Lot 213: Sir Joseph Hawley'sTeddington, winner of the Derby in 1851, with jockey up

Harry Hall (1812-1888) Sir Joseph Hawley's Teddington, winner of the Derby in 1851, with jockey up signed and inscribed 'Teddington./Harry Hall.' (lower left) oil on canvas 22 x 30 in. (55.8 x 76.2 cm.)

55.8 x 76.2 cm.

Teddington, by Orlando (himself the winner of the1844 Derby), out of Miss Twickenham, was bred near Huntingdon in 1848 by a Mr Tomlinson. Bought as a foal by Sir Joseph Hawley, he would prove to be the first and best of the celebrated owner's four Derby winners. As a two-year-old Teddington came into form winning the Chesterfield Stakes at Newmarket and The Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood, but it was the ease with which he beat Vatican, a good five-year-old, in a trial the following year that set him up as favourite for the Derby at 3-1. In a field of thirty-three, Marlborough Buck also ran at very short odds, with Hernandez and The Prime Minister also attracting keen followings. In the event, however, Teddington won easily. Roger Mortimer recounts an amusing exchange which supposedly took place mid-race between Flatman on Ariosto and the overtaking Marson on Teddington: '"Where do you think you're going to?" shouted Flatman. "I'm sorry, I can't hold my horse," Marson replied. "I wish I couldn't hold mine," said Flatman...' (The History of the Derby Stakes, 1973, p. 161). Teddington's career continued successfully until as a five-year-old, having won the Ascot Cup that year, he retired to the stud at Deans Hill, Stafford.