William Blenkiron
Encyclopedia
William Blenkiron was an English
breeder
of racehorses.
Blenkiron was born in Marrick
, Richmond
, Yorkshire
, about 1807. He was originally brought up as a farmer, but he abandoned that pursuit, and moved to London
in 1834, and began business as a general agent
in Cheapside
. In 1845, he added to his establishment a manufactory of stocks and collars, and three years later retired in favour of his son.
Blenkiron always desired to be the owner of a racehorse, and in 1847, while residing at Dalston
, he purchased a mare
named Glance. She was by Venison out of Eyebrow, by Whisker, one of Lord George Bentinck
's breeding. In course of time she bore a colt, Young Beverlac, which ran at race meetings with moderate success. The colt
was afterwards exchanged for three mares, and these formed the commencement of a stud destined to become the most celebrated of any establishment of horses in Europe.
About 1852, Blenkiron, wanting more room, moved from Dalston to Middle Park
, Kent
. He brought with him seven or eight brood mares, and Neasham, the head of the list of Eltham sires. The establishment now rapidly increased, until it was augmented to upwards of two hundred of the highest class and best mares that money and experience could produce. Kingston, Touchstone, Birdcatcher, and Newminster were the four cornerstones of his extensive stud
, and it was to the first of these that he, to a great extent, owed his success as a breeder; for that horse was the sire of Caractacus
, who was perhaps the most sensational Derby
winner on record.
As a breeder of stock he had few equals in the matter of judgement, and no superior in the extent of his dealings. Whenever he desired to buy either brood mares or stallion
s, it was not of the least use to oppose him at an auction sale. Amongst his very numerous purchases he gave 3,000 guinea
s for Kingston
, 5,000 guineas for Blink Bonny, 5,800 guineas for Gladiateur
, 2,000 guineas for Rosa Bonheur, and 5,000 guineas for Blair Athol
. The horses were pastured and stabled at his three establishments at Middle Park, Waltham Cross
, and Esher
.
He was never satisfied unless he was constantly weeding and improving his stock. The annual sales of stock at Middle Park drew together all connected with the turf, not only in England, but from France and other countries. Middle Park was then the largest breeding stud that any country ever saw, and considered one of the sights of England. After 1866 it was found necessary to hold two annual sales to dispose of the increase in the stock.
Blenkiron bred Hermit
, the Derby winner in 1867, and Gamos, which won the Oaks in 1870. These stud farms paid their proprietor a handsome return on his outlay during his lifetime, and his liberality was shown in many ways, conspicuously, however, in his founding the great two-year-old race at Newmarket, to which he contributed for some time 1,000l. a year.
He died at Middle Park 25 September 1871, in his sixty-fourth year, and was buried in Eltham churchyard 30 September.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
breeder
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
of racehorses.
Blenkiron was born in Marrick
Marrick
Marrick is a village and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. Located in the Yorkshire Dales, its main attraction is Marrick Priory, which is now a residential centre for outdoor education...
, Richmond
Richmond, North Yorkshire
Richmond is a market town and civil parish on the River Swale in North Yorkshire, England and is the administrative centre of the district of Richmondshire. It is situated on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, and serves as the Park's main tourist centre...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, about 1807. He was originally brought up as a farmer, but he abandoned that pursuit, and moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1834, and began business as a general agent
General Agent
A General Agent is an agent, i.e., representative of another, who has a mandate of general nature.-Colonial use:In the Niger Rivers District the only Senior Agent, who administered the region for the National African Company Limited , was promoted in 1882 to become the first...
in Cheapside
Cheapside
Cheapside is a street in the City of London that links Newgate Street with the junction of Queen Victoria Street and Mansion House Street. To the east is Mansion House, the Bank of England, and the major road junction above Bank tube station. To the west is St. Paul's Cathedral, St...
. In 1845, he added to his establishment a manufactory of stocks and collars, and three years later retired in favour of his son.
Blenkiron always desired to be the owner of a racehorse, and in 1847, while residing at Dalston
Dalston
Dalston is a district of north-east London, England, located in the London Borough of Hackney. It is situated northeast of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, he purchased a mare
Mare (horse)
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
named Glance. She was by Venison out of Eyebrow, by Whisker, one of Lord George Bentinck
Lord George Bentinck
Lord George Frederick Cavendish-Scott-Bentinck , better known as simply Lord George Bentinck, was an English Conservative politician and racehorse owner, best known for his role in unseating Sir Robert Peel over the Corn Laws.Bentinck was a younger son of the 4th Duke of Portland, and elected a...
's breeding. In course of time she bore a colt, Young Beverlac, which ran at race meetings with moderate success. The colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
was afterwards exchanged for three mares, and these formed the commencement of a stud destined to become the most celebrated of any establishment of horses in Europe.
About 1852, Blenkiron, wanting more room, moved from Dalston to Middle Park
Middle Park
Middle Park may refer to:*Middle Park, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne in Australia**Middle Park , a former football stadium located in Melbourne, Australia*Middle Park, Queensland, a suburb of Brisbane in Australia...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. He brought with him seven or eight brood mares, and Neasham, the head of the list of Eltham sires. The establishment now rapidly increased, until it was augmented to upwards of two hundred of the highest class and best mares that money and experience could produce. Kingston, Touchstone, Birdcatcher, and Newminster were the four cornerstones of his extensive stud
Stud (animal)
A stud animal is a registered animal retained for breeding. The terms for the male of a given animal species usually imply that the animal is entire—that is, not castrated—and therefore capable of siring offspring...
, and it was to the first of these that he, to a great extent, owed his success as a breeder; for that horse was the sire of Caractacus
Caractacus (horse)
Caractacus was a Thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1862 Epsom Derby. The 1862 Derby was memorable due to the large field , the winner being ridden by a 16-year-old stable boy and Caractacus' near disqualification for an underweight jockey and a false start...
, who was perhaps the most sensational Derby
Derby (horse race)
A derby is a type of horse race, named after the Derby Stakes, still run at Epsom Downs Racecourse in England. That was in turn named for Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby, who inaugurated the race in 1780...
winner on record.
As a breeder of stock he had few equals in the matter of judgement, and no superior in the extent of his dealings. Whenever he desired to buy either brood mares or stallion
Stallion
A Stallion is a male horse.Stallion may also refer to:* Stallion , an American pop rock group* Stallion , a figure in the Gobot toyline* Stallion , a character in the console role-playing game series...
s, it was not of the least use to oppose him at an auction sale. Amongst his very numerous purchases he gave 3,000 guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
s for Kingston
Kingston (horse)
Kingston was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He won 89 races, the most in the history of the sport of Thoroughbred racing. Of his 138 starts, he was out of the money only on four occasions. He was later inducted into the United States Racing Hall of Fame.-Breeding:He was bred by James R. Keene...
, 5,000 guineas for Blink Bonny, 5,800 guineas for Gladiateur
Gladiateur
Gladiateur was a French Hall of Fame Thoroughbred racehorse who won the English Triple Crown in 1865. Gladiateur is called a legend by France Galop and "One of the best horses ever to grace the turf in any century" by the National Sporting Library of Middleburg, Virginia...
, 2,000 guineas for Rosa Bonheur, and 5,000 guineas for Blair Athol
Blair Athol
Blair Athol may refer to several places:*Blair Athol, South Australia*Blair Athol, New South Wales, Australia*Blair Atholl, ScotlandIn sport:*Blair Athol was a British thoroughbred racehorse...
. The horses were pastured and stabled at his three establishments at Middle Park, Waltham Cross
Waltham Cross
Waltham Cross is the most southeasterly town in Hertfordshire, England. It is 12 miles from the City of London and immediately north of the M25 motorway, forming part of the Greater London Urban Area and London commuter belt. Part of Waltham Cross is located within Greater London.-Geography:It is...
, and Esher
Esher
Esher is a town in the Surrey borough of Elmbridge in South East England near the River Mole. It is a very prosperous part of the Greater London Urban Area, largely suburban in character, and is situated 14.1 miles south west of Charing Cross....
.
He was never satisfied unless he was constantly weeding and improving his stock. The annual sales of stock at Middle Park drew together all connected with the turf, not only in England, but from France and other countries. Middle Park was then the largest breeding stud that any country ever saw, and considered one of the sights of England. After 1866 it was found necessary to hold two annual sales to dispose of the increase in the stock.
Blenkiron bred Hermit
Hermit (horse)
Hermit was a 19th-century British Thoroughbred racehorse that was a direct descendant of Eclipse. He won the 1867 Epsom Derby, despite running in a snowstorm at 1000:15 odds with 10 false starts.-Breeding:...
, the Derby winner in 1867, and Gamos, which won the Oaks in 1870. These stud farms paid their proprietor a handsome return on his outlay during his lifetime, and his liberality was shown in many ways, conspicuously, however, in his founding the great two-year-old race at Newmarket, to which he contributed for some time 1,000l. a year.
He died at Middle Park 25 September 1871, in his sixty-fourth year, and was buried in Eltham churchyard 30 September.