Bay Middleton was a bay colt, bred by the Earl of Jersey in 1833, and was got by Sultan, out of Cobweb (bred by Lord Jersey in 1821), by Phantom, out of a filigree (bred by his Lordship in 1815), by Soothsayer, out of Web (bred by the Duke of Grafton in 1808), by Waxy, out of Penelope, by Trumpator, out of Prunella, by Highflyer, out of Promise, by Old Snap, out of Julia, by Blank, out of Spectrum’s Dam, by Old Partner, out of Bonny Lass, by Bay Bolton, Her Dam by the Darley Arabian, out of a daughter of the Byerley Turk, &c. Bay Middleton was rather short in his back ribs, and somewhat weak in his loins, but his brisket, thighs, and hocks, were as good as they could be. His fine hind-quarters, wicked style of head, and arched neck may be traced in many of his descendants. No horse (says “The Druid”) that Mr Herring ever painted, impressed him so firmly in the belief that this distinguished son of Sultan possessed both the heart and muscular power to do what he liked with any horses opposed to him. Bay Middleton was very ill in 1856, and died in November, 1857. He was buried close to his stable, and Lord Jersey sent a message to Mr Mostyn to beg his forefoot. Bay Middleton was a most frantic subject to handle at first, and became so unruly that Lord Jersey, meeting James Robinson by chance in London, begged him to ride him, as none of the stable-lads dared to do so. Robinson accordingly booked himself by the Magnet Coach, and started for Newmarket, where, on his arrival at midnight, he knocked Edwards, his Lordship’s trainer, up, who, in his nightcap, exclaimed, “Thank God you’ve come. He’s bolted with everybody, and we'll gallop him in the morning, at the Cambridge Gap.” Before mounting, Robinson had some fearful warnings from Paddy Carey, the head stable-boy. Robinson told him to hold Bay Middleton fast by the head till he was well seated. “My flesh,” said Paddy, “I’d rather hold the hack, we’ll all be killed together”, and he let go his head. The martingale, being too short, was told to let it out, when the horse trod upon and broke it, and finding his head loose, he went off like a shot. Edwards, on Sepoy, tried to lead him, but he had no notion of following anything. Robinson by degrees made him quite docile, and in his match with Muezzin, he went off with his “ears pricked”. (From “The Druid”) Bay Middleton's Performances - 1836 At Newmarket Craven, 8st 7lbs (then described as Brother to Nell Gwynne), ridden by J. Robinson, won the Riddlesworth, of 200 sovs. each, h.ft., twenty-two subscribers, beating in the commonest of canters Mr Walker’s ch.f. Emineh, by Sultan, 8st 4lbs, Mr Houldsworth’s ch.f. Destiny, by Sultan, 8st 4lbs, b. c. Ermine, by Emilius, and b. c. Magician, by Zinganee. Until this event, the Brother to Nell Gwynne (afterwards named Bay Middleton) had the credit of being a bad-tempered horse, but it was now discovered that he was merely a horse of very high courage, a fine, slashing, muscular, clean-limbed, racing-like nag. S. mg., w. o. for £150. At Newmarket (First Spring), 8st 7lbs each (Robinson), won the 200 Guineas, beating Lord Lichfield’s ch. c. Elis, by Langar, second, Lord Berners’ ch. c. Brother to May Day, by Lamplighter, third, the Duke of Grafton’s b. c. Calmuck, by Zinganee, fourth, Lord Exeter's b. c. Muezzin, by Sultan, and ch. c. Whaley, by Langar 6 to 4 on Bay Middleton, and 5 to 2 against Elis. At Epsom (Robinson), won the Derby, of £3475, beating Lord Wilton’s ch. c. Gladiator, by Partisan (W. Scott), second, Mr J. Day’s b. c. Venison, by Partisan (j. Day), third; also Colonel Peel’s b. c. Slane, by Royal Oak (A. Pavis), and his b. c. Mr Waggs, by Langar (Nat), Mr Wm. Chifney's b. c. The Athenian, by Partisan (F. Butler), the Duke of Richmond’s br. c. Sepoy, by Mulatto (F. Boyce), Lord Chesterfiled’s b. c. Alfred, by Patisan (s. Rodgers), Sir L. Glynn’s ch. c. Recruit, by The Colonel (s. Day), and thirteen others; 7 to 4 against Bay Middleton, 7 to 2 against Venison, and 11 to 1 against Gladiator. Lord Egremont’s br. c. Hock, by Chateau Margaux (G. Edwards), took the lead, followed by Muezzin (P. Conolly), Sepoy, Slane, Venison, Recruit, and Mr Waggs. The pace was moderate to the top of the hill, where Hock resigned the lead to Muezzin, Slane being now third, and Bay Middleton lying in the centre of the ruck. Before reaching the furzes, Slane went in front, forcing the pace at his best, followed by Venison. Muezzin (Conolly), and Gladiator. In this order they came round Tattenham Corner. Approaching the distance Bay Middleton was fourth, and Muezzin having retired beaten, as did Slane also, shortly after, when Gladiator took the lead, with Venison next, and Bay Middleton close up. Within the half distance, Robinson challenged Gladiator, ran level with him for fifty yards, and then went brilliantly ahead, winning by two lengths. At Ascot, 9st 2lbs (Robinson), won the Buckhurst Stakes, of £550, beating Muezzin in a canter, 8st 7lbs (Sam Darling). At Newmarket (First October), 8st 7lbs each (Robinson), won the Duke Michael Stakes, of £1150, beating Elis (John Day), by a length; 5 to 2 on Bay Middleton. This was a tremendous struggle, and will never be forgotten by those who saw it; but notwithstanding Day’s resolute riding, and the lavish use of whip and spur to the flanks of one of the best and gamest horses that ever ran, Bay Middleton secured the victory. Robinson touched him once with the whip, the only time he ever did so. At Newmarket (Houghton), 8st 12lbs (Robinson), match 300gs, beat Muezzin, 7st 13lbs, with ridiculous ease; and this was the last appearance on the Turf of the magnificent son of Sultan. It would fill a volume to record all Robinson’s splendid triumphs in their pigskin over a period of forty years. He was admitted to be Premier Jockey of his day, and was engaged in all the principal events on the Turf. Nothing in the art of riding ever equalled Frank Buckle's bull-dog courage, Jem Robinson’s “short heads on the post”, and Sam Chifney’s “mighty rushes” and “power in the saddle”. William Joseph Shayer was an animal and landscape painter, the eldest son of William Shayer Senior. It is thought that he studied at his fathers studio, before exhibiting at the Suffolk Street Galleries and subsequently at the Royal Academy and the British Institution. Shayer is best known for his coaching pictures, and many of Shayer’s figures are good portraits of characters of the time. Much of his work was engraved and mostly published by Ackermann’s. 1. T. H. Taunton, Portraits of Celebrated Race Horses 1824-1842, Low Publishers, 1887-1888, pages 180-182
The Hon. Arthur Villiers, to: The Manor Charitable Trust
T. H. Taunton, Portraits of Celebrated Race Horses 1824-1842, Low Publishers, 1887-1888, pages 180-182