Cwrw

Cwrw (foaled 1809) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire and best known for winning the classic 2000 Guineas in 1812. In a racing career which lasted from April 1812 until September 1816 he won six of his twenty-six races. He won the 2000 Guineas on his racing debut in a race which led indirectly to a change in the betting rules in the United Kingdom. Cwrw won his two other races in 1812, but the rest of his career was relatively undistinguished. He passed through the hands of various owners winning once in 1813, once in 1814 and once in 1816. He was retired from racing and exported to stand as a breeding stallion in South Africa. Cwrw is the Welsh word for beer.

Background

Cwrw was a brown horse bred by his owner William Vane, 3rd Earl of Darlington, later the 1st Duke of Cleveland. He was the fourth of eleven foals produced by Lady Charlotte (1799-1818) a mare bred by Mr. Wilkinson. Lady Charlotte was a half-sister of the St Leger Stakes winner Paragon and the successful breeding stallion Whiskey.