Lot 33: Harry Hall (British, 1812-1882)

Harry Hall (British, 1812-1882)
Loiterer, held by a trainer in a stable
signed and dated 'H Hall/64' (lower right)
oil on canvas
23¼ x 30 in. (59 x 76 cm.)

PROPERTY OF A EUROPEAN COLLECTOR

Loiterer was a chestnut colt, foaled in 1857, by Ennui out of Stockwell. She was bred by Lord Londesborough and raced initially for the important American owner Mr. Ten Broeck. His career began in July 1859 with a match at Newmarket for £1,000 in which he was ridden by George Fordham. Later the same day he was beaten in the important July Stakes, hardly an easy beginning to his long career. He did not race again at two.

As a three-year-old in 1860 he ran four times without success, now the property of Sir Joseph Harley, who owned four Derby winners. Although Loiterer ran in the Derby he started at 100-1 and was unplaced behind Thormanby.

Things got no better in 1861 as he ran eight times without a win. During the year he was sold by Sir Joseph to Count Batthyang, a Hungarian member of the Jockey Club who later raced the great Galopin, sire of St. Simon and grandsire of Donovan (see lot 36). The Count frequently rode Loiterer himself but was not noted for his jockeyship, which may partially explain his horse's lack of success. However, things then began to improve and in 1862 produced three wins from eight appearances. None of his wins were of much consequence and he had a professional jockey for each of them.

At six Loiterer's only win was a walk over in a race for amateur jockeys at Warwick. Although the man who rode him over the course is not know, it may have consituted his only win ridden by Count Batthyang himself. His other five runs produced occasional places but no more wins although he was still required to carry quite respectable weights in handicaps.

His final seson in 1864 saw him run one of his best races when third of eighteen in the Great Northamptonshire Handicap. His second and last race was at Croxton Park where the Count rode him when beaten by a length by another Stockwell animal, the mare Bathilde.

Rather surprisingly in view of his career, the count retired him to stud at Croft Farm, near Darlington at a fee of 12 guineas. No doubt this decision had regard to his pedigree and in particular the success of Stockwell, then nearing the peak of his great career. Indeed, in 1866, he sired the winners of no less than 132 races, a figure never exceeded before or since. Perhaps this explains why Loiterer was a good deal more successful as a stallion than might have been expected. Although he ceased to be advertised after 1869, he was still covering the occasional thoroughbred mare in the mid 1870s and had the last of more than one hundred wins for his stock in 1880. No doubt after 1869 he was primarily used as an all purpose stallion to produce anything from hunters to carriage horses as his stock seems to have taken after him in terms of soundness and durability. He died in June 1876, aged 19, and was survived by his elder half brother Saunterer, who was more successful generally and sired the Grand National winner Regal.