John Wootton (Snitterfield, Warwickshire c. 1682-1764 London)

The racehorse shown is very likely Desdemona by Greyhound out of Chesnut Thornton, foaled in 1714 and bred by Mr Crofts. Sold on to the 1st Duke of Wharton, the details of her career may be incomplete owning to the paucity of records before 1727. Her first recorded race was at Newmarket on 9 October 1719 when she won the race called 'The Noblemen's Contributions-money' for 5 year olds, beating a field of six others headed by the Duke of Rutland's black mare Ebony. Other wins included a 200 guinea match against Lord Hillsborough's Ragged Star at Newmarket on 31 October 1719.

The Duke of Wharton was a staunch Whig and it was said he would send a top class horse anywhere to run for a race of no significance if hethought he could thereby deprive some Tory squire of his local laurels.