Commotion (horse)

Commotion (1938 – 1960) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who raced during World War II and was best known for winning the classic Oaks Stakes in 1941. After racing over sprint distances, she was stepped up in distance the substitute "New Oaks" over one and a half miles at Newmarket Racecourse. On her next appearance she won the Falmouth Stakes and was then retired from racing. She later became a very successful broodmare.

Commotion
SireMieuxce
GrandsireMassine
DamRiot
DamsireColorado
SexMare
Foaled1938
CountryUnited Kingdom
ColourBay
BreederJohn Arthur Dewar
OwnerJohn Arthur Dewar
TrainerFred Darling
Record2 wins
Major wins
New Oaks (1941)
Falmouth Stakes (1941)

Background

Commotion was a bay filly bred in England by John Arthur Dewar who had inherited his Thoroughbred racehorses from his uncle the Scottish whisky distiller Thomas Dewar, 1st Baron Dewar. She was from the first crop of foals sired by the French stallion Mieuxce, who won the Prix du Jockey Club and the Grand Prix de Paris before his racing career was ended by injury.[1] Commotion's dam Riot was a half-sister to both Sansonnet (who produced Tudor Minstrel) and Fair Trial as well as being a high-class racehorse in her own right, winning the July Stakes in 1931.[2] Commotion was sent into training with Fred Darling [3] at Beckhampton, Wiltshire.

Commotion's racing career took place during World War II during which horse racing in Britain was subject to many restrictions. Several major racecourses, including Epsom and Doncaster, were closed for the duration of the conflict, either for safety reasons, or because they were being used by the military. Many important races were rescheduled to new dates and venues, often at short notice, and all five of the Classics were usually run at Newmarket.[4] Wartime austerity also meant that prize money was reduced: Commotion's Oaks was worth £1,939 compared to the £8,043 earned by Galatea in 1939.[5]

Racing career

With Epsom Racecourse unavailable in 1941, a substitute "New Oaks" was run over one and a half miles on the July course at Newmarket Racecourse on 19 June. Commotion was well-backed for the race despite never previously having raced beyond six furlongs.[6] Ridden by Harry Wragg, she started at odds of 8/1[7] with the 1000 Guineas winner Dancing Time starting odds-on favourite. Wragg, who was a specialist at waiting tactics, restrained the filly in the early stages before producing her with a strong late run.[8] She "threaded her way through the field"[9] to take the lead in the final furlong and won by two lengths from Turkana, with Dancing Time three-quarters of a length away in third. Following the Derby victory of Owen Tudor, owned by a member of the Buchanan family, Commotion's success completed what was dubbed a "whisky double".[10]

At Newmarket in July Commotion started 6/5 favourite for the Falmouth Stakes which was run as part of a substitute Royal Ascot meeting. She won narrowly from 1000 Guineas runner-up Beausite with Turkana third.[6][4]

Assessment

At the end of 1941, Commotion was rated the best three-year-old filly in Britain, three pounds ahead of Dancing Time.[11]

In their book A Century of Champions, based on a modified version of the Timeform system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Commotion an "average" winner of the Oaks.[5]

Breeding record

Commotion produced eight winners between 1943 and 1958 including three top-class performers before her death in 1960:[12]

Pedigree
Pedigree of Commotion (GB), bay mare, 1938[14]
Sire
Mieuxce (FR)
1933		 Massine (FR)
1920		 Consols Doricles
Console
Mauri Ajax
La Camargo
L'Olivete (FR)
1925		 Opott Maximum
Oussouri
Jonicole Saint Just
Sainte Etoile
Dam
Riot (GB)
1929		 Colorado (GB)
1923		 Phalaris Polymelus
Bromus
Canyon Chaucer
Glasalt
Lady Juror (GB)
1919		 Son-in-Law Dark Ronald
Mother in Law
Lady Josephine Sundridge
Americus Girl (Family 9-c)[2]
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References
  1. "27 Sep 1941 - New Oaks Winner". Trove.nla.gov.au. 1941-09-27. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  2. "Crab Mare - Family 9-c". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2013-07-20.
  3. "Horseracing History Online - Person Profile : Frederick Darling". Horseracinghistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-11-15.
  4. Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1999). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
  5. Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN 1-901570-15-0.
  6. Saville, John (2009). Insane and Unseemly: British Racing in World War II. Matador. ISBN 978-1848760-349.
  7. Abelson, Edward; Tyrrel, John (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books Publishing. ISBN 978-1-873626-15-3.
  8. "ENGLISH SPORTING LETTER. WAR-TIME RACING". Townsville Daily Bulletin. 6 August 1941.
  9. "Papers Past — Auckland Star — 19 July 1941 — THIRD WOMAN TO WIN THE DERBY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1941-07-19. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  10. "Papers Past — New Zealand Herald — 8 July 1941 — ELLERSLIE HORSES". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 1941-07-08. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  11. "24 Apr 1942 - Principal Winners of Classics and Handicaps in E". Trove.nla.gov.au. 1942-04-24. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  12. The Jockey Club (1961). American Stud Book (34 ed.). New York. p. 148.
  13. "Leading Sires of Argentina". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  14. "Commotion pedigree". equineline.com. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-09-01.
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