His name is the heraldic term for "a bend (i.e. diagonal stripe) that is golden or yellow in color (or)", and is a reference to the ancient former arms of the Grosvenor family which were adjudged against them in 1389 to the Scrope family in the most famous case ever heard before the Court of Chivalry, known as Scrope v Grosvenor.

Bred and foaled at the 1st Duke of Westminster's Eaton Stud, Bend Or grew to be a large stallion but was noted for his unusual docility.

[2] Thormanby won the 1860 Epsom Derby and the 1861 Ascot Gold Cup and was in 1869 the leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland.

At Tattenham Corner Robert the Devil was leading from Von der Tann, Bend Or being in about the sixth position.

In the summer a challenge was lodged by the owners of Robert the Devil against Bend Or's Derby win on the grounds of him being entered under the wrong description.

Recent research which compared DNA of Bend Or to that of Tadcaster relatives suggested the two had indeed been switched as foals.

The shin injury affected him for most of the remainder of the year as was evident in his first loss when he returned to racing for September's St Leger Stakes, where he finished fifth behind winner Robert the Devil.

[12] Returning to the track at age four, Bend Or won the City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom Downs carrying 9 stone.

Bend Or then won the Champion Stakes easily by ¾ length from Scobell, with the 1881 Derby winner Iroquois a bad third.

[15] Bend Or had white flecks on his chestnut coat, and like his damsire Thormanby, had black spots on his neck, shoulder, and on his quarters.

Standing at Eaton Stud, Bend Or was a successful stallion siring many top racehorses including two classic winners.

By this time his offspring had won 285 races worth £129,148[1] c = colt, f = filly Kendal went on to sire Triple Crown winner Galtee More.

His daughter Fairy Gold was exported to America and was the dam of Fair Play and Belmont Stakes winner Friar Rock.

Bend Or was also damsire to Prix du Jockey Club winner Ex Voto, through is daughter Golden Rod.

[2] Bend Or's important immediate descendants include The Tetrarch, Phar Lap and Man o' War, and beyond that the American horse Seabiscuit.