Horse

1797

Champion (1797 – after 1809) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Champion was a bay horse bred by his owner Christopher Wilson at Oxton Hall near Tadcaster, North Yorkshire. Champion's sire, Pot-8-0s, a highly successful racehorse who became an important and influential sire. Champion's dam, Huncamunca was the direct female ancestor of the Derby winner Mameluke. Champion's career that lasted from May 1800 to May 1802, he ran nine times and won five races. In the summer of 1800 he won The Derby on his racecourse debut. Later that year he became the first Derby winner to win the St Leger, a feat which was not equalled until 1848. He was ridden by Frank Buckle in the St Leger. He was retired from racing after being injured on his only start as a five-year-old in 1802. He was retired to stub and sold to Colonel Lumm who took the horse to Ireland. He had limited success as a sire of racehorses but did sire two good broodmares.