Blacklock (horse)

Blacklock, who was then unnamed and raced under the name "Mr. Kirby's b. c. by Whitelock, dam by Coriander", made his racecourse debut on 23 August 1816 at York in a sweepstakes of 20 guineas each for two-year-olds. After starting at the price of about 3/1 he won the race, with the judge being unable to place any of his five rivals.[4] On 11 September at Pontefract, he faced three opponents for a sweepstakes of 20 guineas each over one mile (1609 metres). He started as the 13/8 favourite and won the race. Shylock finished in second place, with Angelica in third.[5] Blacklock was then purchased by Richard Watt.[6] Racing in Watt's colours (Harlequin)[7] and ridden by jockey J. Jackson, Blacklock made his final start as a two-year-old at Doncaster on the 24 September when he competed in another sweepstakes of 20 guineas each. He started as the 4/7 favourite and won the race from the Young Woodpecker colt, who was followed by Eglinton.[8] Blacklock apparently won the race easily.[6]

Blacklock, still unnamed, had his first race as a three-year-old in the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster on Monday 22 September. He did not arrive at Doncaster until the Saturday before, and after reports that he was amiss his odds had lengthened to as much as 10/1 in the betting. After arriving, he had a gallop in the afternoon and soon shortened in the betting. After another of the pre-race favourites, Stainborough, was withdrawn due to illness Blacklock was sent off as the short-priced favourite at about evens.[9] Blacklock appeared like he was going to win easily and Jackson eased him up in the final furlong (200 metres) of the race. However, Ebor and Restless began to quickly close down his lead. By the time Jackson realised, Blacklock could not accelerate quick enough[10] and Ebor came out on top, beating Blacklock by a neck.[9] Restless finished in third place and was the only other runner that could be placed by the judge.[11] Blacklock had a crack in one of his hind heels, which was thought to have affected him in the race.[9]

Two days after the St. Leger, Blacklock faced St. Helena over the same course and distance in the Gascoigne Stakes,[12] which he won easily.[13] Twenty-four hours later, Blacklock lost to The Duchess in the Doncaster Club Stakes over two miles.[14] On 8 October at Richmond he won a sweepstakes of 20 guineas each, beating four rivals, with Boroughman finishing second.[15] Later in the day Blacklock won the Dundas Stakes, beating Rasping, D.I.O and Shepard into second, third and fourth respectively.[16]

Engraving of Blacklock

Blacklock, racing under his name for the first time, started the 1818 season much earlier than he had done the previous two seasons, with his first race coming on 18 May at the York Spring Meeting in a sweepstakes of 20 guineas each over two miles. He started as the 1/2 favourite, but could only finish third behind St. Helena.[17] Two days later he started as the 4/6 favourite for the Constitution Stakes over a mile-and-a-quarter. He biggest rival was expected to be the Duke of Leeds's Rasping, who was priced at 2/1. Blacklock won the race from Rasping, with Hornby in third and Whiff last of the four runners.[18]

Blacklock did not race again until August at York, where he ran in the four-mile Great Subscription Purse for four-year-olds. He started as the evens favourite and faced three rivals; Agatha, St. Helena and a filly by Orville.[19] Blacklock won the race by over 100 yards (91 metres) without being asked for an effort, causing some people to proclaim "nothing has been seen at all equal to Mr. Watt's Blacklock since the days of Eclipse."[20] This referring to the ease with which Eclipse won his races. Agatha finished the race in second place and St. Helena in third.[19] The race was won in a time of 7 minutes 23 seconds.[20] The next day he beat Silenus to win the four-mile Great Subscription Purse for four and five-year-olds. Later in the same day he started as the 1/2 favourite in a two-mile sweepstakes of 25 guineas each, where he faced four opponents. Despite it being his third race in two days he won, beating Rasping into second place.[21]

Blacklock then went to Doncaster, where on 23 September, he started 1/2 favourite and beat The Duchess to win the Doncaster Stakes over four miles.[22] The same day he also walked over for a sweepstakes of 50 guineas each over the St. Leger course. Twenty-four hours later he beat Rasping to win a sweepstakes of 25 guineas each over four miles,[23] and then went on to beat The Duchess to win the Doncaster Club Stakes. This was his fourth race in the space of two days.[24] At Richmond in October he won his second Dundas Stakes, this time beating King Corney. Later in the day Blacklock finished last of four runners behind winner Doctor Syntax in the Richmond Cup over four miles.[25] Doctor Syntax had started in the lead, but was overtaken by Blacklock after only 200 yards. Blacklock held the lead until about half a mile from the finish, when Doctor Syntax joined him again. Blacklock then swerved out of line, allowing Doctor Syntax to win easily.[26] By the time The Richmond Cup was run Blacklock was apparently unwell and was coughing repeatedly during the race.[27]

On 17 May 1819 at York, Blacklock finished second of seven in a two-mile sweepstakes of 20 guineas each. The race was won by The Marshall.[28] On 18 May he started as the evens favourite for the two-mile Gold Cup. He won the race, with Paulowitz finishing second, Torch-bearer third and Otho fourth.[29] At the York August Meeting, Blacklock faced three rivals in the four-mile Great Subscription Purse for five-year-olds and older. The Duchess started as the 5/2 favourite, with Blacklock and St. Helena both at 3/1 and Magistrate at 4/1. Blacklock won the race from Magistrate, with The Duchess finishing in third place.[30] Blacklock's final race came two days later, when he finished second to St. Helena in a sweepstakes of 25 guineas each over two miles.[31] During his racing career Blacklock had twenty-three races, winning seventeen of those, placing second four times and third once.