The Luck O' the Irish, and a Hungarian Mare · 9:34pm Mar 17th, 2021
March 17, St. Patrick's Day, the anniversary of when I joined this MLP community, eight years ago, and, as I've recently found out, the birth date of a very very unique individual in the Thoroughbred world.
In the 'Sport of Kings' there have been many 'Queens', a term used to denote champion fillies and mares of immense renown, counting among their ranks such recent names as Zenyatta (aka 'Queen Z', 'The Queen of the Dirt'), who won 20 of 21 starts, including becoming the first filly or mare to 'beat the boys' to win the Breeders Cup Classic, Winx (The Southern Queen, The Royal Lady of Randwick, and Regis of Rose Hill) who's recent career highlights included a record 33 straight wins and three successful defenses of the Cox Plate (a record four wins total), and Black Caviar (The Queen of Australia) who racked up 25 consecutive wins in an undefeated career that ranged from Australia to Royal Ascot.
However, there is only One, very special Mare, who can lay claim to the unofficial title of the "Empress" of Horse Racing
Kincsem, aka "The Austro-Hungarian Empress", aka "Kincsem the Unconquerable"
Portrait by Emil Adam die Stute (via Wikipedia)
Kincsem was born, in the year 1874 (147 years ago), in the South-eastern part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, on St. Patrick's Day, in the little town of Kisbér, Hungary, home of the Imperial-Royal Stud farm. Her name means "My Precious" or "My Treasure" in Hungarian, and she, in her own way, was very much both to her connections and admirers.
A Heroic Champion, of noble lineage, and a Water Nymph. It really would sound like the beginnings of an ancient Grecian myth or some such tale. Perhaps, in a story, mighty Pegasus himself could be her sire, and her dam a descendant of the Mares of Diomedes, passed down through the herds of Attila the Hun, who's legacy gives name to her homeland.
Reality is not far off. Her sire was English champion Cambuscan, and Kincsem is a direct sire-line descendant of the legendary Unbeatable English Champion, Eclipse through him. Her dam was, coincidentally, a mare named 'Water Nymph', which, as I hinted, seems almost fitting for the nearly mythological proportions that Kincsem's career achievements would eventually reach.
The unmarked Liver Chestnut (Dark Red) mare would eventually grow to an adult size of 16.1hh, nearly the same size as her ancestor Eclipse, and by comparison perhaps an inch shorter than such notable male champions as Secrtariat, and Man O' War. (16.2hh each)
Kincsem raced for four years, between the ages of two and five, beginning in 1876 and continuing through 1879, and like the Hunnic forebearers of her homeland she set out to conquer Europe. The major difference, was that the Hun Army under Attila 1500 years earlier, ultimately failed. Kincsem, however, became 'The Unconquerable'.
Winx, as a comparison, raced for six years, from ages 2 to 7 between 2013 and 2019, starting 43 races and winning 37 times at distances between 1000 and 2400 meters (5-12 furlongs, or 5/8 to 1-1/2 miles) facing opponents of both genders, colts and fillies, and all in Australia.
Kincsem similarly challenged opponents, both male and female, yet her range of distances ran from bullet like sprints of 4-3/4 furlongs (940m, or c.5/8 of a mile) to endurance matches of 20 furlongs! (over 4000m, or 2.5 miles) and unlike her modern compatriot, the 'Precious Treasure' of a a filly emerged victorious ... every ... single ... time. Amassing a career purse of nearly 200,000 gold florins ($3.1 million US, adjusted).
Just how many times, you ask?
Fifty-four in fact. Fifty-four wins from Fifty-four races in a four year career, on race courses from Hungary to Baden-Baden, to West-Sussex England and Normandy France. A lone Hungarian Horse, conquered Europe on the race course, where an army had failed over a millennium before.
In terms of an Undefeated Horse, Kincsem boasts more than double the victories of her nearest record noted rival, 'The Queen of Australia', Black Caviar who's career mark of 25 victories for 25 starts is amazing in and of itself. But it is the defining reason why one is a 'Queen' and Kincsem is 'The Austro-Hungarian Empress'.
So, thank you reader, and may the Luck of St. Patrick's Day shine on you.
Sir Barton (One Old Racehorse)
If someone out there is looking for inspiration for pony OC's, they may just need to look at a few of these history posts you make.
5477660
Much thanks for the complement.
If it wasn't for your posts, I wouldn't be disappointed that I couldn't go to del mar because it was closed to spectators when I moved to San Diego...
It's outside for crying out loud cmon.