Racing

His family were affluent and well connected, his mother was the daughter of a diplomat and his father a judge. He had two younger brothers. It was his uncle Edmond Fournier from his mother’s side, who encouraged him to pursue painting. His father would have preferred him to enter law

A brief history of Manchester Racecourse.   There is a song, ‘Farwell Manchester composed about 1740 by the Reverend Will Felton, it was also a harpsichord piece known as, ‘Felton Gavotte.’ Thought to have been sung to Prince Charles Edward Stuart as they left the city in December 1745. Farwell Manchester

Little seems to be known about this prolific artist; he died in Cranmer Place, London, June 12th 1846. He is thought to be the father of G.A. Turner. He is recorded as having asserted that he was the most knowledgeable sportsman of his time. Which is saying a lot when

Preparing to Start, was published in 1836, when James was at the height of his career. It is one of a series of six; Saddling in the Warren, Epsom, Betting Post, Grandstand, Race Over, Settling Day at Tattersall. He was the second son of Robert Pollard and Ann Iley, and

Henry Alken Snr. (Seffrien) was a Dane by blood and English by birth. In 1772 they somehow go involved in a plot against Christian 7th Queen, Matilda, which ended up the in beheading of her supposed lover Count Struenzee. The Queen died not long after aged 24. The Alkens left

Maori Venture was born 1976, died 2000, he was sired by St Columbus, out of Moon Venture, bred by Dai Maori Morgan Welsh Publican. Dia had played Rugby in New Zealand, hence the name. He out-lived three owners; the first one was Major Jack Rubin, the second Ken Girling, whose

Industry won The 60th Oaks in 1838, Friday 1st June.  This glass print is an exact copy of the painting by John Frederick Herring, the Elder, 1795-1865 the famous horse painter. Industry was owned by the 6th Earl of Chesterfield and trained like Cotherstone by John Scott in Malton, and

Cothestone was by Touchstone a prolific sire with 343 winners to his name.  It was his owner John Bowes second sucess in the Derby. He was called after a village near Durham and has a selection of celebrated cheeses. He was not an impressive yearling, but went on to win

In 1981, Aldaniti had won the Grand National with Bob Champion, a great feat for a man who had been through cancer treatment and a horse who had potentially broken down. The film Champions was made in 1983, with John Hurt, Peter Barkworth, Edward Woodward and incomparable Alison Steadman. In

There would have been 9 plates of which this is No. 9 They celebrate 9 racecourses, and each one with its celebrated race. Each racecourse would have had its favoured race marked on the top left hand side, Auteuil, La Croix de Berny ws first run in 1880, and has