Alfred Frank De Prades

Alfred Frank De Prades
British, 1820-1890
Stilton, Winner of the Metropolitan Stakes, 1852
Signed A.F. de Prades and inscribed Stilton, winner of the Metropolitan Stakes, 1852... (lc)
Oil on canvas
17 3/4 x 27 3/8 inches (45 x 69.5 cm)

Stilton was sired by Cotherstone, winner of the Classic 2000 Guineas and Derby in 1843 and was owned by Mr James Meiklam (1800-1854), a well known Scottish racehorse owner. Trained by Thomas Dawson, one of the most famous trainers of his day. The Virginia Museum of Art has in their collection a portrait of Dawson and his family by J.F. Herring, Snr. dated 1842.
The jockey in the painting is 17 year old William Carroll (1835-1856), one of four jockeys working at John Osborne's stable in Coverham cum Agglethorpe in Yorkshire. Carroll is shown in Meiklam's familiar colors.
Stilton won not only the 1852 Metropolitan Stakes, but also that year's Northumberland Plate at Newcastle, and came second in the Chester Cup in a huge field of 42 runners.
One of the best 3 year olds of 1852, he was entered in the Goodwood Cup, but was beaten half a mile due to being nobbled by poisoning. Never the same again, he was sold to Prussia in November 1852.

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