About this lot

Description

Harry Hall (British, 1815-1882) "Ackworth", a thoroughbred racehorse signed and dated "Harry Hall 1865" lower right oil on canvas 69 x 90cm (27 x 35in)
Other Notes: Ackworth was a brown colt foaled in 1861 by Fazzoletto out of Consternation. He initially raced for a bookmaker named Harry Hill. Trained by John Day, he showed little form until running third in the 1864 Cesarewitch, after which he was sold for a lot of money (about 2,000 guineas) to the notorious Marquis of Hastings. On 25th October 1864, he beat 37 others in the Cambridgeshire and scored the Marquis' first major triumph, winning by a head at 13 to 1. The Hastings colours were Scarlet with a White hoop and cap and Ackworth was ridden by Tom Cannon. The horse won 6 races in 1865 but later lost his form, having been sold along with all the other horses owned by Hastings when he completely ran out of money. Hastings initially won a lot of money but within 4 years he lost his entire estate - over £100,000 due to the victory of Henry Chaplin's Hermit in the 1867 Derby. This has been the subject of numerous books as Hastings had eloped with Chaplin's fiancée Florence Paget. We are grateful to David Oldrey for his assistance with this catalogue entry.
Oil on canvas which has been lined. The canvas and paint layer are in a good condition overall. There are a few areas of retouching across the surface. The varnish is thick, glossy and slightly yellowed with fly spots. The frame is in a poor condition and the gilding is actively flaking.

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