The first race was won by Lord Courtenay's 3-year-old bay filly Adeline, bred by Highflier, who bested the field in the first two of the heats. This race was a selling plate requiring that the winner be put on sale for 50g to anyone applying within 15 minutes, with the owner of the second horse having first refusal.
William "Kitty" Courtenay, 9th Earl of Devon (c. 1768 – 26 May 1835), was the only son of William Courtenay, de jure 8th Earl of Devon, 2nd Viscount Courtenay and his wife Frances Clack. He attracted infamy for a homosexual affair with art collector William Beckford from boyhood when it was discovered and publicised by his uncle. From October 1788 until 1831, his official title was The Rt. Hon. The Viscount Courtenay of Powderham. Although following the scandal, Courtney lived abroad for most of his life, there is every indication that he had returned to Britain in the early part of the 1790s as not only does he seem to have entered his own horse in this race, but he had his portrait painted by the London based miniaturist Richard Cosway in 1793.
Highflyer was one of the most influential sires of the Georgian era.
This race was followed by a match where Mr Dottin's Conjuror, by Highflyer, 6 yrs old, 10st. I0lb beat Mr Chichester's Minister, aged 11st. 3lb. Ridden by their owners, over four miles, for 50gs.
Mr Dottin has not been positively identified but is likely to be one of the Dottin family of prominent Barbadian plantation owners, possibly Abel Rous Dottin, the son of Abel Dottin of Grenada Hall, Barbados, who was High Sherriff of Oxfordshire in 1764 and who had died in 1784 when his son has inherited the family estates. At the time of this match, Abel was in his early 20s and a Cornet in the Life Guards.
1. Bath Chronicle
