April the Fifth (1929-1954) was a thoroughbred racehorse who was bred and trained in England. He won the 1932 Epsom Derby.
Breeding
April the Fifth was sired by Craig an Eran, winner of the 1921 2,000 Guineas and Eclipse Stakes and runner-up by a neck in the Epsom Derby. April the Fifth was bred by Sydney McGregor from his mare, Sold Again, at his stud in Leamington Spa. He was foaled on 5th April, which was also his breeder's birthday.[1]
Racing career
He ran in the name of the actor Tom Walls and was trained by him at his stables at Epsom. April the Fifth won the inaugural running of the Lingfield Derby Trial in 1932 and went on to win the Epsom Derby itself at odds of 100 to 6. He was ridden in the Derby by Fred Lane. April the Fifth was injured and failed in the St. Leger Stakes and never ran again. He remains the last Epsom Derby winner trained at Epsom.
Retirement
At stud he was a useful sire of National Hunt horses and Sydney McGregor bred the 1958 Ascot Gold Cup winner Gladness from a mare by April the Fifth.
He died in 1954.
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