Only a few days earlier, we’d been stumbling around the yards of Stockton town centre in pursuit of the truth – well, urine deflectors – and had been up and down Hambletonian Yard. What is this Hambletonian?
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The members of Norton Heritage Group, of course, knew.
The Hambletonian overlooking the duckpond on Norton’s famous greenHambletonian was the greatest racehorse of his day, foaled in 1792 by John Hutchinson, from Hutton Rudby. He was named after the Hambleton Hills, which are topped by Sutton Bank. Horseracing had taken place on the hills since at least 1612, and it was there that Hambletonian won his first race in 1794.
The following year, Sir Charles Turner, of Kirkleatham Hall near Redcar, bought the horse and on September 22, he won his greatest prize: the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster.
But Sir Charles was betrothed to Theresa Newcomen whose father insisted he give up the horses before the marriage went ahead.
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So in 1796, Hambletonian was sold to Sir Henry Vane-Tempest of Wynyard Hall, and continued his winning ways – he lost only one of his 17 races.
His most famous victory was on March 25, 1799, at Newmarket against Diamond, the champion horse of the south. To a “hurricane of applause” (it was said that all Yorkshire had travelled down to watch), the champion of the north won by half-a-neck, his extraordinary last stride of 21ft taking him clear.
Sir Henry was highly delighted. He had 3,000 guineas riding on the victory, and to celebrated, he commissioned George Stubbs – the most famous horse painter of all time – to capture the horse moments after its triumph. The result is one of the most famous horse paintings of all time: life-size, the huge horse, still sweating and skittish after its race, dominates the racecourse.
Hambletonian in 1818, by George Stubbs. The trainer on the right is believed to be Thomas Fields, of Silvio Hall in Richmond. The unknown stablelad has a peculiar hand on the horse’s neck. The painting is owned by the National Trust and is in the Vane-Tempest house of Mount Stewart in County Down, Northern Ireland, which is open to the publicHowever, there was some dispute because to get his money, Stubbs had to take Sir Henry to court. Perhaps the dispute resolved around the two characters, who appear to be later additions – the stablelad’s hand on the horse’s neck looks most peculiar.
Hambletonian then retired to stud, standing at Wynyard Hall and at Catterick. His most famous descendant was Voltigeur, which won the Derby and the St Leger in 1850 – Voltigeur’s owner, Lord Zetland, erected the Voltigeur arch in his honour which can still be seen in Richmond.
Hambletonian died on March 28, 1818, at Wynyard and is buried beneath a mound beside the walled garden.
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