Hambletonian I
Encyclopedia
Hambletonian, was one of best Thoroughbred
racehorses the late 18th century, having won all of his race starts, except one, and was later was a good sire. His victories included two Doncaster Cup
s in the late 1790s and the St. Leger Stakes
at Doncaster
in 1795.
He was a bay colt that was bred by John Hutchinson and foaled in 1792. Hambletonian was by the useful sire, King Fergus and was a grandson of the two undefeated horses, Eclipse
and Highflyer
, who was the sire of his dam Grey Highflyer.
, which is on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, at the top of Sutton Bank
. On 14 May 1794 Hambletonian won his first race there, "A sweepstake of 15 guineas each for three-year-old colts, 8 stone (51 kg), fillies 7 st. 11 lb. (49.5 kg) run over two miles"
In August 1795, Sir Charles Turner
at the York races, purchased Hambletonian, Beningbrough (also by King Fergus) and Oberon from Hutchinson for 3,000 guineas. At the same meeting Hambletonian won two sweepstakes and on 22 September at the Doncaster meeting he won the St. Leger Stakes. The next day Hambletonian won his first Doncaster Cup and Beningbrough was victorious in the Doncaster Stakes.
In 1796 at York Hambletonian lost his only race to the Epsom Derby
winner, Spread Eagle, after running off the course. At the same meeting he won back £50 from Spread Eagle and two others. Later that year Hambletonian was sold to Sir Henry Vane-Tempest of nearby Wynyard Park, County Durham
, for whom he raced until 1800.
Hambletonian did not start during 1798. In a famous match with Mr. Cookson's Diamond over the four mile Beacon Course at Newmarket on 25 March 1799, Hambletonian, ridden by Francis Buckle
, won by a neck. Sir Henry had wagered 3,000 guineas on the outcome. The horse was afterwards the subject of the painting, Hambletonian Rubbing Down by the great equine artist, George Stubbs
, who was then 75 years old. In 1800 Hambletonian won his only start in the York Great Subscription Stakes.
His most notable progeny included:
Hambletonian died 28th March 1818 and is buried in the grounds of Sir Henry's former home, Wynyard Park, Co. Durham.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorses the late 18th century, having won all of his race starts, except one, and was later was a good sire. His victories included two Doncaster Cup
Doncaster Cup
The Doncaster Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 2 miles and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September....
s in the late 1790s and the St. Leger Stakes
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...
at Doncaster
Doncaster
Doncaster is a town in South Yorkshire, England, and the principal settlement of the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster. The town is about from Sheffield and is popularly referred to as "Donny"...
in 1795.
He was a bay colt that was bred by John Hutchinson and foaled in 1792. Hambletonian was by the useful sire, King Fergus and was a grandson of the two undefeated horses, Eclipse
Eclipse (horse)
Eclipse was an outstanding, undefeated 18th-century British Thoroughbred racehorse who was later a phenomenal success as a sire.-Breeding:...
and Highflyer
Highflyer (horse)
Highflyer was an undefeated Thoroughbred racehorse and a very successful and influential sire of the 18th century.-Breeding:Bred by Sir Charles Bunbury, the fifth Baronet, the colt was foaled at Great Barton, in 1774...
, who was the sire of his dam Grey Highflyer.
Racing record
Hambletonian was named after the historic racing area of Hambleton HillsHambleton Hills
The Hambleton Hills are a range of hills in North Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. They form the western edge of the North Yorkshire Moors but are separated from the moors by the valley of the River Rye...
, which is on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors, at the top of Sutton Bank
Sutton Bank
Sutton Bank, also known as Roulston Scar, is a hill in the Hambleton District of North Yorkshire in England. It is a high point on the Hambleton Hills and the North Yorkshire Moors with extensive views over the Vale of York and the Vale of Mowbray...
. On 14 May 1794 Hambletonian won his first race there, "A sweepstake of 15 guineas each for three-year-old colts, 8 stone (51 kg), fillies 7 st. 11 lb. (49.5 kg) run over two miles"
In August 1795, Sir Charles Turner
Sir Charles Turner, 2nd Baronet
Sir Charles Turner, 2nd Baronet was an English politician.He was elected at the 1796 general election as a Member of Parliament for Kingston upon Hull,and held the seat until the 1802 general election....
at the York races, purchased Hambletonian, Beningbrough (also by King Fergus) and Oberon from Hutchinson for 3,000 guineas. At the same meeting Hambletonian won two sweepstakes and on 22 September at the Doncaster meeting he won the St. Leger Stakes. The next day Hambletonian won his first Doncaster Cup and Beningbrough was victorious in the Doncaster Stakes.
In 1796 at York Hambletonian lost his only race to the Epsom 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...
winner, Spread Eagle, after running off the course. At the same meeting he won back £50 from Spread Eagle and two others. Later that year Hambletonian was sold to Sir Henry Vane-Tempest of nearby Wynyard Park, County Durham
Wynyard Park, County Durham
Wynyard Park, sometimes known as Wynyard Hall is a large country house in County Durham, England. The house used to be the family seat of the Vane-Tempest-Stewart family, Marquesses of Londonderry, an Anglo-Irish aristocratic dynasty, but it was sold in the 1980s.-The house:Designed by Philip Wyatt...
, for whom he raced until 1800.
Hambletonian did not start during 1798. In a famous match with Mr. Cookson's Diamond over the four mile Beacon Course at Newmarket on 25 March 1799, Hambletonian, ridden by Francis Buckle
Francis Buckle
Francis Buckle was an English jockey.Born in Newmarket, Buckle started racing at the stables of Richard Vernan, making his first appearance in 1783 at the age of 17. His first win in one of the English Classics came in 1800, when he won both the St. Leger Stakes and the Epsom Derby on Champion...
, won by a neck. Sir Henry had wagered 3,000 guineas on the outcome. The horse was afterwards the subject of the painting, Hambletonian Rubbing Down by the great equine artist, George Stubbs
George Stubbs
George Stubbs was an English painter, best known for his paintings of horses.-Biography:Stubbs was born in Liverpool, the son of a currier and leather merchant. Information on his life up to age thirty-five is sparse, relying almost entirely on notes made by fellow artist Ozias Humphry towards the...
, who was then 75 years old. In 1800 Hambletonian won his only start in the York Great Subscription Stakes.
Stud record
Hambletonian retired to stud in 1801 standing at Seacroft-Hall, near Leeds, then from 1802 to 1808 he stood at Hornsey's stables in Middlethorpe, York for a fee of 10 guineas per mare.In the 1809 season he was at Wynyard, near Stockton-upon-Tees, in 1810 and 1811 he returned to Middlethorpe, with his fee rising to 20 and 25 guineas, 1812 and 1813 at Wynyard and finally at Catterick, near Richmond, in 1814, the last year he was advertised, his fee had declined to 15 guineas.His most notable progeny included:
- Anticipation, won sixteen races, including the Ascot Gold Cup, twice; got excellent hunters
- Camerton, won Goodwood CupGoodwood CupThe Goodwood Cup is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 2 miles , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
, exported to France in 1818 - Camillus, won Doncaster Cup, successful sire
- Fair Helen (gr f 1808), second dam of the stallion and St Leger winner Margrave
- Goosander, dam of the Epsom Derby winner Sailor and the Oaks Stakes winner Shoveler and taproot mare of Family 6-c
- Lisette, dam of 2,000 Guineas winner Clearwell and a foundation mare of Family 19-b.
- Whitelock, continued the sire line through Blacklock (1814) and on to the undefeated St. SimonSt. Simon (horse)St. Simon was an undefeated British Thoroughbred racehorse and one of the most successful sires in the history of the Thoroughbred. In May 1886 The Sporting Times carried out a poll of one hundred experts to create a ranking of the best British racehorses of the 19th Century. St...
.
Hambletonian died 28th March 1818 and is buried in the grounds of Sir Henry's former home, Wynyard Park, Co. Durham.
See also
- List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses
- Hambletonian 10Hambletonian 10Hambletonian 10, or Rysdyk's Hambletonian, was an American trotter and a founding sire of the Standardbred horse breed. The stallion was born in Sugar Loaf, NY on 5 May 1849. Hambletonian has been inducted into the Immortals category of the Harness Racing Hall of Fame.-Origin and early years...
, 1849–1876, a foundation sire of the harness racingHarness racingHarness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
breed known as the Standardbred.