Birdcatcher (1833–1860), or Irish Birdcatcher, was a Thoroughbred racehorse and a leading sire.
Breeding Foaled in 1833 at the Brownstown Stud, in Ireland, Birdcatcher was by the Irish Thoroughbred stallion Sir Hercules, who lost only once, in the St Leger Stakes in 1829. Birdcatcher's dam, Guiccioli, who had a successful career as a racehorse, foaled the chestnut colt when she was 10. She was also the granddam of another well-known racehorse, Selim, and dam to a full-brother of Birdcatcher, Faugh-a-Ballagh, who in winning the St Leger in 1844 became the first Irish-bred horse to win an English classic.
Description Birdcatcher was said to have been small, only 15.3 hh, but he had an expressive head, a well-arched neck, and nicely sloping shoulder. His back was short and compact, his loin was deep, and his hindquarters were strong and muscular. His forearms and thighs were large and strong, and attached to fine, light legs. He had an elastic stride that no doubt helped him to win as many races as he did.
Birdcatcher had a large star and narrow blaze, white halfway up to the hock on the left hind. He also had ticking, or white hairs scattered throughout his flanks and at the base of the tail. He passed this trait onto many offspring, including Daniel O'Rourke, so often that the marking came to be called to Birdcatcher ticks. This marking differs from the small white spots known as Birdcatcher spots, and from the dark spots called Bend-Or spots.
Racing career William Disney bought the colt, and raced him once as a 2-year-old before beginning seriously as a three-year-old. The young Thoroughbred raced only at Curragh throughout his career. He broke his maiden at the Madrid Stakes, and then won the Milltown Stakes and fourteen-furlong Peel Stakes, and came second in the ten-furlong Wellington Stakes. His four-year-old career was also quite impressive, with a win in the Kildare and Wellington Stakes (where he walked over the finish line). He finished second after Harkaway in the Northumberland Handicap. In his final race, the Doris Stakes, Birdcatcher was unplaced.
The chestnut colt ended his career with 15 starts and 7 wins, before the horse went on to have a successful breeding career.
Race record Two-year-old
Paget Stakes at the Curragh, unplaced
Three-year-old ~raced exclusively at the Curragh Madrid Stakes: won, beating Maria (b.f. by Sir Hercules), Langford (br.c. by Sir Hercules), Quicksilver (b.c. by Memnon), and five other entries Miltown Stakes: won, beating Cushneiche (ch.c. by Roller) Wellington Stakes: came 2nd, after Maria, beating Whim (gr.f. by Drone), and eight others Challenge Stakes: 2nd, after Whim, beating Maria November Mulgrave Handicap: 3rd, after winner Water Witch (bl.f. by Sir Hercules) and Blackfoot (b.c. by Young Blacklock), beating Fusileer (ch.c. by The Colonel), Whim, and three other entries October Mulgrave Handicap: unplaced, won by Langford followed by Whim
Four-year-old ~raced exclusively at the Curragh Kildare Stakes: won, beating Thump (b.c. Humphrey Clinker), Aigirio (gr.c. Roller), Quicksilver, and two others King's Plate: Croughpatrick (br.c. Blacklock) and five others Wellington Stakes: won (walked over) April Challenge Stakes: 2nd, after Blackfoot, beat four others King's Plate: 2nd to Freney King's Plate: 3rd, after winner Harkaway, and Gipsy (bl.f. Sir Hercules) September Challenge Stakes: 3rd, after winner Mercury (gr.c. Drone), and Austerlitz (br.c. Napoleon) Wellington Stakes: unplaced, won by Harkaway Doris Stakes: unplaced, won by Maria
Stud record The stallion retired to stud at his place of foaling, Brownstown, beginning his breeding career as a five-year-old in 1838. Birdcatcher's first crop of foals did well, and he was moved to Barrow's Paddock in Newmarket for 1846 and 1847, before he was leased for 1848 and 1849 to Easby Abbey in Yorkshire. The stallion then returned home to Brownstown for 1850, and was sent back to England for the 1852 season, and returned home to Ireland for the 1859 season.
Birdcatcher's English offspring did well, and earned him the Champion Sire title for 1852 and 1856. He was among the top sires 15 times during his breeding career. Birdcatcher was the first Irish-bred stallion to sire winners of English classic races, including seven offspring accounting for three St. Leger wins, two One Thousand Guineas wins, and a win at the Derby and the Oaks. Birdcatcher also founded two male lines, one with Oxford, and another with The Baron, from whom most Thoroughbreds descend today.
Birdcatcher sired: +FoaledNameSexMajor Wins/Achievements1841Mickey FreeStallion1842The BaronStallionSt Leger Stakes. Very successful sire. 1843ChanticleerStallionDoncaster Cup1843FoninnuallaMareDam of Mincepie (won the Epsom Oaks)1848MarquisStallion1849Bird on the WingMare2nd in the Epsom Oaks1849Daniel O'RourkeStallionEpsom Derby (1852)1849Mrs RidgwayMare1849PartletMareDam of Jeune Premier (Prix de Diane)1849SongstressMareEpsom Oaks (1852)1850England's BeautyMareDam of Kingston (a good sire in Australia)1850Miss AgnesMare1851Knight of St. GeorgeStallionSt Leger Stakes (1854)1852HabenaMare1000 Guineas Stakes (1855)1853ManganeseMare1000 Guineas Stakes (1856)1853WarlockStallionSt Leger Stakes (1856)1854AyacanoraMareDam of Talk O' The Hill (a good sire in Australia)1854SauntererStallionGoodwood Cup1856Red EagleStallion1857Lady TrespassMarePark Hill Stakes1857OxfordStallion
The death of Birdcatcher Despite his success as a sire Birdcatcher met with an undeserved execution after he was unable to cover a mare.
His death was accounted by Patrick Connolly. "Among the mares sent to the son of Sir Hercules that year was Mr. Michael Dunne's Queen Bee. She was a mare of good size, and when Birdcatcher attempted to serve her, he failed to do so. Mr. Disney, who owned the stallion, thereupon decided that he should no longer survive. At once a messenger was dispatched to the local police station with orders to bring back with him a constable with a loaded gun, as a horse was required to be destroyed. The police officer – his name was Preston – reported himself to Mr. Disney, who gave the necessary directions for the destruction of Birdcatcher. The horse was placed on the brink of a sandpit situated on the flat opposite Conyngham Lodge, Curragh; without any ceremony he was shot and his carcass tumbled into the pit. Thus ended the career of a good racehorse and a mighty sultan at the age of twenty-seven years. His head was afterwards presented to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Dublin."
Sire line tree
BirdcatcherSire Line: Pot-8-OsJumpers: Darley Arabian Sire LineDarley Arabian Sire Line: Whalebone Branch Darley Arabian Sire Line: BirdcatcherSire Line: Birdcatcher Jumpers: Darley Arabian Sire Line, Birdcatcher BranchPortrait: BirdcatcherBiography: Birdcatcher Ballinkeele Mickey FreeStudbook: Early M FenianAmerican Classic Pedigree: Fenian Milesian King Fisher The BaronPortrait: The BaronBiography: The Baron Chief Baron Nicholson StockwellDarley Arabian Sire Line: Stockwell BranchSire Line: StockwellPortrait: StockwellBiography: Stockwell St AlbansPortrait: St Albans Julius SpringfieldPortrait: SpringfieldAmerican Classic Pedigree: Springfield ThunderboltPortrait: ThunderboltStudbook: Early T Vulcan Thunder Jupiter Tonans Krakatoa Asteroid Ace Of Clubs Wollomai Citadel GlenelgPortrait: GlenelgAmerican Classic Pedigree: Glenelg The MarquisPortrait: The Marquis Newminster Grimston Adonis Bauernfanger Blair AtholPortrait: Blair AtholStudbook: Early B Ethus Jock Of Oran Prince CharliePortrait: Prince Charlie Andred St Albans Stonehenge Ecossais Claremont Craig MillarPortrait: Craig Millar Clanronald Glendale Covenanter Rob Roy SilvioPortrait: Silvio The Rover Baliol Bothwell Breadalbane The Ill-UsedAmerican Classic Pedgiree: The Ill-Used Blairgowrie Broomielaw Trent Caterer Knowsley Lord Ronald Master Kildare The DukePortrait: The Duke Bertram Lord LyonPortrait: Lord Lyon Cour de Lion Poursuivant Speedwell Touchet Subduer Zadig MintingPortrait: Minting Monarch Of The Glen Porridge SavernakePortrait: Savernake HochstaplerPortrait: Hochstapler Wagehals Paul Alpenstock Donnerkeil Waidmannsheil Wildschutz Brocken Harzburg C-Dur Rauberhauptmann Radelsfuhrer Bandit NickelPortrait: Nickel Raubgraf Wickinger Reichskanzler Historian Uncas Ingomar Wild Cherry RedpathImage: Redpath Too Good Warspite Rustic Countryman The Assyrian Belladrum Doncaster Darley Arabian Sire Line: Doncaster BranchPortrait: DoncasterBiography: Doncaster Bend OrPortrait: Bend OrThe Mystery of Bend Or Muncaster Cambusmore Rossington Sir Reuben Gang Forward Guesswork Remus Chetwynd RataplanPortrait: RataplanBiography & sire line: Rataplan Knutsford KettledrumOld Burnley: What happened to Kettledrum the racehorse after famous Epsom win? Cymbal Trombone Rapparee The Miner Controversy Elland Pageant Blinkhoolie Wisdom The Gift The Drummer Dalnacardoch Drummond Ben Battle Bendigo Man Of War Spahi Clarion Ambush Austerlitz Remunerateur Isolier Fort-a-Bras Tonnerre des IndesHorse Catalogue: Tonnerere des Indes Zouave Glaieul Tiralleur Avant Garde Enfant de Troupe Costa Baronella Bryan O'Linn Caurouch ChanticleerPortrait: ChanticleerBiography: Chanticleer Vengeance Cock Robin Marquis Blood Royal Rory O'More Augur Daniel O'RourkePortrait: Daniel O'RourkeBiography: Daniel O'Rourke Sledmere Daniel O'Rourke Dalby Ladykirk Haricot Womersley Amati Black Tommy Condrington General Willams Holderness St GilesPortrait: St Giles Giles The First Prince Giles Aaron Kiralyne Dictator Gomba San Genarro Wild Huntsman Marignon Le Petit Caporal Saint James Provacateur Lord Fauconberg Royal Oak Day Rama Bandy Gamekeeper Grey Plover Sir Robert Peel Golden Plover Knight Of St GeorgePortrait: Knight Of St GeorgeBiography: Knight Of St George Dan O'Connell The Liberator Knight Of St Patrick Moslem Melbourne Jr Bazil Incommode Malvern Knighthood Papageno Master George WarlockBiography: Warlock Vaucresson War Tynedale Border Minstrel Floreal Riversdale SauntererBiography: Saunterer Digby Grand Tartar Saunterer Regal Red Eagle OxfordPortrait: OxfordStudbook: Early NO The Student Oxonian Blenheim SterlingSire Line: SterlingPortrait: SterlingStudbook: Early S IsonomyPortrait: Isonomy Isobar Bonnet Rouge Eiridspord GallinulePortrait: Gallinule Isosceles Ruler Clan Chattan FortunioPortrait: Fortunio Galaor Ingram Queen's Counsel SatietyPortrait: Satiety Janissary CommonPortrait: CommonBiography: Common Hermence Islington Le Noir Pilgrim's Progress Bunbury Fatherless Grand Duke IsinglassPortrait: IsinglassBiography: Isinglass Prisoner RavensburyPortrait: Ravensbury Bennitthorpe Contract Ivor Son O'Mine Le Var Sterlingworth Beaudesert StilettoAmerican Classic Pedigree: Stiletto El Amigo Fulminante De Beavoir Finance Discount Fernandez Miguel Gonsalvo Ferdinand Foston Wavelet's Pride Geologist Ellison Caliche Shancrotha Play Actor David Trot EnergyPortrait: Energy GouverneurPortrait: Gouverneur Reverend Energique Le Chesnay Rueil Falmouth Marly Keir The Golden Farmer HarvesterPortrait: Harvester Harvest Feast Thorax Lulu Kevely Esterling Lord Esterling Koran Metal Blue Metal Parsee ParadoxPortrait: Paradox Unicorne Red Ensign Alconbury Atheling Royal Emperor Armeath Dublin Short Hose Bryn Mawr Alfar Doubloon Mortgage Harvest Money Silver Harmonist Vasquito Stalwart Cherry Ripe DroghedaImage: Drogheda Red Heart Royal Cherry Eulogy Cerasus Lord Rossmore President Roosevelt Enterprise Top Gallant TyphoonAmerican Classic Pedigree: Typhoon II Sydney Lucas Japan Migraine The Minks Loyalist The Judge Lissak Enthusiast Eager Succoth Lord Edward Energetic Glenapp Bealderg Meldhre Lochryan Roseate Dawn Arranmore Gold King Gold Aureus Purser Endurance Paderewski Encounter Kingsley Wilberforce Nuneham Playfair Chandos Standard Hambledon
Pedigree
Birdcatcher is inbred 4D x 4D to the stallion Bagot, meaning that he appears fourth generation twice on the dam side of his pedigree.