T. Sutherland, Illustration of the Winning Horse Barefoot and a Jockey, 1840, Print

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Antique horse print titled 'barefoot, the winner of the great st. Leger at doncaster, 1823'. This aquatint print shows a … Read more Antique horse print titled 'barefoot, the winner of the great st. Leger at doncaster, 1823'. This aquatint print shows a winning horse and jockey of the great st. Leger stakes at doncaster. Army officer, mp for grimsby (1768–74) and racing enthusiast anthony st leger (c.1731-1786) had his own racecourse at his park hill estate in firbeck, south yorkshire. In 1776, st leger proposed a race with a 25 guinea sweepstake for three-year-old horses, run over 2 miles. The first race, held on cantley common outside doncaster, was won by a horse owned by charles watson-wentworth, second marquess of rockingham (prime minister in 1765-66 and 1782). When it was later suggested that the race should be named after him, rockingham reportedly replied: ‘no, it was my friend st leger who suggested the thing to me - name it after him’. The st leger stakes is still run annually at doncaster racecourse and is one of five british classic flat races. Engraved by t. Sutherland. Published by s. & j. Fuller, circa 1840. See less