Melton (horse)
Encyclopedia
Melton was a British Thoroughbred
racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1884 to 1886 he ran eighteen times and won eleven races. In 1885 he won the second two legs of the English Triple Crown, the Derby
at Epsom
and the St Leger
at Doncaster
. At the end of the 1886 season he was retired to stud where he had considerable success in both Italy and Great Britain.
in Norfolk
. He was trained by Mathew Dawson at his Heath House stable at Newmarket, Suffolk. Melton was ridden in most of his races by the thirteen-time Champion Jockey
Fred Archer.
Melton’s sire, Master Kildare, who was also owned by Lord Hastings, was a successful racehorse who won the Alexandra Plate at Royal Ascot and the City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom. In his first season at stud he attracted little interest from breeders and sired only three foals: one of these was Melton. Melton’s dam was Violet Melrose a winner of six races.
Melton started 11/10 favourite. He looked the likely winner in the closing stages but was finished beaten a head by Luminary, with the two finishing well clear of the other four runners.
In October at Newmarket Melton ran in the year’s most prestigious two-year-old race, the Middle Park Plate
. He started at 10/1 with the favourite being an un-named colt (later named Paradox) owned by the Duke of Westminster
. Fred Archer held Melton up in the early stages before moving him up into a challenging position approaching the final furlong. Melton quickened well and won a "most exciting" race by half a length from Xantrailles, with the Duke of Westminster's colt and Royal Hampton dead-heating for third. On his final start of the year he carried top weight in the Criterion Stakes over the same course on October 20, starting at odds of 2/5 and winning "in a canter" by one and a half lengths from Golden Ray. The win took his earnings for the season to £4,872.
Melton went into the winter break as second favourite for the following year's Derby at odds of 10/1, and was reported to be the chosen ride of Fred Archer.
winner Lonely, to confirm his status as a leading contender for the Derby.
At Epsom on 3 June, Melton started favourite at odds of 15/8 in a field of twelve. The race took place in brilliant weather before an enormous crowd which included the Prince and Princess of Wales. His main rival was expected to be Paradox (4/1), who, since being beaten in the Middle Park Stakes, had won the Dewhurst Stakes
and the 2000 Guineas. Melton was held up near the back of the field as Royal Hampton made the early running and led into the straight. Xantrailles made a brief challenge to show in front before quickly dropping away. When Royal Hampton weakened two furlongs out, Paradox took the lead and was immediately challenged by Archer on Melton. From that point on the two had the race between them. Melton made gradual but relentless progress to catch Paradox "in the last stride" and win by a head in a "desperate finish", with Archer riding one of his strongest races. The result of the race was reported to have been transmitted to New York within three seconds. Melton's win, which cost the English bookmakers an estimated £450,000, made him the first Middle Park Plate winner to go on to take the Derby.
Melton did not run again until the St Leger at Doncaster on 16 September. He started 40/95 favourite in a field of ten, with Isobar and Lonely next in the betting at 10/1. Melton broke quickly but was restrained by Archer and raced in last place as Dunbridge made the early running. Approaching the turn into the straight, Lonely had moved into the lead with Melton moving into contention. As the leaders drifted wide on the home turn, Archer drove Melton through the gap on the inside and quickly opened up a clear lead. Isobar emerged as a challenger half way down the straight, but Melton responded to Archer's spur and pulled right away to win "in grand style" by six lengths from Isobar, with Lonely in third.
On his final start of the year Melton started at odds of 1/25 for Great Foal Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket on September 30. He was never in any danger and won "hard held" by one and a half lengths from his stable companion Pearl Diver, to whom he was conceding seven pounds. Around this time Lord Hastings issued a challenge to Jack Hammond, the owner of St. Gatien
for £1,000 a match race between Melton and the 1884 Derby winner, with Melton to receive nine pounds. The challenge was declined, as St Gatien had already been heavily backed for the Cambridgeshire Handicap
. After St Gatien was beaten under 136 pounds in the Cambridgeshire, Hammond responded to Hastings by suggesting that a match could take place the following season for a stake of between £5,000 and £20,000.
Melton officially began his four-year-old season in the Hardwicke Stakes
, in which he was matched against the outstanding three-year-old Ormonde for a much anticipated contest. Ormonde was made 30/100 favourite, with Melton on 7/2. Ormonde took the lead from his pacemaker Coracle at the start of the straight, and although Melton chased hard he was never able to get on terms. On the line, he was still two lengths behind the younger colt to whom he was conceding sixteen pounds
. Melton recorded a meaningless win on his next start, when he frightened away all the opposition in the Newcastle Gold Cup and was allowed to walk over. Having established himself as an excellent middle-distance performer and stayer, Melton was dropped in distance for his next two starts. At Newmarket he started 5/4 favourite for the July Cup over six furlongs. Archer sent Melton into the lead before half way and in the closing stages he pulled clear to win easily by three lengths from Brighton and Fulmen.
In the next phase of his career, Melton moved into handicap races
with limited success. On 21 July he carried top weight of 130 won the Leicestershire Cup over one mile, and won impressively, beating twelve opponents in a common canter. Five days later at Goodwood
he carried 146 pounds in the Stewards’ Cup and finished unplaced behind Crafton who carried 109. Two days after this defeat he reappeared in the ten furlong Chesterfield Cup at the same course, again under 146 pounds, and finished unplaced behind Saraband after racing prominently until the closing stages. The decision to run the colt under such heavy weights was strongly criticised in some quarters.
A rematch between Ormonde and Melton at level weights, with Bendigo and The Bard also invited, was proposed for October at Newmarket, but failed to materialise despite considerable interest.
At Newmarket in 1 October he started favourite for the October Handicap, but ran disappointingly behind an un-named filly (later named Creeper) to whom he was conceding fifty pounds. On 22 October he put up an improved effort when finishing fourth to The Sailor Prince under top weight of 133 pounds in the Cambridgeshire.
A move up to staying distances followed, as he contested the Jockey Club Cup
over two and a quarter miles. In this race he finally met St Gatien in public but proved no match for the five-year-old, who won by eight lengths. Later reports suggested that Melton had been running "drunk" having been given a drink of whisky and water before the race. After this defeat, some felt that it was "madness" to persevere with the colt, but on November 9 he was sent to Liverpool
for the one and a half mile Liverpool Autumn Cup. Carrying top weight as usual, Melton was not well fancied but managed to end his career with a victory, taking the lead inside the last quarter mile and running on strongly under Jack Watts to win by two lengths.
. In 1897 he returned to England and stood at the Westerham Hill stud. Melton died on 26 November 1910 at the very advanced age (for a Thoroughbred) of twenty-eight. He sired many winners in both England and Italy, but the best of his progeny was the outstanding American performer Sysonby
.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1884 to 1886 he ran eighteen times and won eleven races. In 1885 he won the second two legs of the English Triple Crown, the Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
at Epsom
Epsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half...
and the St Leger
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
at Doncaster
Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 31 Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy.- History :...
. At the end of the 1886 season he was retired to stud where he had considerable success in both Italy and Great Britain.
Background
Melton was a small, but powerful and good-looking bay horse, bred by his owner George Manners Astley, 20th Baron Hastings (1857-1904) a country gentleman who named the colt after the village of Melton ConstableMelton Constable
Melton Constable is a village and civil parish in the English county of Norfolk.It covers an area of and had a population of 518 in 225 households as of the 2001 census.For the purposes of local government, it falls within the district of North Norfolk...
in Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
. He was trained by Mathew Dawson at his Heath House stable at Newmarket, Suffolk. Melton was ridden in most of his races by the thirteen-time Champion Jockey
British flat racing Champion Jockey
The Champion Jockey of flat racing in Great Britain is the jockey who has ridden the most winning horses during a season. The list below shows the Champion Jockey and the number of winners for each year since 1840...
Fred Archer.
Melton’s sire, Master Kildare, who was also owned by Lord Hastings, was a successful racehorse who won the Alexandra Plate at Royal Ascot and the City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom. In his first season at stud he attracted little interest from breeders and sired only three foals: one of these was Melton. Melton’s dam was Violet Melrose a winner of six races.
1884: two-year-old season
Melton began his career in the New Stakes (now called the Norfolk Stakes) at Royal Ascot in June 1884 in which he recorded an unexpected victory from Match Girl and his stable companion Langwell, who started favourite. On his next start in the July Stakes at NewmarketNewmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
Melton started 11/10 favourite. He looked the likely winner in the closing stages but was finished beaten a head by Luminary, with the two finishing well clear of the other four runners.
In October at Newmarket Melton ran in the year’s most prestigious two-year-old race, the Middle Park Plate
Middle Park Stakes
The Middle Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was established...
. He started at 10/1 with the favourite being an un-named colt (later named Paradox) owned by the Duke of Westminster
Hugh Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster
Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster KG, PC, JP , styled Viscount Belgrave between 1831 and 1845 and Earl Grosvenor between 1845 and 1869 and known as the 3rd Marquess of Westminster between 1869 and 1874, was an English landowner, politician and racehorse owner.He inherited the estate of...
. Fred Archer held Melton up in the early stages before moving him up into a challenging position approaching the final furlong. Melton quickened well and won a "most exciting" race by half a length from Xantrailles, with the Duke of Westminster's colt and Royal Hampton dead-heating for third. On his final start of the year he carried top weight in the Criterion Stakes over the same course on October 20, starting at odds of 2/5 and winning "in a canter" by one and a half lengths from Golden Ray. The win took his earnings for the season to £4,872.
Melton went into the winter break as second favourite for the following year's Derby at odds of 10/1, and was reported to be the chosen ride of Fred Archer.
1885: three-year-old season
Melton did not run in the 2000 Guineas, but made his seasonal reappearance in the Payne Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket in mid May. He started at odds of 2/5 and won "with great ease" from Kingwood and the future OaksEpsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
winner Lonely, to confirm his status as a leading contender for the Derby.
At Epsom on 3 June, Melton started favourite at odds of 15/8 in a field of twelve. The race took place in brilliant weather before an enormous crowd which included the Prince and Princess of Wales. His main rival was expected to be Paradox (4/1), who, since being beaten in the Middle Park Stakes, had won the Dewhurst Stakes
Dewhurst Stakes
The Dewhurst Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.The event was established in 1875, and it...
and the 2000 Guineas. Melton was held up near the back of the field as Royal Hampton made the early running and led into the straight. Xantrailles made a brief challenge to show in front before quickly dropping away. When Royal Hampton weakened two furlongs out, Paradox took the lead and was immediately challenged by Archer on Melton. From that point on the two had the race between them. Melton made gradual but relentless progress to catch Paradox "in the last stride" and win by a head in a "desperate finish", with Archer riding one of his strongest races. The result of the race was reported to have been transmitted to New York within three seconds. Melton's win, which cost the English bookmakers an estimated £450,000, made him the first Middle Park Plate winner to go on to take the Derby.
Melton did not run again until the St Leger at Doncaster on 16 September. He started 40/95 favourite in a field of ten, with Isobar and Lonely next in the betting at 10/1. Melton broke quickly but was restrained by Archer and raced in last place as Dunbridge made the early running. Approaching the turn into the straight, Lonely had moved into the lead with Melton moving into contention. As the leaders drifted wide on the home turn, Archer drove Melton through the gap on the inside and quickly opened up a clear lead. Isobar emerged as a challenger half way down the straight, but Melton responded to Archer's spur and pulled right away to win "in grand style" by six lengths from Isobar, with Lonely in third.
On his final start of the year Melton started at odds of 1/25 for Great Foal Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket on September 30. He was never in any danger and won "hard held" by one and a half lengths from his stable companion Pearl Diver, to whom he was conceding seven pounds. Around this time Lord Hastings issued a challenge to Jack Hammond, the owner of St. Gatien
St. Gatien
St. Gatien was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In 1884 he was involved in the second and final dead heat in the history of the Epsom Derby, part of an unbeaten sequence of twelve races. St...
for £1,000 a match race between Melton and the 1884 Derby winner, with Melton to receive nine pounds. The challenge was declined, as St Gatien had already been heavily backed for the Cambridgeshire Handicap
Cambridgeshire Handicap
The Cambridgeshire Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 1 mile and 1 furlong , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event...
. After St Gatien was beaten under 136 pounds in the Cambridgeshire, Hammond responded to Hastings by suggesting that a match could take place the following season for a stake of between £5,000 and £20,000.
1886: four-year-old season
Early in 1886, Melton was reported to have defeated St Gatien at level weights in a private trial, although details are few and it is unclear whether or not this was an official match.Melton officially began his four-year-old season in the Hardwicke Stakes
Hardwicke Stakes
The Hardwicke Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
, in which he was matched against the outstanding three-year-old Ormonde for a much anticipated contest. Ormonde was made 30/100 favourite, with Melton on 7/2. Ormonde took the lead from his pacemaker Coracle at the start of the straight, and although Melton chased hard he was never able to get on terms. On the line, he was still two lengths behind the younger colt to whom he was conceding sixteen pounds
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
. Melton recorded a meaningless win on his next start, when he frightened away all the opposition in the Newcastle Gold Cup and was allowed to walk over. Having established himself as an excellent middle-distance performer and stayer, Melton was dropped in distance for his next two starts. At Newmarket he started 5/4 favourite for the July Cup over six furlongs. Archer sent Melton into the lead before half way and in the closing stages he pulled clear to win easily by three lengths from Brighton and Fulmen.
In the next phase of his career, Melton moved into handicap races
Handicap races
A handicap race in horse racing is a race in which horses carry different weights, allocated by the handicapper. A better horse will carry a heavier weight, to give him or her a disadvantage when racing against slower horses...
with limited success. On 21 July he carried top weight of 130 won the Leicestershire Cup over one mile, and won impressively, beating twelve opponents in a common canter. Five days later at Goodwood
Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House...
he carried 146 pounds in the Stewards’ Cup and finished unplaced behind Crafton who carried 109. Two days after this defeat he reappeared in the ten furlong Chesterfield Cup at the same course, again under 146 pounds, and finished unplaced behind Saraband after racing prominently until the closing stages. The decision to run the colt under such heavy weights was strongly criticised in some quarters.
A rematch between Ormonde and Melton at level weights, with Bendigo and The Bard also invited, was proposed for October at Newmarket, but failed to materialise despite considerable interest.
At Newmarket in 1 October he started favourite for the October Handicap, but ran disappointingly behind an un-named filly (later named Creeper) to whom he was conceding fifty pounds. On 22 October he put up an improved effort when finishing fourth to The Sailor Prince under top weight of 133 pounds in the Cambridgeshire.
A move up to staying distances followed, as he contested the Jockey Club Cup
Jockey Club Cup
The British Champions Long Distance Cup, formerly known as the Jockey Club Cup, is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles...
over two and a quarter miles. In this race he finally met St Gatien in public but proved no match for the five-year-old, who won by eight lengths. Later reports suggested that Melton had been running "drunk" having been given a drink of whisky and water before the race. After this defeat, some felt that it was "madness" to persevere with the colt, but on November 9 he was sent to Liverpool
Aintree Racecourse
Aintree Racecourse is a racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England.It was served by Aintree Racecourse railway station until the station closed in the 1960s....
for the one and a half mile Liverpool Autumn Cup. Carrying top weight as usual, Melton was not well fancied but managed to end his career with a victory, taking the lead inside the last quarter mile and running on strongly under Jack Watts to win by two lengths.
Stud career
Melton retired to the Falmouth House stud at Newmarket for one season and was then moved to the Hampton Court stud for the next two years. He was then sold for £10,000 and exported to Italy, where he spent the next seven years at a stud near PisaPisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
. In 1897 he returned to England and stood at the Westerham Hill stud. Melton died on 26 November 1910 at the very advanced age (for a Thoroughbred) of twenty-eight. He sired many winners in both England and Italy, but the best of his progeny was the outstanding American performer Sysonby
Sysonby
Sysonby was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He won every start easily, except one, at distances from one mile to two and a quarter miles...
.