Half Caste (horse)

British bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Half Caste was a British racehorse who won the Grand National Steeplechase at Aintree in 1859, against a field of twenty horses. The race was very closely run and Half Caste won by only a short neck from Jean Du Quesne.

According to George Edwin Collins, "Nimrod junior", in his 1902 book "History of the Brocklesby hounds, 1700 1901", Half Caste was bred by Mr W. Marris (of Limber, Lincolnshire) and was then purchased by Mr F. E. Epworth (of Great Coates, Lincolnshire) both members of the Brocklesbury Hunt who sold him on to Samuel Brisco Sheward, the leading society horsedealer from 43a Green Street, Mayfair, London. The General Stud Book confirms he had been foaled in 1853 by Morgan Rattler, dam by Beiram, by W. Marris. John Gerard Leigh′s obituary states that Half Caste was one of the first two steeplechasers he had owned, and was bought by him for 500 Guineas (£500) from Samuel Brisco Sheward, described as his ′fidus Achates′ (faithful friend), who was his normal supplier of horses and represented him officially for racing purposes. John Gerard Leigh of Luton Hoo was a major (but very discreet at the time) steeplechaser owner.

At some later point, presumably through the agency of Chris Green who had ridden for, and co owned horses with, him, Half Caste was acquired by Henry Jones of Aps (or Apes) Hall, Littleport, Isle of Ely (Henry Jones built up one of the best small racehorse studs in the late Victorian period.) for breeding but he produced no progeny of note. He was buried in the orchard of Apes Hall and a stone plaque to his memory is incorporated in a wall here.

No written description of Half Caste exists, but he was painted by Henry Barraud in 1859. No publicly available image of this painting has been found but a contemporary image of Half Caste with Chris Green up is held by one of Chris Green's descendants and this may be based on this. The original was sold by Sotheby's, London on 18 July 1979.