Studio of Thomas Spencer, (England circa 1730-circa 1763)

Flying Childers, held by a groom, a view of Newmarket Heath beyond

Flying Childers, held by a groom, a view of Newmarket Heath beyond
oil on canvas
101.7 x 127.2cm (40 1/16 x 50 1/16in).

Provenance
Haughton Hall, Shropshire (according to a label on the reverse)

Flying Childers, bred by Colonel Leonard Childers, sired by the Darley Arabian and out of Betty Leedes, was foaled in 1715 and sold to the Duke of Devonshire as a yearling. He went on to become one of the most celebrated horses in early racing history and was famously undefeated.

Flying Childers ran a trial run over the 3 mile 6 furlong and 93 yard Round Course at Newmarket in 1721. Childers, carrying the most weight, defeated Almanzor (also a son of the Darley Arabian) and the Duke of Rutland's Brown Betty and is said to have covered the course in a remarkable time of 6 minutes 40 seconds, which is almost a mile a minute.

A version of the present work, with minor differences, was offered at Christie's, London on 12 December 2019, lot 5.