Easton (horse)

As a two-year-old, Easton was campaigned in France where he won one of his five races and finished third once. He was not regarded as one of the leading juveniles of his generation, being rated more than twelve pounds inferior to Brantome.[7]

Easton began his three-year-old season with an easy win in the Prix Ladas.[8] On 2 May, Easton was sent to England to contest the 2000 Guineas over the Rowley mile course at Newmarket Racecourse. He finished second of the twelve runners, beaten a length by the 2/7 favourite Colombo.[9] Shortly after his run in the 2000 Guineas, Easton was bought for 10,000 guineas by Lord Woolavington and transferred to the stable of Fred Darling at Beckhampton, Wiltshire[10]

On his first appearance for his new owner, the colt contested the Derby Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Downs Racecourse. The race was run of fast ground in front of a crowd estimated at at least 300,000 and Easton started the 100/9 third favorite behind Colombo and the Chester Vase winner Windsor Lad. Ridden by Gordon Richards, Easton tracked the leaders before launching his challenge in the straight.[11] He moved into second place behind Windsor Lad but could make no further progress and finished second, a length behind the winner, with Colombo a neck away in third.[12][13]

Easton returned to Continental Europe for his next two races. On 24 June he contested the ₣765,400 Grand Prix de Paris over 3000 metres at Longchamp Racecourse in which he was again ridden by Richards. He led the field into the straight but was overtaken in the closing stages and finished third, beaten three lengths by the winner Admiral Drake, a colt who had finished last in the Derby.[14] In July, Easton met Admiral Drake again in the Grand International d'Ostende at Hippodrome Wellington in Belgium. He won the race easily from Admiral Drake, with the Prix de Guiche winner Rentenmark in third.[15] On his return to England, Easton won the Select Stakes (worth £365) over one mile at Newmarket.[16]

On his first appearance as a four-year-old, Easton contested the £531 Spring Stakes over one mile at Lingfield Park Racecourse in April. He looked very impressive before the race and won by a neck from the three-year-old Sea Bequest, to whom he was conceding twenty-four pounds, appearing to win rather more easily than the final marin suggested.[2] The runner-up went on to finish third to Bahram in the 2000 Guineas. Easton then earned a further £750 by taking the March Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket[16] beating the Champion Stakes winner Umidwar by four lengths.[17]

He then faced Windsor Lad again in the Coronation Cup at Epsom. The race was much anticipated, and was seen as being a match between Easton's speed and Windsor Lad's stamina.[18] Both colts looked to be in exceptional condition before the race, although it was noted that Easton was "on his toes" and "full of fire and eagerness". Charlie Smirke sent Windsor Lad three lengths clear early in the straight, and although Gordon Richards sent Easton in pursuit and reduced the margin he was unable to catch the Derby winner and was beaten one and a half lengths.[19]

On his final racecourse appearance, Easton ran at Royal Ascot in the Ribblesdale Stakes, which was then a race run over one mile for three- and four-year-olds of either sex. Ridden by Richards, he won at odds of 1/4[20] from the filly Almond Hill, taking a prize of £1,720.[16] His retirement was announced a few days later,[15] shortly before the death of Lord Woolavington.[21]