Orbit (horse)

Orbit
Racing silks of the Duke of Westminster
Sire	Bend Or
Grandsire	Doncaster
Dam	Fair Alice
Damsire	Cambuscan
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1885
Colour	Chestnut
Owner	1st Duke of Westminster
Trainer	John Porter
Record	6 wins
Earnings	£12,679
Major wins
Craven Stakes (1888) Eclipse Stakes (1888)

Orbit (foaled 1885) was a Thoroughbred racehorse. He was trained at Kingsclere by John Porter for the 1st Duke of Westminster. As a three-year-old he won the Eclipse Stakes.

Orbit was the son of Epsom Derby and Champion Stakes winner Bend Or. His dam was Fair Alice, a daughter of July Stakes winner Cambuscan.

Orbit won three races as a two-year-old; the Criterion Nursery Handicap at Newmarket, the Kempton Park Champion Nursery Handicap and the Daveridge Stakes. Orbit started his three-year-old career by winning the Craven Stakes at Newmarket by ¾ length from Cotillon. His next race came in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket. Friar's Balsam started as the 1/3 favourite for the race, with Ayrshire at 100/12 and Orbit at 100/8. Orbit ran on well in the closing stages to finish in third place. Ayrshire won the race by two lengths from Johnny Morgan, who was a head in front of Orbit. After winning the 2000 Guineas win Ayrshire started as the 5/6 favourite for the Epsom Derby and Orbit was second favourite at 11/2. Orbit could only finish in fifth place, over seven lengths behind winner Ayrshire. He then finished second in the Triennial Stakes at Ascot. Orbit started as the 9/4 favourite for the Eclipse Stakes and in the final 100 yards of the race Orbit gradually edged away from stablemate Ossory and beat him by a length.