John Frederick Herring, Sen. (Blackfriars, London 1795-1865 Meopham, Kent)

Hornsea, by Velocipede out of a mare by Cerberus, was a chesnut colt bred by William Richardson and foaled in 1832. In 1835, racing for his breeder, Hornsea won the Newcastle St. Leger and the 100 guineas King's Plate at York, before contesting the Doncaster St. Leger in which he finished a creditable second to Queen of Trumps. At the same meeting Hornsea was also second in the Gold Cup, this time to Lord Westminster's Touchstone. (A fine depiction of this race by Herring has been sold three times at Christie's, most recently Christie's New York, 9 December 2004, lot 12.) Bought by Lord Chesterfield for 1,800 guineas, Hornsea won the Heaton Park St. Leger the same season, before his Goodwood Cup triumph, in which he beat Lord George Bentinck's celebrated Elis who went on to win the St. Leger. Lord Chesterfield had remarkable success at Goodwood, also winning the Gold Cup in 1831 and 1832, both with Priam, and in 1837 with Carew. Hornsea's other victories included the King's Plate at Newmarket. He was retired to stud at Bretby.