Polygamy

Polygamy (from Late Greek πολυγαμία, polygamia, "state of marriage to many spouses") involves marriage with more than one spouse. When a man is married to more than one wife at a time, it is called polygyny. When a woman is married to more than one husband at a time, it is called polyandry. If a marriage includes multiple husbands and wives, it can be called a group marriage. In contrast, monogamy is marriage consisting of only two parties. Like "monogamy", the term "polygamy" is often used in a de facto sense, applied regardless of whether the relationship is recognized by the state. In sociobiology and zoology, researchers use polygamy in a broad sense to mean any form of multiple mating.

Polygamy (horse)

Polygamy (foaled 16 March 1971) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse, best known for winning the classic Epsom Oaks in 1974. As a two-year-old in 1973, she showed promise by winning three races and finishing fourth in the Criterium des Pouliches. In the following spring she won the 1000 Guineas Trial Stakes and was narrowly beaten in the 1000 Guineas before winning the Oaks. She was retired after being beaten in her only subsequent race and died without producing a foal.

Background

Polygamy was a "light-framed" bay mare with no white markings bred in Berkshire by her owner, Louis Freedman's Cliveden Stud. She was unusually small for a Thoroughbred, reportedly standing only fifteen hands high as a three-year-old in 1974. She was sired by Reform an outstanding miler who won the St James's Palace Stakes, Sussex Stakes, Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and Champion Stakes in 1967. Polygamy was the first foal of her dam, Seventh Bride, a high-class racemare who won the Princess Royal Stakes and finished second in the Nassau Stakes in 1969. Seventh Bride, a descendant of La Tendresse, went on to produce One Over Parr (also by Reform), a filly who won the Lancashire Oaks and was the female line ancestor of Camelot.