Nike (horse)
Nike (often stylised Niké; foaled 1794) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. She won three of her five starts, including the Oaks Stakes in 1797. She was owned by Richard Grosvenor, 1st Earl Grosvenor, and later became a broodmare, with three of her foals placing in Classic races. Background. Nike was a bay filly bred by Richard Grosvenor, 1st Earl Grosvenor, and was foaled in 1794. She was sired by Alexander, who raced at Newmarket for Grosvenor. Alexander also sired a number of top horses, including 2000 Guineas winner Hephestion and the important Alexander mare. Nike's dam was  Nimble, a daughter of Florizel. Racing career. Nike's first race came in the Woodcot Stakes at Epsom Downs on 14 May 1796, when she beat Peeping Tom and two others. This was her only race as a two-year-old. She was entered to run in the Bolton Stakes at Newmarket in mid-May 1797, but was withdrawn before the race. She returned to Epsom Downs on 2 June, when she faced four rivals for the Oaks Stakes. Nike, who started as the 15/8 favourite, won the race from Mother Shipton. Rose, who was the second favourite, finished the  race in second place. In her only other run of the season she finished unplaced behind winner Stamford in a Sweepstakes of 20 guineas each at Stamford in July. Six horses started the race, but the judge could only place the winner. In July 1798 she beat Doubtful and Cecilia to win a two-mile Sweepstakes of 10 guineas each at Stamford. At the end of the month she faced Dimple, Mother Shipton and Rose in the Queen's Plate at Chelmsford, which was run in three two-mile heats. In the first heat Nike finished second to Rose, but  broke down in the second heat. The race was won by Mother Shipton, who finished last in the first heat. Nike was then retired to stud. Stud career. As a broodmare at Earl Grosvenor's stud, she produced thirteen foals. They were: Pedigree. "Note: b. = Bay, br. = Brown, ch. = Chestnut, gr. = Grey" <nowiki>*</nowiki> Nike was inbred 4x4 to Regulus. This means that the stallion appears twice in the fourth generation of her pedigree.