Industry Winner of The Oaks, 1838

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

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Cothestone Winner of the Derby, 1843

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

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Grittar wins the Grand National 1982

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

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A Celebration Set of Racing Plates

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

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1861 Prize Stallion Hotspur

This is a card advertising that Hotspur will serve mares at Allington near Devises. Thoroughbreds £5.5s,  Half-Breds, £2.5s  Groom’s fee included This celebrated Horse is by Sir Hercules, his dam by Rajah. He contested the Derby with Flying Dutchman in 1819, Beating the best horses of the year; at the

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The Durdans and Lord Rosebery

The Durdans in 1746 The Durdans house is approached along Chalk Lane and Woodcote end, in Epsom in the county of Surrey. Its name can be traced back to 1375, to its first owner, Richard Diridenne or Dirden, it is likely that this first house was visited by Samuel Pepys,

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Scapa Flow and Derby Winners

The mare Scapa Flow 1914 was purchased by Lord Derby on the advice of his trainer, George Lambton, He was not to know then that she would through her matings produce a slew of Derby winners. This chart shows how they came about. She was responsible for the Northern Dancer

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A Short Introduction to the History of Racing

It remains a mystery as to when and how the first horse was tamed and ridden. As to the first training program for fitness we have only the available records. Trying to assess when the first horses were ridden or used as pack animals has also been a matter of

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St Leger Centenary Mug

In 1776 the St Leger was the first of the classic races to be instigated in England. Colonel Anthony St Leger lived not far from the Doncaster Racecourse at Park Hill.  It was his idea to run a race for 3 year old colts to carry 8st stone and fillies

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Epsom Oaks Race Cards

The Oaks was the second classic race to be added to the Racing Calendar.   The first Classic race over a mile and a half was the St Leger.  Instigated by Anthony St Leger, (prounced Sellinger) a great sportsman. A field of six went to the post in 1776. It never

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