# Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Blenkiron, William

1904 Errata appended.
​BLENKIRON, WILLIAM (1807?–1871), breeder of racehorses, was born at Marrick, seven miles from Richmond in Yorkshire, about 1807. He was originally brought up as a farmer, but, abandoning that pursuit, came to London in 1834, and commenced business as a general agent at 78½ Wood Street, Cheapside; in 1845 he added to his establishment a manufactory of stocks and collars, and three years later retired in favour of his son.
Blenkiron always desired to be the owner of a racehorse, and in 1847, whilst residing at Dalston, he purchased a mare named Glance. She was by Venison out of Eyebrow, by Whisker, one of Lord George Bentinck's breeding. In course of time she bore a colt, Young Beverlac, which was run at race meetings with a moderate success. The colt was afterwards exchanged for three mares, and these formed the commencement of a stud destined to become the most celebrated of any establishment of horses in Europe. About 1852 Blenkiron, wanting more room, removed from Dalston to Middle Park, Kent. He brought with him seven or eight brood mares, and Neasham, the head of the list of Eltham sires. The establishment now rapidly increased, until it was augmented to upwards of two hundred of the highest class and best mares that money and experience could produce. Kingston, Touchstone, Birdcatcher, and Newminster were the four cornerstones of his extensive stud, and it was to the first of these that he, to a great extent, owed his success as a breeder; for that horse was the sire of Caractacus, who was perhaps the most sensational Derby winner on record. As a breeder of stock he had few equals in the matter of judgment, and no superior in the extent of his dealings; and whenever he desired to buy either brood mares or stallions, it was not of the least use to oppose him at an auction sale. Amongst his very numerous purchases he gave 3,000 guineas for Kingston, 5,000 guineas for Blink Bonny, 5,800 guineas for Gladiateur, 2,000 guineas for Rosa Bonheur, and 5,000 guineas for Blair Athol. The horses were pastured and stabled at his three establishments at Middle Park, Waltham Cross, and Esher; the cost per annum for oats alone exceeded 4,000l. He was never satisfied unless he was constantly weeding and improving his stock. The annual sales of stock at Middle Park drew together all connected with the turf, not only in England, but from France and other countries. The first regular sale of blood stock took place in June 1856, when 13 lots brought 1,447l., being an average of 111l. each; at a sale in 1871, 46 lots produced 14,525l., the average price being 315l. 15s. Middle Park was then the largest breeding stud that any country ever saw, and considered one of the sights of England. After 1866 it was found necessary ​to hold two annual sales to dispose of the increase in the stock. Blenkiron bred Hermit, the Derby winner in 1867, and Gamos, which won the Oaks in 1870. These stud farms paid their proprietor a handsome return on his outlay during his lifetime, and his liberality was shown in many ways, conspicuously, however, in his founding the great two-year-old race at Newmarket, to which he contributed for some time 1,000l. a year. He died at Middle Park 25 Sept. 1871, in his sixty-fourth year, and was buried in Eltham churchyard 30 Sept.
[Gent. Mag. iii. 451–62 (1869); Rice's History of the British Turf (1879), ii. 338–44; Sportsman, 26 Sept. 1871, p. 2; Field, 30 Sept. 1871, p. 287.]
G. C. B.
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.29 N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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