Filho da Puta

Filho da Puta (14 April 1812 – 25 August 1835) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He won nine of his 12 races including the St. Leger Stakes and Doncaster Gold Cup. He also sired St. Leger winner Birmingham and was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1828. He was owned by Sir William Maxwell and later T. Houldsworth. His name means "son of a bitch" in Portuguese. The name "Filho da Puta" originated from the irritation of Sir William Barnett, owner of the Haras where the animal was born, who, when the foal was born, had learned that his wife had been disloyal. Sir William, who had lived in Portugal and knew the Portuguese language well, in a fit of anger gave this name to the future champion. Filho da Puta was painted in oil on canvas by a famous English painter John Frederick Herring in 1815. He is exhibited at the Doncaster Museum Service (England). The painting measures 34.5 x 45 cm and was purchased by the museum in 1958.