King Fergus (1775–1801) was aBritishThoroughbredracehorse. He won several races, but achieved greater success as a sire. He wasBritish Champion sire in 1797 and his progeny includedSt Leger Stakes winnerHambletonian, who was only defeated once in his 19 race career.

King Fergus was achestnutcolt bred by Mr Carver and foaled in 1775.^[1] He was sired by the undefeatedEclipse. Eclipse was also one of the leading sires of the time, with his progeny also includingPot-8-Os,Saltram,Serjeant andYoung Eclipse.^[2] King Fergus was the ninth foal of Creeping Polly, a daughter of Othello.^[3] King Fergus grew to stand 16hands high and was "remarkably full of bone, great sinews, well shaped, and free from blemishes."^[4]

King Fergus only raced once as a three-year-old, finishing second to Miss Wickham atBath.^[3] At Bath on 27 September 1779 he started as the1/5 favourite to win a 500guineas sweepstakes and beat Cinderwench to win the four-mile race. In October he was due to raceSir John Lade's Bet Boucher over two miles, but Lade paid a forfeit.^[4]

In 1780, on the Monday ofNewmarket's second spring meeting, he beat Sir John Lade's Knight Errant. Two days later at Newmarket he raced against Dorimant andPot-8-Os in a 140 guineas race. King Fergus was leading as they passed the stands, but cast a shoe. Pot-8-Os won, with King Fergus in second place. In May 1780, atEpsom, he won a £50 race comprising three four-mile heats. He beat Epsom, Jugurtha, Don Joseph, Chance, Neptune, Holyhock and Foppington, with King Fergus starting as the favourite (priced at about 8/11). In October he beat theDuke of Cumberland's Pomona of three miles to win 200 guineas. Later in the month he beatLord Derby's Guildford (who had started as the 1/2 favourite) to win 200 guineas. Two days later he beat five rivals to win a subscription stakes of five guineas each.Lord Grosvenor's Truth had started as the 4/6 favourite, with King Fergus at 7/4.^[4]

King Fergus started the 1781 season at the first spring meeting at Newmarket, where he beat Whizgig, Prince Ferdinand, Young Tantrum, Little Isaac, Knight Errant and Tantini to win £50. Whizgig had started as the 6/4 favourite, with King Fergus at 2/1. At the same meeting he walked over for another £50. He later broke down and was retired from racing.^[4]

His final race came in 1784, when he was put back into training. He finished second to Chocolate in the Lord Lieutenant's Purse at theCurragh.^[4]

After retiring from racing in 1781 he was purchased by John Croke, to stand as a stallion inIreland. After standing a few seasons in Ireland he returned to England and 1786 he stood at Red Lion Livery-Stables nearPark Lane,Piccadilly,Piccadilly for a fee of 5gns and 5s. In 1787 he stood inCatterick inYorkshire, before moving toShipton. By 1790 his fee had risen to 10gns and 10s 6d. 1792 he moved from Shipton toMaidenhead and stood for a fee of 15gns and 10s 6d. He returned to Shipton in 1793, with his fee rising again to 20gns and 10s 6d. For the next few years of his stud career he moved about from year to year, standing atEgham, Shipton,Turnford andCambridge from 1794 to 1797. The last few years of his life were spent inBoroughshire and by 1800 he fee had dropped back to 10gns and 10s 6d.^[4]

He served very few mares in Ireland and his most notable son he produced there was Honest Tom, who won 24 races. In England King Fergus sired many top horses and wasBritish Champion sire in 1797. He died in 1801.^[3]

s =stallion, m =mare

King Fergus was the damsire toEpsom Oaks winner Scotia. His son Overton was the sire of St Leger and Doncaster Cup winner Cockfighter. Beningbrough produced St Leger and Doncaster Cup winnerOrville, Doncaster Cup winner Scud, Epsom Oaks and4yo Great Subscription Purse winnerOriana, Epsom Oaks winnerBriseis and another Doncaster Cup winner Trophonius.^[5] Hambletonian sired Doncaster Cup winner Camillus. It is through Hambletonian's son Whitelock that King Fergus' sire line continues. Whitelock was the sire ofBlacklock, who was the grandsire ofEpsom Derby winnerVoltigeur.^[6]

Note: b. =Bay, blk. =Black, br. =Brown, ch. =Chestnut, gr. =Grey

• 1775 racehorse births
• 1801 racehorse deaths
• British Champion Thoroughbred Sires
• Racehorses bred in the Kingdom of Great Britain
• Racehorses trained in the Kingdom of Great Britain
• Thoroughbred family 6

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata