Skyscraper was bred at Woburn Abbey by the 5th Duke of Bedford, who was only twenty-one when the horse was foaled.
Bedford went on to become a notable breeder, producing two other winners of the Derby, Eager (1788), and the nameless Colt by Fidget (1794), as well as two Oaks winners, Portia (1788) and Caelia (1790).
The Duke's turf career was ended by his death in 1802.

Skyscraper's sire was Highflyer (1774), an undefeated racehorse who became the greatest stallion of his time.
His grandsire was the noble Herod, the foundation sire through whom Skyscraper was in the direct male line of the Byerley Turk, while his granddam was Rachel, whose grandsire was the Godolphin Arabian.

Skyscraper's dam was Everlasting, a mare by the unbeaten Eclipse.
He was a half brother to the mare Sister to Goldfinch (1785), the third dam of Hannibal, who won the Derby in 1804.
Skyscraper was bred at Woburn Abbey by the 5th Duke of Bedford, who was only twenty-one when the horse was foaled. Bedford went on to become a notable breeder, producing two other winners of the Derby, Eager (1788), and the nameless Colt by Fidget (1794), as well as two Oaks winners, Portia (1788) and Caelia (1790). The Duke's turf career was ended by his death in 1802.
Skyscraper's sire was Highflyer (1774), an undefeated racehorse who became the greatest stallion of his time. His grandsire was the noble Herod, the foundation sire through whom Skyscraper was in the direct male line of the Byerley Turk, while his granddam was Rachel, whose grandsire was the Godolphin Arabian.
Skyscraper's dam was Everlasting, a mare by the unbeaten Eclipse. He was a half brother to the mare Sister to Goldfinch (1785), the third dam of Hannibal, who won the Derby in 1804.
Skyscraper (horse)