Shotover (1879–1898) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a career that lasted from 1882 to 1884, she ran 15 times and won five races. As a three-year-old, racing against colts, she became the first filly to win the first two legs of the English Triple Crown: the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Derby at Epsom. She went on to win twice at Royal Ascot, but failed in her bid for the Triple Crown when she finished third in the St Leger at Doncaster. She was retired in 1884 and became a successful and influential broodmare. Shotover died in 1898. Background Shotover was a powerfully built chestnut filly with a white star, standing just under 15.3 hands high, who was praised for her "lean and game-looking" head and "beautifully formed" legs. She was bred by Henry Chaplin, who was best known for winning the Derby with Shotover's sire Hermit in 1867. As a yearling, she was bought for 1,600 guineas by the trainer Robert Peck on behalf of the Duke of Westminster, the "richest man in England", who agreed to buy the filly after some hesitation. When Peck retired at the end of Shotover's two-year-old season, the filly was moved to the stable of John Porter at Kingsclere. After his retirement from racing, Shotover's sire Hermit became an outstandingly successful stallion, being Champion Sire for seven successive years. In addition to Shotover, he sired the Classic winners St. Blaise (Derby), St. Marguerite (1000 Guineas), Lonely (Oaks) and Thebais (1000 Guineas & Oaks). Racing career 1881: two-year-old season Shotover was slow to mature as a young horse and did not appear on the racecourse until the autumn of 1881. She made her debut as a 50/1 outsider in the prestigious Middle Park Plate at Newmarket on October 12. She ran rather better than her odds suggested, racing prominently, and finishing fifth of the 13 runners behind Kermesse. She then finished second to Berwick in the Prendergast Stakes. On her final start of the season, she finished unplaced behind Magician in a Nursery (a handicap race for two-year-olds). 1882: three-year-old season Spring Shotover made excellent physical progress in the winter of 1881-2 and was described as "one of the most improved" of her owner's three-year-olds. She also impressed her trainer with her performance in a private trial in early April, persuading him that she had Classic potential. Although the classic