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.

Newspaper reports of Bath Races July 1817

The July meeting on Lansdown was run over two days, Wednesday the 2nd and Thursday the 3rd, and it was reported to be a great success. The ancillary entertainments, such as the special balls and ordinaries, were well attended.

"Our races have this year greatly increased in celebrity as double the number of running horses appeared on the Down than had been seen there for several years since. The company on both days was numerous, especially on Thursday."

On Wednesday, the proceedings started when Mr Dundas's horse was matched against Mr Calley's Shrog over one mile for a 100gs stake. Mr Calley's horse failed to start.

Next came a sweepstakes of 25gs a horse entered. Six horses were named, but only three started. In what the Bath Chronicle described as "An excellent race," the prize went to Mr Tomes, the winner's owner, Duplicate.

In the 100gs match that followed, Mr Jone's Fatima beat Mr Dundas's Pyramus.

A sweepstake followed with a 5gs subscription plus £50 in added money from the "Racing Fund". 27 horses were named for this, but only 11 raced. The horse that crossed the line first was Mr Bamfyldes Bullrush, but as he had run the wrong side of one of the posts marking the course, the stakes were given to Mr West as the owner of the second horse, Bulgarian.

The day's sport ended with the Country Members' £50 plate run over 3, probably a mile, heats, and a win by Sir T Cope's Buffalo.

On Thursday, "the expectation of fine weather drew together a great concourse of spectators, particularly of females;"

The day's amusements started with a race for a Gold Cup worth 100gs. Thirteen owners paid 10gs to enter, and the race, which was run over 3 miles, was won by Mr King's horse Gainsborough.

Next came the City Members' £50 plate run over 3 heats, which was won by Mr Farquharson's Grey Marquis.

This race was not intended to be the last of the meeting, "but about noon a heavy and incessant rain terminated the pleasures of the scene, and afforded another instance of the uncertainty of all sublunary enjoyments! The greater part of the assembly retreated to the adjacent booths, which were in a short time so thronged that numbers were compelled to creep for a temporary shelter under the coaches, waggons, &co that remained stationary. These vehicles, however, afforded them but little service since they were very shortly put in requisition to convey homeward those who chose to purchase a disagreeable ride at a high rate: three females were contented to take their journey in the boot of a stage-coach, and many were even deprived of this convenience and rode home in waggons and carts. But the groups of poor female pedestrians exhibited scenes at once calculated to excite risibility and pity: some had lost their shoes in the mud, and the whole appeared as though they had literally waded thro’ a river, while the exposure of delicate legs and ankles drew from some barbarous spectators many curious remarks!"

Despite this disastrous ending, "a considerable subscription" was raised to organise the races in 1818, for which Col. Tynte was appointed steward.

Charles Tynte by Andrew Plimer

Col. Charles Tynte lived at Halsewell House, Somerset and Kevanmably Glamorganshire and was a colonel of the West Somerset Cavalry.

Halsewell House Cira 1830

Races of 1817 a business opportunity

Races were major events attracting large crowds and money. This advert shows how businesses would seek to divert some of this money to their venture. This touring showman has created an exhibition commemorating the Bombardment of Algiers, an event which took place the previous year.

The Bombardment was an attempt by Britain to end the slavery practices of the Dey of Algiers. An Anglo-Dutch fleet under the command of Admiral Lord Exmouth bombarded ships and the harbour defences of Algiers.

Although there was a continuing campaign by various European and American navies to suppress the piracy against Europeans by the North African Barbary states, the specific aim of this expedition was to free Christian slaves and to stop the practice of enslaving Europeans. To this end, it was partially successful as the Dey of Algiers freed around 3,000 slaves following the bombardment and signed a treaty against the slavery of Europeans. However, this slavery did not end entirely until the European conquest of Africa.

Racing in Bath in 1733

According to John Cheny's "An historical list of all horse-matches run, and of all plates and prizes run for in England and Wales (of the value of ten pounds or upwards) in 1733", there was racing in Bath on both the 17th and 18th October 1733 probably on Claverton Down.

On the 17th, the race was for a purse of £20 guineas over two heats carrying 11 stone. The result of both heats was the same with Mr Howe's horse Fox-hunter coming first, Mr Leman's grey gelding Fox-hunter coming second and Mr Try's grey mare Crop coming third.

On the 18th the horses raced were Galloways. The Galloway breed is now extinct, they take their name from the area of Scotland where they were first bred. The were sturdy beasts which rarely exceeded 14 hands.

The Galloways raced over two heats and were handicapped by age. Again both heats produced the same result with The Ratcatcher's Mare beating Mr Figg's chestnut horse Bald-Galloway.