Musjid

Musjid (1856–1865) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In 1859, he won both of his races including The Derby, in which he landed a huge gamble for his owner despite concerted efforts to prevent him winning. Musjid developed leg problems after the Derby and never ran again. He was retired to stud, where he made little impression before his early death in 1865 from a stomach rupture. Background Musjid was a "stylish-looking" brown horse with a white star on his head who stood 15.3 hands high. He was bred by Lord Scarborough at his Tickhill stud in Yorkshire. Musjid was sent to the Doncaster sales, where he failed to find a buyer willing to pay the reserve price of 300 guineas. He was later sold for £200 in a private deal to Sir Joseph Hawley, with a proviso that Sir Joseph would pay an additional £500 if the colt won the Derby. Musjid was sent into training with George Manning, who trained Hawley's colt Beadsman to win the 1858 derby, at his stable at Cannons Heath, near Kingsclere in Hampshire. Manning's stable was a converted barn and was not noted for its hygiene: a stagnant pond "where frogs and beetles revel" stood close by the entrance and was blamed for causing outbreaks of fever and "malaria" among the inmates. Racing career