George Payne (racehorse owner)
Encyclopedia
George Payne was an English breeder of thoroughbred horses, an inveterate gambler, a patron of the Turf
and a Master of the Hunt
.
Payne was orphaned while still a young boy when his father was shot dead in a duel. Being the eldest son he inherited Sulby
Hall. Sulby Hall was located southwest of Market Harborough
in Northamptonshire
, was constructed in 1792 for his grandfather, Rene Payne, a partner in the banking firm of Smith, Payne and Lepper, and was designed by John Soane
. It was bought by the Hon. Frederick William Child Villiers, son of George Child Villiers, 5th Earl of Jersey, in 1847 and was demolished in 1949.
In addition to Sulby Hall, Payne was left £300 000 in cash and securities. Being rendered financially independent, he pursued a life of gambling on horses and at the card-table. A year before coming of age he wagered and lost £33 000 by Jerry’s 1824 victory in the St Leger
. He failed to win £60 000 when Lord Lyon beat Savernake by a short head in the 1866 Derby
, and lost a further £40 000 when Cremorne beat Pell Mell by a head in 1872.
His own horses brought him no greater luck. His training of horses at Sulby Hall continued without interruption from the age of twenty until his death. Here he bred Pauline, the dam of Gladiator, an exceptional sire of the nineteenth century. A notable win was that of Clementina in the 1847 One Thousand Guineas
, a filly he had acquired against his better judgement. He inherited Musket from Lord Glasgow
, and always ran him in Lord Glasgow’s colours.
Payne shared the horses left him by Lord Glasgow with his lifelong friend and companion, Colonel Peel
and jointly they bred the 1878 Derby winner Sefton. This was to be Payne's last winner before his death, netting him £20 000.
Payne was missed for his amiable disposition, his colourful personality and his sparkling wit. Racing historian "Thormanby", the actor William Willmott Dixon, remembered him as "a true English gentleman, large-hearted, high-spirited, the pink of chivalry and the soul of honour – a man of a most lovable nature".
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
and a Master of the Hunt
Fox hunting
Fox hunting is an activity involving the tracking, chase, and sometimes killing of a fox, traditionally a red fox, by trained foxhounds or other scent hounds, and a group of followers led by a master of foxhounds, who follow the hounds on foot or on horseback.Fox hunting originated in its current...
.
Payne was orphaned while still a young boy when his father was shot dead in a duel. Being the eldest son he inherited Sulby
Sulby, Northamptonshire
Sulby is a hamlet and civil parish in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire in England.Sulby Reservoir lies to the south of the settlement.Rene Payne bought Sulby Hall in 1792.-External links:* parish meeting...
Hall. Sulby Hall was located southwest of Market Harborough
Market Harborough
Market Harborough is a market town within the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England.It has a population of 20,785 and is the administrative headquarters of Harborough District Council. It sits on the Northamptonshire-Leicestershire border...
in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
, was constructed in 1792 for his grandfather, Rene Payne, a partner in the banking firm of Smith, Payne and Lepper, and was designed by John Soane
John Soane
Sir John Soane, RA was an English architect who specialised in the Neo-Classical style. His architectural works are distinguished by their clean lines, massing of simple form, decisive detailing, careful proportions and skilful use of light sources...
. It was bought by the Hon. Frederick William Child Villiers, son of George Child Villiers, 5th Earl of Jersey, in 1847 and was demolished in 1949.
In addition to Sulby Hall, Payne was left £300 000 in cash and securities. Being rendered financially independent, he pursued a life of gambling on horses and at the card-table. A year before coming of age he wagered and lost £33 000 by Jerry’s 1824 victory in the St Leger
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
. He failed to win £60 000 when Lord Lyon beat Savernake by a short head in the 1866 Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
, and lost a further £40 000 when Cremorne beat Pell Mell by a head in 1872.
His own horses brought him no greater luck. His training of horses at Sulby Hall continued without interruption from the age of twenty until his death. Here he bred Pauline, the dam of Gladiator, an exceptional sire of the nineteenth century. A notable win was that of Clementina in the 1847 One Thousand Guineas
One Thousand Guineas
The 1,000 Guineas Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late April or early May.It is the second of Britain's five Classic...
, a filly he had acquired against his better judgement. He inherited Musket from Lord Glasgow
James Carr-Boyle, 5th Earl of Glasgow
Captain James Carr-Boyle, 5th Earl of Glasgow , styled Viscount of Kelburn until 1843, was a British naval commander and politician.-Background:...
, and always ran him in Lord Glasgow’s colours.
Payne shared the horses left him by Lord Glasgow with his lifelong friend and companion, Colonel Peel
Jonathan Peel
Jonathan Peel was a British soldier, Conservative politician and racehorse owner.-Background and education:...
and jointly they bred the 1878 Derby winner Sefton. This was to be Payne's last winner before his death, netting him £20 000.
Payne was missed for his amiable disposition, his colourful personality and his sparkling wit. Racing historian "Thormanby", the actor William Willmott Dixon, remembered him as "a true English gentleman, large-hearted, high-spirited, the pink of chivalry and the soul of honour – a man of a most lovable nature".