Middleton (horse)
{{Short description|British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse}}
{{Infobox racehorse
| horsename =Middleton
| image_name = Middleton Derby winner.jpg
| caption = Middleton. A contemporary engraving.
| sire = Phantom
| grandsire =Walton
| dam = Web
| damsire = Waxy
| sex = Stallion
| foaled = 1822
| country = United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
| colour = Chestnut
| breeder = George Child Villiers, 5th Earl of Jersey
| owner = George Child Villiers, 5th Earl of Jersey
| trainer = James Edwards
| record = 1: 1-0-0
| earnings =
| race =Epsom Derby (1825)
| awards =
| honours =
|updated=
}}
Middleton (1822 – 1847), also known as Chestnut Middleton,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DIUEAAAAQAAJ&q=Middleton+1825+Derby+winner+-Bay+-kate&pg=PA51 |title=The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. - Google Books |access-date=2011-12-28|last1=Carleton |first1=John William |year=1853 }} was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. His racing career consisted of a single race: a win in the 1825 Epsom Derby. Training problems prevented him from racing again, and he was retired undefeated to stud. He was exported to Russia in 1833.
Background
Middleton was a big, heavily built chestnut horse with a white blaze bred by his owner George Child Villiers, 5th Earl of Jersey at his stud at Middleton Stoney in Oxfordshire. His sire, Phantom won the Derby in 1811 and went on to be Champion sire on two occasions. Middleton's dam, Web, was a half-sister of the Derby winner Whisker and became an extremely successful broodmare, her descendants including the Classic winners Glencoe, Cobweb (Epsom Oaks), Charlotte West (1000 Guineas) and Riddlesworth (2000 Guineas).{{cite web|url=http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Cobweb.html |title=Cobweb |publisher=Tbheritage.com |access-date=2011-12-28}}
Racing career
Middleton was slow to mature and did not run as a two-year-old. In early 1825, however, he performed well in private trial races.{{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}}
Despite never having raced in public, he became the leading fancy for The Derby and was the subject of much heavy betting for the race, with Lord Jersey and the Duke of Wellington among the biggest gamblers.
On the morning of the race, Middleton was the target of a plan by bookmakers to prevent him winning the race. A stable lad was bribed to allow the colt to drink several buckets of water, leaving him bloated. Edwards responded by giving Middleton a four-mile exercise walk after which he professed himself satisfied with the colt's condition. Middleton started at odds of 7/4 against seventeen opponents{{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 }} and won cleverly, from Rufus, with Hogarth third.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aK0CAAAAYAAJ&q=Middleton+1825+Derby+winner+-Bay+-kate&pg=PA57 |title=Sporting magazine: or, monthly ... - Google Books |year=1826 |access-date=2011-12-28}} Both Jersey and Wellington reportedly claimed over £1,000 in winning bets.
In autumn, Middleton was entered in several match races but did not run after either he or his opponent was withdrawn.
Middleton began to suffer from Navicular Disease which caused chronic lameness. It proved impossible to run him again, and he was retired to stud with an unbeaten record.
Stud career
Middleton stood as a stallion at the Horse Bazaar, Portman Square, London, where he had little success. In 1833, he was sold and exported to Russia.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QMFDJfYT2UEC&q=Middleton+1825+Derby+winner+-Bay+-kate&pg=PA115 |title=Encyclopedia of British horseracing - Wray Vamplew, Joyce Kay - Google Books |isbn=9780714653563 |access-date=2011-12-28|last1=Vamplew |first1=Wray |last2=Kay |first2=Joyce |year=2005 }} Middleton died in 1847.{{cite journal |title=Horses that have fallen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xAVhUGD-1M4C|journal=Russian Stud Book |date=1856 |volume=4 |page=245}}
Pedigree
{{Pedigree
|name = Middleton (GB), chestnut stallion, 1822
|inf =
|f = Phantom (GB)
1808
|m = Web (GB)
1808
|ff = Walton
1799
|fm = Julia
1799
|mf = Waxy
1790
|mm = Penelope
1798
|fff = Sir Peter Teazle
|ffm = Arethusa
|fmf = Whiskey
|fmm = Young Giantess
|mff = Potoooooooo
|mfm = Maria
|mmf = Trumpator
|mmm = Prunella
|ffff = Highflyer*^
|fffm = Papillon
|ffmf = Dungannon
|ffmm = Prophet mare
|fmff = Saltram^
|fmfm = Calash
|fmmf = Diomed^
|fmmm = Giantess
|mfff = Eclipse^
|mffm = Sportsmistress
|mfmf = Herod^
|mfmm = Lisette
|mmff =Conductor
|mmfm = Brunette
|mmmf = Highflyer*^
|mmmm = Promise (Family: 1-o)}}