Brigadier Gerard (1968-1989) was a hot blooded, purebred horse who was known for his speed, agility, and spirit.
Birth
The English purebred was foaled in 1968 and owned by John Hislop. He was descended from the finest blood as the kin of the Queen’s Hussar, who is known for his impressive wins in Lockinge and Sussex Stakes, and La Paiva a non-winning race mare. Brigadier was well mounted, had an excellent spirit and stood at 16 hands and 2 inches high.
Career
In 1970, when he was just two years old, he won his breakthrough rac at e Middle Park. At three years, he went unbeaten by defeating his main competitor Mill Reef in an amazing race for 200 Guineas. Brigadier Gerard further won the Sussex Stakes, St James Palace Stakes, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and the Goodwood Mile. He later moved up in the category to grab the famed Champion Stakes in a good ten furlongs.
When Gerard was four, he attained his best wins when he decisively took the Lockinge Stakes, the Eclipse competition , Prince of Wales stakes and moved up in the distance to over 1 half miles to win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and King George VI Stakes. Gerard retired after his fourth season. By retirement, he had managed to win 17 races after 18 starts with an approximated total earning of £253,024.70. In his career, he had managed to win more competitions than any other classic of the 20th century era apart from Pretty Polly and Bayard.
Legacy
In 1971, Brigadier Gerard received a Timeform rating of 141, making him the highest rated runner that year alongside his main competitor Mill Reef. He again topped the ratings in 1972 with a score of 144, the second highest figure of the time. He got the Brigadier Gerard race at Sandown named in appreciation of his exploits . In polls conducted by Racegoer’s club in 1972, Brigadier took he entire vote count, which made him the first racehorse to get unanimously voted in for the honour of the year.
