Straw Bear
Encyclopedia
Straw Bear is an American Thoroughbred
racehorse
, born to sire, Diesis
and dam, Highland Ceilidh. He is owned by John P. McManus, trained by Nick Gifford, and his primary jockey
has been Tony McCoy
.
Straw Bear started racing as a two year old in June 2003. He won his first race, the Ladbrokes Novice Auction Stakes (a Class F race) in September 2006 at Wolverhampton Racecourse
in Wolverhampton
, West Midlands
, England
. His first notable win came in April 2006 at Aintree Racecourse
in Aintree
, Liverpool
, England where he won the John Smith's Imagine Appeal Top Novices' Hurdle, a Grade 2 National Hunt race
. Straw Bear’s first major win came in November 2006. With jockey Tony McCoy at the helm, he went on to win the 2006 Fighting Fifth Hurdle
at Newcastle Racecourse
in Newcastle
, England
where he beat Noble Request.
Straw Bear’s other major Grade 1 National Hunt win came in the Christmas Hurdle
in December 2007 at Kempton Park Racecourse
in Surrey
, England. Straw Bear narrowly beat out Harchibald
for the victory. Afterwards, McCoy spoke of the tough victory for Straw Bear: Harchibald is a very good horse and the plan was to have a little bit to battle with at the finish. We did have a bit left for a battle and mine's a good horse too and deserved to win a good race.
As of September 2009, Straw Bear’s career record stands at 9 wins, 8 places and 5 shows, with 2 of his wins coming in Grade 1 races. He has placed in 85% and 65% of races at flat and jump surfaces respectively.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
, born to sire, Diesis
Diesis (horse)
Diesis was a racehorse and stallion, foaled in 1980, died in 2006. By the sire Sharpen Up, he was owned throughout his racing career by 9th Baron Howard de Walden and trained by Henry Cecil....
and dam, Highland Ceilidh. He is owned by John P. McManus, trained by Nick Gifford, and his primary jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
has been Tony McCoy
Tony McCoy
Anthony Peter McCoy OBE , commonly known as A. P. McCoy or Tony McCoy, is a Northern Irish horse racing jockey....
.
Straw Bear started racing as a two year old in June 2003. He won his first race, the Ladbrokes Novice Auction Stakes (a Class F race) in September 2006 at Wolverhampton Racecourse
Wolverhampton Racecourse
Wolverhampton Racecourse is a thoroughbred horse racing venue located in Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England. The track was the first to be floodlit in Britain and often holds meetings in the evening....
in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. His first notable win came in April 2006 at Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
in Aintree
Aintree
Aintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside. It lies between Walton and Maghull on the A59 road, about north of Liverpool city centre, in North West England....
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England where he won the John Smith's Imagine Appeal Top Novices' Hurdle, a Grade 2 National Hunt race
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
. Straw Bear’s first major win came in November 2006. With jockey Tony McCoy at the helm, he went on to win the 2006 Fighting Fifth Hurdle
Fighting Fifth Hurdle
The Fighting Fifth Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Newcastle over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped...
at Newcastle Racecourse
Newcastle Racecourse
Newcastle Racecourse is a horse racing course located at Gosforth Park near Newcastle upon Tyne in England. It stages both flat and National Hunt racing, with its biggest meeting being the Northumberland Plate held annually in June.-History:...
in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where he beat Noble Request.
Straw Bear’s other major Grade 1 National Hunt win came in the Christmas Hurdle
Christmas Hurdle
The Christmas Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped...
in December 2007 at Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton Park Racecourse
Kempton Park Racecourse is a horse racing track in Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, England, which is a western suburb of London 16 miles from the city centre. The site is set in of land....
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England. Straw Bear narrowly beat out Harchibald
Harchibald
Harchibald is a French Thoroughbred racehorse, born to sire, Perugino and dam, Dame D’Harvard. He is owned by DP Sharkey, trained by Noel Meade and predominately ridden by Paul Carberry....
for the victory. Afterwards, McCoy spoke of the tough victory for Straw Bear: Harchibald is a very good horse and the plan was to have a little bit to battle with at the finish. We did have a bit left for a battle and mine's a good horse too and deserved to win a good race.
As of September 2009, Straw Bear’s career record stands at 9 wins, 8 places and 5 shows, with 2 of his wins coming in Grade 1 races. He has placed in 85% and 65% of races at flat and jump surfaces respectively.