Cotherstone (horse)

File:Cotherstone Village - geograph.org.uk - 533759.jpg.]]

Cotherstone was a "bright" bay horse with a small white star and one white pastern, standing 15.2 hands high,{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJJTAAAAIAAJ&q=Cotherstone+Derby&pg=PA70-IA5 |title=The farmer's magazine - Google Books |year=1843 |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=2023-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228154804/https://books.google.com/books?id=bJJTAAAAIAAJ&q=Cotherstone+Derby&pg=PA70-IA5#v=snippet&q=Cotherstone%20Derby&f=false |url-status=live }} bred by his owner John Bowes at his stud at Streatlam Castle in County Durham. Bowes named the colt after a nearby village. Cotherstone's dam was a mare named Emma, who had already produced the 1835 Derby winner Mündig, and went on to give birth to Mowerina, the dam of the Triple Crown winner West Australian. His sire, Touchstone, won the St Leger and two Ascot Gold Cups, before going on to be an outstandingly successful stallion. Apart from Cotherstone, his classic winners included Surplice, Orlando and Newminster{{cite web |url=http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Touchstone.htm |title=Touchstone |publisher=Bloodlines.net |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=2012-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207224528/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Touchstone.htm |url-status=live }} and he was Champion sire on four occasions.{{cite web |url=http://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/LeadingSires/GBLeadSires.html |title=Leading Sires of Great Britain and Ireland |publisher=Tbheritage.com |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=2011-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514052305/http://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/LeadingSires/GBLeadSires.html |url-status=live }}

Bowes sent Cotherstone into training with John Scott who trained forty classic winners at his base at Whitewall stables, Malton, North Yorkshire. The colt was ridden in most of his important races by the trainer's younger brother, Bill Scott. Cotherstone was not an impressive individual at first, being weak and sickly as a yearling, and making little progress as a two-year-old. He was described as being "thin-fleshed" and "always amiss".{{cite web |author=Patricia Erigero Thoroughbred Heritage |url=http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/GibsideFairy.html#Cotherstone |title=Gibside Fairy |publisher=Tbheritage.com |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=2012-01-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120116165232/http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/GibsideFairy.html#Cotherstone |url-status=live }}

Cotherstone began to show potential towards the end of 1842 and despite being beaten in a private trial race by a colt named The Era{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kcK5Y5h-wfMC&q=Cotherstone&pg=PR4 |title=Scott and Sebright - Enrique Hall Dixon - Google Books |access-date=2012-01-15 |last1=Dixon |first1=Enrique Hall |year=1862 |archive-date=2023-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228154646/https://books.google.com/books?id=kcK5Y5h-wfMC&q=Cotherstone&pg=PR4#v=snippet&q=Cotherstone&f=false |url-status=live }} (a future Northumberland Plate winner), he was sent to run at Newmarket in the autumn. Before he ran, Cotherstone had been introduced into the betting lists for the following year's Derby, with bookmakers offering odds of 20/1 on 20 October.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DSQGAAAAQAAJ&q=Cotherstone+Derby&pg=PA504 |title=The Sporting magazine; or Monthly calendar of the transactions of the turf ... - Google Books |year=1842 |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=2023-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228154804/https://books.google.com/books?id=DSQGAAAAQAAJ&q=Cotherstone+Derby&pg=PA504#v=snippet&q=Cotherstone%20Derby&f=false |url-status=live }} On 24 October he made his public debut when he ran in the Criterion Stakes in which he finished unplaced behind Gaper, Pineapple and Testy.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RclMAAAAYAAJ&q=Cotherstone&pg=PA270 |title=The pictorial gallery of English race horses: containing portraits of all ... - George Tattersall - Google Books |access-date=2012-01-15 |last1=Tattersall |first1=George |year=1850 |archive-date=2023-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228154808/https://books.google.com/books?id=RclMAAAAYAAJ&q=Cotherstone&pg=PA270#v=snippet&q=Cotherstone&f=false |url-status=live }} Four days later he reappeared in the Nursery Stakes in which he ran a dead-heat with an unnamed filly later called Mania.{{cite web |url=http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Bios-C/Cotherstone.htm |title=Cotherstone |publisher=Bloodlines.net |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=2011-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924201259/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios2/Bios-C/Cotherstone.htm |url-status=live }} The owners of the two winners agreed to divide the prize money. Cotherstone's efforts at Newmarket did not impress the bookmakers and his odds for the Derby drifted out to 50/1. At the end of 1842, Bowes lost patience with the colt and planned to sell him to Scott, but the deal fell through at the last moment.{{cite book | last1 = Mortimer | first1 = Roger |last2=Onslow|first2=Richard|last3=Willett|first3=Peter| title = Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing| publisher=Macdonald and Jane’s | year = 1978| isbn = 0-354-08536-0}}

In early 1843 an impressive performance in a training gallop with a good horse name All Fours convinced Bowes and John Scott that Cotherstone was a serious contender for the Derby. Bill Scott, who rode the colt in the trial was convinced that he was the best that he had ever ridden.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_Do_AQAAIAAJ&q=Cotherstone+Derby&pg=PA62 |title=The Saturday review of politics, literature, science and art - John Douglas Cook, Philip Harwood, Walter Herries Pollock, Frank Harris, Harold Hodge - Google Books |year=1862 |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=2023-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228154648/https://books.google.com/books?id=_Do_AQAAIAAJ&q=Cotherstone+Derby&pg=PA62#v=snippet&q=Cotherstone%20Derby&f=false |url-status=live }} Bowes placed a series of large bets on the colt and arranged for strict security measures at the Malton stables to protect him from any attempts by unscrupulous bookmakers to "nobble" (deliberately injure) him. Cotherstone made his first public appearance as a three-year-old at the Craven meeting at Newmarket on 17 April when ran in the Riddlesworth Stakes. Ridden by Frank Butler, he settled in second place before going clear in the closing stages to win by three lengths from Pompey. His odds for the Derby were immediately shortened from 20/1 to 12/1.{{cite web |url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZGWS18431014.2.11&srpos=1&e=01-01-1842-31-12-1845--10--1----0Cotherstone-- |title=Papers Past — New Zealand Gazette and Wellington Spectator — 14 October 1843 — SPORTING INTELLIGENCE |publisher=Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=2015-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213003143/http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZGWS18431014.2.11&srpos=1&e=01-01-1842-31-12-1845--10--1----0Cotherstone-- |url-status=live }} Two days later he added the Column Produce Stakes, in which the beaten horses included the filly Extempore, who went on to win the 1000 Guineas. So impressive were Cotherstone's performances that when he returned to Newmarket for the 2000 Guineas at the Spring meeting, only two horses turned out to oppose him. Starting at odds of 1/3 he won by three lengths in "a mere canter"{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8R0GAAAAQAAJ&q=Cotherstone+&pg=PA382 |title=The Sporting magazine; or Monthly calendar of the transactions of the turf ... - Google Books |year=1843 |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=2023-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228154640/https://books.google.com/books?id=8R0GAAAAQAAJ&q=Cotherstone+&pg=PA382#v=snippet&q=Cotherstone&f=false |url-status=live }} from Cornopean and Mallard.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WtoGAAAAYAAJ&q=Cotherstone+&pg=PA111 |title=Racing calendar - Robert J. Hunter, Turf Club (Dublin, Ireland) - Google Books |year=1844 |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=2023-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228154717/https://books.google.com/books?id=WtoGAAAAYAAJ&q=Cotherstone+&pg=PA111#v=snippet&q=Cotherstone&f=false |url-status=live }}

Image:John Hayes - Portrait of the jockey William Scott (1797-1848).jpg called Cotherstone the best colt he ever rode.]]

Shortly before the 1843 Derby, John Scott moved Cotherstone from Malton to complete his preparations at a stable at Leatherhead, where the colt was visited and viewed at exercise by the Queen and Prince Albert. At Epsom on 31 May, Cotherstone started 13/8 favourite for the Derby in a field of twenty-three runners, with Gaper being made second choice at 5/1.{{cite book | last1 = Morris | first1 = Tony |last2=Randall|first2=John| title = Horse Racing: Records, Facts, Champions| publisher=Guinness Publishing | year = 1990| isbn = 0-85112-902-1| edition = Third }} Despite the damp and misty weather, the race attracted the customary huge crowd, which included Prince George of Cambridge and his brother-in-law the Prince Royal of Mecklenburg.{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66021498?|title=29 Nov 1843 - EPSOM RACUS-THE DERBY DAY |publisher=Trove.nla.gov.au |access-date=2012-01-15}} After a delay caused by the behaviour of a colt named Highlander, the race began with Gaper taking an early lead. The second favourite set such a strong pace that most of the runners were soon struggling and only four other horses– Khorassan, Cotherstone, Siricol and Gorhambury– were still in contention when the leader turned into the straight. Gaper then began to tire and Bill Scott sent Cotherstone into the lead a quarter of a mile from the finish. Gorhambury (rumoured to be a four-year-old "ringer") emerged as his only challenger, but the result was never in serious doubt as the favourite steadily increased his advantage to win easily by two lengths. Apart from the £4,250 prize money, Bowes took an estimated £30,000 in winning bets.{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article662769?|title=28 Oct 1843 - ENGLISH NEWS |publisher=Trove.nla.gov.au |access-date=2012-01-15}} Celebrations at Malton were delayed, however, as the homing pigeons dispatched to convey the news of Cotherstone's victory failed to arrive.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJcbd-7pYlkC&q=Cotherstone+Derby&pg=PA9 |title=The Story of Your Life: A History of the Sporting Life Newspaper (1859-1998) - James Lambie - Google Books |isbn=9781848762916 |access-date=2012-01-15|last1=Lambie |first1=James |year=2010 }}

On his first race after the Derby, Cotherstone was sent to Goodwood. On 25 July he took the Gratwicke Stakes by two lengths from Khorassan, winning a first prize of £2,150.{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article663797?|title=16 Dec 1843 - ENGLISH NEWS|publisher=Trove.nla.gov.au|access-date=2012-01-15|archive-date=2023-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228155321/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/663797|url-status=live}} Regarding the ease of Cotherstone's victory, the Sporting magazine commented that "it would indeed be a mockery to call this a race".

Image:Cotherstone 1.jpg

On 12 September, Cotherstone traveled from Malton to Doncaster where he attempted to become the first horse to win the 2000 Guineas, the Derby and the St Leger. Although these races were recognised as the most important races of the year for three-year-old colts, the term "Triple Crown" did not come into common use for another thirty years. With Bill Scott injured, Frank Butler took the ride, and Cotherstone started the 4/6 favourite against eight opponents.{{cite web |url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NENZC18440203.2.11&srpos=1&e=01-01-1842-31-12-1845--10--1----0Cotherston-- |title=Papers Past — Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle — 3 February 1844 — LATEST ENGLISH INTELLIGENCE |publisher=Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=2015-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151213011822/http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NENZC18440203.2.11&srpos=1&e=01-01-1842-31-12-1845--10--1----0Cotherston-- |url-status=live }} His odds had drifted out from 1/2 just before the race as a great number of bets were placed on his stable companion Prizefighter.{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66015957?|title=17 Jan 1844 - DONCASTER RACES|publisher=Trove.nla.gov.au|access-date=2012-01-15|archive-date=2023-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228155331/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/66015957|url-status=live}} Prizefighter set off in front, set a very strong pace and was still leading in the straight. Cotherstone moved up to contest the lead together with the outsider Nutwith and the three colts raced together throughout the final quarter of a mile. Cotherstone held a slight lead inside the final furlong, but Nutwith, under a strong ride from Job Marson, caught him in the last strides and won by a head with Prizefighter a neck away in third. There was considerable anger after the race among followers of the Scott stable who felt that the race tactics had not suited either of their runners.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hq4IAQAAIAAJ&q=Cotherstone+Derby&pg=PA132-IA5 |title=American Turf Register and Sporting Magazine - J. S. Skinner - Google Books |year=1844 |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=2023-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228155207/https://books.google.com/books?id=Hq4IAQAAIAAJ&q=Cotherstone+Derby&pg=PA132-IA5#v=snippet&q=Cotherstone%20Derby&f=false |url-status=live }} There were also allegations that Frank Butler, had pulled Cotherstone (held him back to prevent him from winning) on the orders of John Gully, who had wagered heavily on Prizefighter.

Two days later, Cotherstone reappeared to win the £200 Three Year Old Stakes, easily{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article664585?|title=27 Jan 1844 - BRITISH EXTRACTS|publisher=Trove.nla.gov.au|access-date=2012-01-15|archive-date=2023-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228155311/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/664585|url-status=live}} beating Napier by two lengths. On his final start of the season, Cotherstone ran in the valuable Royal Stakes at Newmarket in October. Carrying a ten pound weight penalty, he won the £1,195 prize "without an effort"{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page4282697?|title=27 Feb 1844 - The Australian - p3|publisher=Trove.nla.gov.au|access-date=2012-01-15|archive-date=2023-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228155310/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/4282697|url-status=live}} by a length from Fakeaway. Cotherstone's seven wins in 1843 earned his owner at least £12,765, making him the most successful horse of the year in Britain: the second highest earner was Gaper with £3,600{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article667207?|title=15 Jun 1844 - BRITISH EXTRACTS. WINNING HORSES IN GREAT BRITAIN|publisher=Trove.nla.gov.au|access-date=2012-01-15|archive-date=2023-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228155308/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/667207|url-status=live}} Later reports give Cotherstone's winnings as £13,790{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2948879?|title=17 Apr 1845 - SPORTING INTELLIGENCE|publisher=Trove.nla.gov.au|access-date=2012-01-15|archive-date=2023-12-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228155310/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2948879|url-status=live}}

Before he ran as a four-year-old, Cotherstone was sold for 3,000 guineas as a potential Stallion to Lord Spencer. He made his first and only appearance of the year in a Sweepstakes at Goodwood. He broke down injured in the race, and never ran again.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I3AXAAAAYAAJ&q=Cotherstone+Goodwood+Aristides&pg=PA178 |title=The Sportsman's magazine of life in London and the country - Google Books |year=1845 |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=2023-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228155324/https://books.google.com/books?id=I3AXAAAAYAAJ&q=Cotherstone+Goodwood+Aristides&pg=PA178#v=snippet&q=Cotherstone%20Goodwood%20Aristides&f=false |url-status=live }}

Cotherstone was held in extremely high regard by contemporary observers. Commenting on his defeat in the St Leger the American Turf Register and Sporting Magazine described Cotherstone as "the best horse we have had for years", while a writer in the 1844 edition of the New Sporting Almanack referred to him as "the greatest winner of these modern days" and compared him to the 18th-century champions Flying Childers and Eclipse.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jncoAAAAYAAJ&q=Cotherstone&pg=PA33 |title=The New sporting almanack - Wildrake - Google Books |year=1844 |access-date=2012-01-15}} "Sylvanus", writing in Bentley's Miscellany, called Cotherstone "as magnificent an animal as ever rounded Tattenham Corner".{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dt4RAAAAYAAJ&q=Cotherstone&pg=PA285 |title=Bentley's miscellany - Charles Dickens, William Harrison Ainsworth, Albert Smith - Google Books |access-date=2012-01-15|last1=Dickens |first1=Charles |last2=Ainsworth |first2=William Harrison |last3=Smith |first3=Albert |year=1849 }}

Cotherstone was retired to stand as a stallion at Lord Spencer's stud at Althorp, where he sired a few good horses without ever living up to expectations.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CUACAAAAQAAJ&q=Cotherstone&pg=PA176 |title=The turf and the racehorse - R H. Copperthwaite - Google Books |access-date=2012-01-15 |last1=Copperthwaite |first1=R. H. |year=1865 |archive-date=2023-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228155859/https://books.google.com/books?id=CUACAAAAQAAJ&q=Cotherstone&pg=PA176#v=snippet&q=Cotherstone&f=false |url-status=live }} The best of his progeny were Speed the Plough, who won the Criterion Stakes and the Stewards' Cup winners Glenmasson and Pumicestone. He was also successful as a sire of hunters and show horses.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=esZ6JWLTFJoC&q=Cotherstone+Derby&pg=PA282 |title=the farmer's magazine - Rogerson And Tuxford - Google Books |access-date=2012-01-15 |last1=Tuxford |first1=Rogerson And |year=1859 |archive-date=2023-12-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231228155846/https://books.google.com/books?id=esZ6JWLTFJoC&q=Cotherstone+Derby&pg=PA282#v=snippet&q=Cotherstone%20Derby&f=false |url-status=live }} According to one account, Cotherstone was not exercised in retirement and became grossly overweight, seldom moving from his box for years at a time. By the time he was visited by "The Druid" (E. H. Dixon) in 1861 however, he seemed to be in good health and was dividing his time between quietly grazing and walking round the sunny side of his paddock. He died in April 1864.

{{Pedigree

|name = Cotherstone (GB), bay stallion, 1840

|inf =

|f = Touchstone (GB)
1833

|m = Emma (GB)
1843

|ff = Camel
1826

|fm = Banter
1823

|mf = Whisker
1836

|mm = Gibside Fairy
1831

|fff = Whalebone

|ffm = Selim mare

|fmf = Master Henry

|fmm = Boadicea

|mff = Waxy*

|mfm = Penelope*

|mmf = Hermes

|mmm = Vicissitude

|ffff = Waxy*

|fffm = Penelope*

|ffmf = Selim

|ffmm = Maiden

|fmff = Orville

|fmfm = Miss Sophia

|fmmf = Alexander

|fmmm = Brunette

|mfff = Potoooooooo

|mffm = Maria

|mfmf = Trumpator

|mfmm = Prunella

|mmff = Mercury

|mmfm = Rosina

|mmmf = Pipator

|mmmm = Beatrice (Family:7-a){{cite web |url=http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family7a.htm |title=Vicissitude - Family 7-a |publisher=Bloodlines.net |access-date=2012-01-15 |archive-date=2020-02-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216142836/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family7a.htm |url-status=live }}}}

Cotherstone was inbred 3 × 4 to the stallion Waxy and the mare Penelope. This means that these horses appeared in both the third and fourth generations of his pedigree, as the parents of the brothers Whalebone and Whisker.

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{2000 Guineas Winners}}

{{Epsom Derby Winners}}

Category:1840 racehorse births

Category:1864 racehorse deaths

Category:Epsom Derby winners

Category:Racehorses bred in the United Kingdom

Category:Racehorses trained in the United Kingdom

Category:Thoroughbred family 7-a

Category:2000 Guineas winners