Local Stallion "Wilks"

Bath Chronicle 22nd March 1770

"Breeding to cover this season, the bay horse “Wilks” (1st Season) at 1guin &2s 6d (list of pedigree & races won) at Bradford, Wilts"

The one guinea fee was a fee per mare that was covered. The 2s 6d was for the services of the stud groom. The leading stallions at this time could attract up to 20 guineas.

Bath Chronicle 12th April 1770

"Now in the hands of Mosses Butler, and to cover this season, at Marshfield in the County of Gloucester, the beautiful high bred running horse, Young Babraham. He is a bright chestnut, with a Blaze down his face, full 15 hands and an inch high, and master of 16 stone after the fleetest hounds in the kingdom. And to encourage all gentlemen breeders, he will cover this season at so low a price as on guinea a mare, and half a crown the groom; the money to be paid the first time of covering.

Young Babraham was bred by the Marquis of Tavistock, and got by Alcides, his dam by Blaze, his Grandam by Old Partner, his great Grandam by Old Babraham, and his great great Grandam by the Godolphin Arabian. He is allowed by good judges of the Turf to be the highest bred horse that has covered in these parts for many years past; his pedigree is perfect and true. He broke down at four years old in his training by an accident; is now only 5 years old, and this is the first year of his covering.

He shall run any horse within twenty miles of Bristol or Bath, for 50 or a 100 guineas, that has been kept as a covering Stallion, and is kept as a stallion now at this time.

He will be at the Old Bear in Bradford every Monday, at the Lord's Arms in Westbury every other Tuesday; at the White Lion in Frome every other Wednesday; at the Wool Pack in Trowbridge every other Saturday; and at home every Sunday. He will likewise be at Melksham every other Tuesday; at Steeple Ashton every other Wednesday; at Devizes every other Thursday; and at the Pelican in Walcot street, Bath, every other Saturday, during the Season."

The Marquess of Tavistock

If the pedigree given for Young Babraham is true, it is indeed reasonably impressive. His supposed breeder, Francis Russell, Marquess of Tavistock (27 September 1739 – 22 March 1767), was the eldest son of the 4th Duke of Bedford. Lord Tavistock died in 1767 after falling from his horse while out hunting, and his eldest son succeeded as Duke of Bedford four years later. Lord Tavistock's early death and the injury that interrupted his training may account for the horse ending up at Butler's establishment. The stallion Alcides was by Babraham, a son of the Godolphin Arabian, one of the three famous foundation stallions of the thoroughbred horse who Butler claims as a descendant on the dam side as well. 

The Godolphin Arabian, by George Stubbs

Bath Chronicle 31st May 1770

"The Public having been greatly imposed upon by an advertisement inserted by Mr Moses Butler, of Marshfield that his horse Babraham should run with any stallion that covers within 20 miles of Bath or Bristol for 100 guineas - The proprietor of Wilks (though Mr Butler and his horse are alike unworthy notice) in justice to the public and to prevent their being any longer deluded by his puffs in the newspapers, takes this method to inform them that he has given Mr Butler a challenge to run with him at any time or place, and for any sum he should appoint; but Mr Butler has been so prudent as to refuse accepting the said challenge, knowing it would be only exposing himself, and giving many people an opportunity of feeling and knowing the horse, which, though now puffed off with a fine name and pedigree, was largely given away as a horse of no value, and not worthy keeping, and was since bought by Mr Butler.

Wilks will be at the White Lion, Bath, on Saturday the 2nd of June, and at Trowbridge Saturday the 9th."

Interestingly, Wilk's connections do not challenge Butler's pedigree but support the view of a well-bred horse rejected by its breeder. Whether as is implied this rejection was based on poor performance or whether the problem was the injury claimed by Butler we do not know.

Bath Chronicle April 25 1771

"To be Sold.

At Mr Samuel White's, at Bradford Wilts, the noted high bred horse Wilks. His pedigree and performance are too well know to need a further recital. He is now ten years old, and has covered only one season."

First well documented race meetings in Bath

William Capell

In his racing calendar, John Cheny (1727–1750) carries details of the first well-documented race meeting in Bath on the 25th of September 1728. The meeting took place on Claverton Down when William Capell, 3rd Earl of Essex’s horse Smiling Ball, beat three other horses over three four-mile heats, coming first in all of them for a prize of 50 guineas.

Smiling Ball, we learn from "The Turf Register and Sportsman & Breeder's Stud-book" by William Pick, had been bred by Mr Gaze of Lincolnshire and sold to the Earl of Essex.

Smiling Ball’s sire was bred by Sir Matthew Peirson, Bart and got by Old Merlin out of a dam bred by Mr Curwen, got by his Bay Barb; grandam by the Curwen Old Spot, out of a daughter of Lord D’Arcy’s Woodcock.

At Newmarket, in April 1728, Smiling Ball, carrying 9st, beat Lord Gower’s Miss Wilkins, carrying 8st 7lb over four miles for a prize of 200gs. Incredibly, only three hours after that race, and carrying 7 st, he beat Lord Halifax’s Partner, by Jigg, carrying 9 st over a four-mile course, thus winning the Earl another 200gs.

He won 80gs at Stamford, beating Mr Bertie’s Ladythigh; walked over for 50gs at Oxford; his next race was the meeting at Bath,

After Bath, he went north and won the Gold Cup, valued 50gs at Warwick, beating Mr Cole’s Singlepeeper and Mr Howe’s Lampire.

So, in a single year, he won his owner 710gs worth or approximately £65,000 at today's values. This, of course, does not include His Lordship's winnings at the betting post.

In 1729, he won £50 carrying 10st at Guilford, beating Lord Onslow’s Singlepeeper and Mr Bennet’s Bumper. He then won another Gold Cup, value 50gs at Andover and £30 at Grantham, beating Mr Heneage’s Whitenose and three others; 40gs at Leicester; and 10gs at Epsom.

At stud, he sire several notable horses, including Mr Mewburn’s Smiling Ball, Sir Harry Harpur’s Darling, Mr Shaw’s Ploughman, Mr Barker’s Venture, Mr Arundale’s Fancy, Lord March’s Roderick Random, and several others.

The other horses in the race were:

Mr Kirby's Black horse Collier
Rev. Mr Thorpe's Chestnut gelding Frostyface

In Bath, we have another record of racing on the 1st and 2nd November 1728 featuring two races, one for six horses over three four-mile heats for 20 guineas won by Mr Longton’s unnamed grey horse. The second race was for Galloway’s and was won by Mr Proctor’s grey mare Northern-Nancy.