Hambletonian

Hambletonian, was one of the best Thoroughbred racehorses of the late 18th century, having won all of his race starts, except one, and was later a good sire. His victories included two Doncaster Cups in the late 1790s and the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster in 1795. Background Hambletonian 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. Racing record Hambletonian was named after the historic racing area of Hambleton Hills, which is on the edge of the North York 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, Beninghbrough (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 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. At the York August meeting he won both the five-year-old and the six-year-old and over Subscription Purses.