Touchstone (horse)

He was a brown colt, foaled in 1831, by Camel, his dam was the good broodmare, Banter, by Master Henry. Touchstone was a full brother to the St. Leger Stakes winner, Launcelot (br c 1837). Touchstone was described as a "peculiar horse" (according to The Druid), with an unusual conformation including fleshy legs and a thickened front ankle. He was a frail foal with badly turned hocks that caused him to travel wide when moving. He measured 15 hands 2 inches and had strong hindquarters. Touchstone was unusual in having 19 dorsal vertebrae and a segment of a nineteenth rib on each side, which contributed to his long back. He was conditioned for racing by the preeminent trainer of the day, John Scott, although Scott did not lay eyes on Touchstone until mid-way through his Classic season. ==Racing career==

Early career Touchstone made his debut at Lichfield in the Produce Stakes, where he walked over. He then ran third to Queen Bess in the Champagne Stakes at the Holywell Hunt Meeting in October. Classic season Touchstone improved from his juvenile season to win five of his seven starts as a three-year-old. He debuted in the Dee Stakes at Chester in May, before following up in the Palatine Stakes the next day. In both races he beat Queen Bess, who had beaten him in the Champagne Stakes in 1833. Touchstone did not run in the Derby (won by Plenipotentiary), and was next seen in the Liverpool St Leger, where he finished second to General Chassé after making the running. As a five-year-old Touchstone was undefeated, and counted the Ascot Gold Cup, Doncaster Cup and Heaton Park Gold Cup among his wins. In the Ascot Gold Cup, he was ridden by John Day to beat 1833 St Leger winner Rockingham, and in the Doncaster Cup he defeated the great mare Beeswing. Touchstone made one start as a six-year-old in 1837, and recorded a second win in the Ascot Gold Cup, this time under William Scott. The horse went to front at the turn before drawing away to beat Slane by an easy six lengths as the 1/2 favourite. This was Touchstone's final race, and he retired to stud as the winner of fifteen of twenty-one starts with earnings of £5,475. ==Stud record==

Touchstone was initially retired to stud duty at Moor Park, near Rickmansworth in Hertfordshire, but then was brought to his owner's Eaton Stud in Cheshire. A major success as a stallion, Touchstone sired three Epsom Derby winners and was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland four times. Of the eight foals from the great racing mare Beeswing, five were sired by Touchstone. His progeny included: • Blue Bonnet (1839) – won the St. Leger Stakes • Cotherstone (1840) – won the 2,000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby • Flatcatcher (1845) – won 2,000 Guineas Stakes • Lord of the Isles (1852) – won 2,000 Guineas Touchstone died in 1861 aged thirty at Eaton Stud. ==Sire line tree==

• Touchstone • Auckland • Cotherstone • Stilton • Speed The Plough • Pumicestone • Woodcote • Spencer • Glenmasson • Vestminster • Loeffler • Ithuriel • Longbow • Toxophilite • Young Toxophilite • The Admiral • Musket • Bay Archer • Valois • Orlando • Teddington • Shillelagh • Moulsey • King Pepin • Orpheus • Ninnyhammer • Orestes • Orest • Hollywood • Boiardo • Barwon • Banker • Oriflame • Marsyas • Albert Victor • Maskelyne • The Sailor Prince • George Frederick • Frontin • Colorado • Scythian • Duke Rollo • Fazzoletto • Ackworth • Blue Riband • King Victor • Porto Rico • King Of The Forest • The British Remedy • Chevalier d'Industrie • Friponnier • Claude Lorraine • Zuyder Zee • Fitzroland • Paladin • Gin • Eclipse • Throg's Neck Jr • Young Eclipse • Cambrist • Egotist • Boaster • Narragansett • Cavalier • Scathelock • Alarm • Danger • Himyar • Gabriel • Bruno • Panique • Pardee • Wawekus • Catesby • Osseo • Grandmaster • Trumpeter • Salpinctes • Abergeldie • Distin • Queens Messenger • Plutus • Flageolet • Fricandeau • Gournay • Challenge • Hastings • Crater • Canary • Xenophon • Seaman • Parasang • Diophantus • Wrestler • Chattanooga • Wellingtonia • Clover • Clairon • Liddington • Temple • The Knave • Annandale • Balrownie • Paragone • Poynton • Florin • Florentin • Nunnykirk • Victor • The Avenger • Claret • Scots Grey • Lord Of The Isles • King Of The Forest • Childeric • Fitzjames • Glengarry • Merry Go Round • Napsbury • Orient • Pursebearer • Taurus • Kantaka • Tipstaff • Baron Pepper • The Crofter • MacDonald • Gold Hill • Artillary • Revolver • Gamecock • Kyrle Daly • Herald • Kara • Lord Of The Hills • Tournament • Retrousse • Sabre • Wamba • Newminster • Daniel • Musjid • Leybourne • Wroughton • Islam • Vagabond • Newcastle • Charnwood • Sir Hugo • Joey Jones • Kildonan • Oldminster • Stanton • Adventurer • Argyle • Carsethorn • Border Knight • Pretender • Enterprise • Dunois • Speculation • Cork • Chivalrous • Pirate • Blantyre • Schwindler • Glen Arthur • Militant • Ruperra • Rajita Rajita • Achilles • Sir Amyas Leigh • Bonnie Doon • Sportsman • Ishmael • Privateer • Buccaneer • Borneo • Yorkminster • Lord Clifden • His Lordship • Falkenberg • Hawthornden • Sunset • Moorlands • Barefoot • Old Joe • Buckden • Hymenaeus • Blue Monkey • Battenberg • Wenlock • Ladislas • Duke Of Richmond • Royal Hampton • Eothen • Grandison • Merry Hampton • Apollo • Ayrshire • Sheen • Gay Hampton • Lord Lorne • Fitz Hampton • Balmoral • Bushey Park • Phocion • Cheery Tree • Ladas • Speed • Walmsgate • Star Ruby • Troon • Bay Ronald • Bay Windham • Petrarch • The Bard • Laureate • Hackler • Lactantius • Peter Flower • The Lombard • Florist • Kinsman • Cyprus • El Rey • King of Trumps • The Rejected • Lord Clive • Calabrais • La Moriniere • Reefer • Meuzzin • Onesander • Pratique • Cambuscan • Botheration • Onslow • Cambuslang • Baron Farney • Come Away • Billesdon • Caesar • Camballo • Peppermint • The Lambkin • Eurasian • Campanula • Claymore • Hospodar • Nunthorpe • Ralph Neville • Cavaliero • Isolani • Frangepan • Cambus • Paszlor • Cathedral • Dalham • Organist • Clocher • El Plata • Midnight Mass • The Beadle • Bedminster • Heir-At-Law • Hurrah • Hermit • Laseretto • Victorious • Rosebach • Crown Prince • Laneret • Strathconan • Midlothian • Bishop Burton • Strathern • Buchanan • Vespasian • Bersaglier • Eastern Emperor • Blairgowrie • Touchstone • Greywing • Grey Gown • Hermit • Ascetic • St Andrew • Anchorite • Cenobite • Roman Oak • Royal Meath • Cloister • Ulysses • Abbot • Aconite • Hermit • Koodoo • Sir Patrick • Riverstown • Athletic • Drumcree • Hidden Mystery • Leinster • Uncle Jack • Orange Pat • Ascetic's Silver • Trappist • Ambergris • Gunnersbury • Uram Batyam • Galifard • Peter • Sweetheart • Zsupan • Peterhof • Retreat • Father O'Flynn • Skedaddle • St Louis • St Germaine • Le Hardy • Tristan • Le Nord • Le Nicham • Whipper-In • Malakoff • Revancha • Cassock • St Blaise • St Carlo • Potomac • Silver Fox • St Florian • Margrave • St Bartholomew • Candlemas • Irish Lad • Gamin • Gospodar • Gay Hermit • Talma • Balcarce • Gonin • Valero • Cordon Rouge • Celso • St Mirin • Timothy • Friar's Balsam • Balsamo • Voter • Hazelhatch • Melanion • Toscin • Esquileno • Guido Reni • Heaume • Le Roi Soleil • Orbend • Karibo • Kidderminster • Bogue Homa • Cardinal York • Havok • Conjuror • Juggler ==Pedigree==

{{Pedigree Touchstone is inbred 5S x 3D to the stallion Alexander, meaning that he appears fifth generation (via Alexander mare) on the sire side of his pedigree, and third generation on the dam side of his pedigree. Touchstone is inbred 5S x 6S x 4D to the stallion Eclipse, meaning that he appears fifth generation (via Potoooooooo) and sixth generation (via Alexander mare) on the sire side of his pedigree, and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree. Touchstone is inbred 4S x 5D to the stallion Buzzard, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree, and fifth generation (via Sofia) on the dam side of his pedigree. Touchstone is inbred 4S x 5D to the stallion Sir Peter Teazle, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree, and fifth generation (via Stamford) on the dam side of his pedigree. ==References==