Horse Racing.- Thomas Coleman

Horse Racing.- Thomas Coleman

Collection of autograph letters to Mr Thomas Coleman, trainer of race-horses at St. Albans, mostly from members of the British aristocracy and horse owners, regarding sales and transactions, including: the Marquess of Titchfield (“I shall be obliged to you to ascertain for me the following particulars relating to Trinculo: 1^st What is his lowest price- 2nd Whether in your opinion his ill temper will be cured by cutting- 3^rd if you are allowed to get upon the horse’s back whether in your opinion he is likely to make a riding horse and worth the price that is put upon him”); the Duke of Richmond (“I am obliged to you for the offer of your Brood Mare. I have got so many in my stud that I am obliged to decline buying any more”), the Earl of Verulam (“Our races soon to take here, Lord Exeter, Gen. Grosvenor, Col. Peel, Sowerby,, Mr Grenville, Lord Albemarle, will each have horses and I see that the Gorhambury Stakes have several names down to them, I hope the Ground will turn out well”), the Earl of Jersey (“I think I once before said to you as I say now Casar being yours, that I believe most firmly that he was one of the very best race-horses ever bred”), v.s., some folding marks and discolouration, c. 1830s-1850s (32)

***Thomas Coleman is usually credited with the invention of steeplechasing. On March 8th 1832 a number of horses and riders assembled outside the Turf Hotel in St. Albans (owned by Coleman) for what is now known as the first of a series of steeplechases organised by Coleman himself.