Generous (born 1988) is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who in 1991 won both Epsom and Irish Derbys. Sired by Caerleon, his grandsire was Nijinsky. From the mare Doff The Derby, Generous' damsire was 1975 Preakness Stakes winner Master Derby who was a son of the 1970 Kentucky Derby winner, Dust Commander.

Sold as a foal by breeder Barronstown Stud, Generous was raced by Prince Fahd bin Salman. At age two, he made an impressive debut at Ascot Racecourse in winning the Garter Stakes. However, he then lost his next three races before a strong come-from-behind win in the Reference Point Stakes at Sandown Park. Next, came his most important win as a two-year-old, the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse.

In early 1991, Generous had a hoof injury that hampered him in the 2,000 Guineas where the best he could do was fourth. Fully recovered for the Epsom Derby, Generous ran away from the field and won by five lengths. In the ensuing Irish Derby Stakes, Generous defeated Suave Dancer by 3 lengths then in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes dominated his oppenents, winning by a record seven lengths.

In October's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp Racecourse in Paris, Generous was once against up against Suave Dancer. The betting favorite, Generous made a charge as the field turned for home and moved into second position before fading badly and finishing eighth in the field of fourteen.

Generous was retired after the 1991 racing season to stud duty in England where he remained until 1995. He was sent to a breeder in Japan in 1996 where he sired 147 runners then to New Zealand in 1999. In 2002, he returned to England to Lord Howard de Walden’s Plantation Stud in Newmarket then was acquired by Sandley Stud in Dorset. Generous has sired more than 160 European winners including 15 Group winners.

References

• Pedigree and racing stats for Generous
• Generous profile at Barronstown Stud