The Brigadier [2] Trivia Quiz

Answer: 9st 5lb

Brigadier Gerard was headed only by My Swallow, at 9st 7lb, and Mill Reef, at 9st 6lb.

Answer: Three

The Brigadier ran his small opposition ragged and came in ahead of Gold Rod with Ashleigh a further four lengths back.

Answer: Eleven

The Berkshire Stakes (5), Washington Singer Stakes (5), Middle Park Stakes (5), St.James's Palace Stakes (4), Sussex Stakes (5), Goodwood Mile (3), Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (3) the first time and (4) the second, Lockinge Stakes (5), Westbury Stakes (5) and the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup (5).

Answer: Heavy

The course was almost a bog as it rained all day. But he won a length from Gold Rod with Home Guard another 2 lengths away.

Answer: 1972 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes

The Brigadier missed the start by some three lengths after lazing his behind on the rear of the starting stalls. Despite this, he went to the lead in the final furlong and sizzled home in the course record time of 1m 39.96s.

Answer: 1972 Benson & Hedges Gold Cup

John Hislop always insisted that it was his own misjudgement that led to The Brigadier's only race defeat in having raced him too soon after the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. The race was taken by the American-bred, Roberto, a horse that did not impress many with a constantly dry look in his coat and less muscle than most.

He had won a hard Derby and failed in the Irish Sweeps Derby, an easier race. The three lengths he won by were partly due to Joe Mercer deciding not to push The Brigadier on when a win was obviously gone and probably makes Roberto appear to be more superior than he actually was.

He was, however, a relatively good sire.

Answer: 1972 Champion Stakes

He won the race easily by a length and a half from the American-bred Riverman and four lengths further afield was Lord David.

Answer: Egerton Stud

The Brigadier returned to the stud where he was foaled to stand stud duties but he was not a success and ended his stud career at the Hislop home at East Woodhay Stud. Highclere was where Queen's Hussar stood and was owned by Lord Carnarvon. Eyrefield was where Pretty Polly was raised and Cheveley was another well-known English Stud but which, I believe, has been sold and renamed in the 18 years since I visited.

Answer: 1968

Brigadier Gerard came to be as the result of years of planning by his owners who wanted a horse who's pedigree would incorporate the champion mare, Pretty Polly, in its ancestry. If it was a champion, so much the better. In Brigadier Gerard, they succeeded beyond their wildest dreams when he was foaled in the early morning of March 5th.

Answer: 1989

As he was not a successful sire, it was almost as if he'd been forgotten by the racing world and that they could only spare a small piece actually mentioning that he had died. A sad passing for such a great champion. But there will always be those who loved him who won't ever forget.