The Sporting Dictionary, and Rural Repository, Volume 1 (of 2) / Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the Field

by William Taplin

HAMBLETONIAN

;—the name of A HORSE whose performances have ranked him in an equal degree of retrospective celebrity with Eclipse, Highflyer, Diomed, and the most famous runners of the past or present day. He was bred by Mr. Hutchinson, of Skipton, near York, and foaled in 1792; was got by King Fergus; dam by Highflyer; grand-dam by Matchem.—1795. May 5, when three years old, he won a stakes of fifteen guineas each, over Hambleton, (five subscribers,) beating Sober Robin, Tarquin, and another. At York, May 20th, he won a sweepstakes of twenty guineas each, four subscribers. He was then purchased, with all his engagements, by Sir C. Turner, Bart. in whose possession he won, on the 27th of August, at York, a sweepstakes of 100 guineas each, (six subscribers,) beating Benjamin, Minus, and Maximus. Two days after he won a sweepstakes of fifty guineas each, four subscribers. At Doncaster, the 22d of September, he won the St. Leger stakes of twenty-five guineas each, twelve subscribers. The next day he won the GOLD CUP of 100 guineas value, four miles, beating Governor, Capsicum, and Bradamant.

1796. At the York August meeting he won a subscription purse of 227l. 10s. beating Spread Eagle, Sober Robin, and another. The next day he won the ladies' plate, beating Lord Darlington's St. George. At this period of his uninterrupted success, he was purchased by Sir Henry Tempest Vane, Bart. and at Doncaster, September 28, won the GOLD CUP of 100 guineas value, beating Sober Robin, Ambrosio, and three others. In the Newmarket Houghton meeting, November 2, he beat Mr. Tatton's Patriot (who was got by Rockingham) over the Beacon Course for 1000 guineas.

1797. Monday in the Newmarket Craven meeting, he won the Craven stakes of ten guineas each, beating Sober Robin, Bennington, Paynator, Hermione, Parisot, Cymbeline, and five others. The same day he received 250 guineas forfeit from Spread Eagle. On Thursday, in the same week, he beat Lord Clermont's Aimator, Beacon Course, 300 guineas. At York, August 23, he won one third of the great subscription of 25 guineas each, (25 subscribers,) to which was added a 50l. plate given by the city. The next day he won another third of the same subscription, with an additional 50l. plate by the City, beating Beningbrough, Trimbush, and Brilliant. At Doncaster, the 27th of September, he won the stakes of ten guineas each, (ten subscribers,) with twenty guineas added by the Corporation; and on the 29th received 100 guineas forfeit from Mr. Sitwell's Moorcock.

In 1798 he was slightly lame, and never started.

1799. Monday, in the Craven meeting at Newmarket, he beat Mr. Cookson's famous horse Diamond, over the Beacon, for 3000 guineas, with the odds of five to four in his favour, on account of his superiority in size and strength; it being jocularly observed by the rider of Diamond at starting, that it seemed "a little like a race between a mare and her colt." This match was the greatest in popularity ever known from one extremity of the kingdom to the other, and was decided before one of the fullest meetings ever seen at Newmarket. It was won by no more than three parts of a length, to effect which the winner had felt the utmost force of the spur; and, it was generally believed, if they had then one hundred yards farther to have ran, Diamond would have been the winner; in proof of the justice of which opinion, Mr. Cookson challenged a repetition of the match, which was declined.

At Doncaster the same year, he won the renewed stakes of ten guineas each, (fourteen subscribers, with twenty guineas added by the Corporation,) beating eight of the best horses in the north of England. In 1800 he won the great subscription at York, with 50l. given by the City, which was the last time he started. He once ran out of the Course, soon after starting, when running three miles over York, 1797, for a sweepstakes of 100 guineas each against Deserter and Spread Eagle; and paid one forfeit to Sterling (from being amiss in 1792) at Newmarket; but NEVER WAS BEAT. He is now a stallion in high repute near Leeds, in Yorkshire, at TEN GUINEAS, and half a guinea the groom.