford (by Bramble) and juvenile stakes winner Archduke (by Luke Blackburn). She is also a half sister to stakes winner The Countess (by Kentucky), second dam of multiple stakes winner Patrician.
Fun facts
- A margrave (from the German Markgraf) was originally a military commander of a medieval border province or “march.” The title later evolved to indicate a noble of the Holy Roman Empire (usually from a family that had had charge of such a province) of higher rank than a count (Graf) but lower than a duke (Herzog) and equivalent to the Italian marquis or English marquess. The equivalent female rank is that of margravine or marquesa.
Last updated: July 2, 2024