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Auction: 25360 - The 360th Anniversary Sale
Lot: 34

ADVERTISING BILLHEAD FOR AN AUCTION OF SHARES FOR EPSOM GRANDSTAND ASSOCIATION, WITH THREE MEDALS

Epsom Grandstand Association, Advertising Billhead for a sale by auction of two lots of 5 fully paid up £20 shares in each, to be held at Garraway’s Coffee House, Change Alley, Tuesday, 23rd June, 1835 at twelve o’clock, printed with hand annotation of two bids at 40 guineas recorded on right margin.

In addition, Horse Riding Related Medals (3), including, Grand National Jubilee, WM Medal, 1809, by Thomas Wyon Sr., struck to commemorate George III's 50th Year of Reign, GOD SAVE THE KING, bust right, rev. GRAND NATIONAL JUBILEE OCT 25, 1809 within a wreath; THE 50 YEAR HE HAS GOVERN'D & PRESERVED AN AFFECTIONATE & LOYAL PEOPLE around, edge plain, 42mm, 26.40g, 12h (Eimer -; BHM 653); Surrey, Epsom, Hermit, Winner of the Derby, WM Medalet, 1867, by W. J. Taylor, HERMIT | WINNER OF THE DERBY MAY 22 1867 | RUN IN A SNOW STORM, rev. horse standing right, edge plain, 33mm, 8.93g, 12h (BHM -; Grant -); First News of the World Grand National, AR Medal, 1975, by Birmingham Mint, L'ESCARGOT, winning horse head right, rev. horseshoe inscribed 1st NEWS OF THE WORLD GRAND NATIONAL 1975 and a winning post, edge plain, 51mm, 66.01g, 12h.
Generally very fine, an interesting and scarce piece for this famous race course, the first medal light wear and edge knocks, the second pierced, light scuffs, very fine, the final light hairlines and occasional fingermark, otherwise uncirculated and lustrous. (4)

Charles Buck of Doncaster was the first to propose building a permanent Grandstand at Epsom in 1829, but his designs were considered too limited and an alternative group of investors and promoters floated the Epsom Grandstand Association (£20,000 capital in £20 shares) to construct a larger building to house 5,000 spectators with refreshment rooms. It was first used for the Derby in 1830.

Hermit (1864–1890) was a chestnut stallion standing 15.2 hands high, purchased as a yearling for 1,000 guineas by Captain James Machell on behalf of Henry Chaplin. Chaplin’s friendship with Henry, 4th Marquess of Hastings, turned to bitter rivalry when Lady Florence Paget - initially engaged to Chaplin - eloped with Hastings just days before her wedding. Their feud spilled onto the racecourse, with Hastings’ reckless betting becoming notorious.

In 1867, Hermit was entered for the Epsom Derby, but two weeks before the race he burst a blood vessel, prompting rumours he would be withdrawn. Machell, however, kept silent and continued his training. As word spread, Hermit’s odds drifted from favourite to 55-1. On a cold, snowy Derby day, after ten false starts and over an hour’s delay, Hermit rallied from the rear to win by a neck against his stablemate Marksman. Hastings’ horse failed to finish, costing him £100,000 in wagers and a further £20,000 to Chaplin - losses that contributed to his early ruin and death at 26.

Hermit went on to win seven more races before retiring to stud, where he enjoyed a long and successful breeding career. He died in 1890 at the age of twenty-five.

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Estimate

Starting price
£5