Lot 132: Harry Hall , British 1814-1882 The Rev. John William King's (Mr. Launde's) bay filly Agility with jockey up at Newmarket oil on canvas

signed H. Hall and dated 1870 (lower right) inscribed Agility (lower left) oil on canvas

measurements 28½ by 36¼ in. alternate measurements 72 by 92 cm

Commissioned by the Rev. John William King (1793-1875) of Ashby Hall, Ashby de la Launde, Lincolnshire
by descent to William Vere Reeve King-Fane (1868-1943) of Fulbeck
Thence by descent in the family

Agility, a bay filly foaled in 1867, was owned and bred by the Rev. John William King. King was the fourth son of Colonel Neville King (1752-1833) of Ashby Hall, Ashby de la Launde, Lincolnshire. Never expecting to inherit his father's state John entered the church and became vicar of St Hybald's, but by 1841 his three older brothers had all passed away. He therefore inherited the family house and stud. King was a popular and conscientious minister; he was a keen huntsmen as a lifelong member of the Burton Hunt and also had an unbridled passion for racing. His first major success came in 1856 when Manganese, in which he owned a half-share, won the One Thousand Guineas. Agility was the full sister of Apology, another of King's horses who enjoyed great success in the 1874 season winning the One Thousand Guineas, the Oaks and the St Leger. Agility had an extraordinary run of success, winning twenty-one races and a dead heat in the Doncaster Stakes. Among her victories were the Tyro Stakes and Seation Delval Stakes at Newcastle, The Nottingham Biennial Stakes on two occasions, the Nasau Stakes at Goodwood, the Zetland Biennial Stakes at Stockton, the Warwick Cup, the Park Hill Stakes at Doncaster, the Free Handicap at Newmarket, the Stocton Four Year Old Claret Stakes, the York Cup and Queen's plates at Shrewsbury, Chester, Manchester, Newcastle, Carlisle and Lichfield. Unfortunately, such notoriety and success caught the eye of Christopher Wordsworth, Bishop of Lincoln. He strongly disapproved of a member of the clergy enjoying such frivilous excesses. He gave King an ultimatum, either resign his ministry or withdraw from racing. King is said to have replied with a letter of just one word: Apology. Apology promptly won the St Leger. This was the last straw for Wordsworth, who wrote to the Times, accusing King, by now in his eighties, of bringing scandal on the church. Despite popular support for King, the ensuing public row took its toll; he resigned his livings in May 1875 and died three weeks later.