Gifford A Cochran
(sale: American Art Association, Anderson Galleries Inc., New York, 12th November 1931, lot 20)
Mrs. J.G. Douglas

The following condition report was kindly provided by Simon Parkes Art Conservation, Inc.: This painting has been quite recently restored. The canvas has been lined using glue as an adhesive. The paint layer has been cleaned, varnished and retouched. There is little or no abrasion to the landscape, the horse or the figures. The restoration is almost entirely confined to the sky where some small dots of restoration address a little abrasion or discoloration. None of the restorations are focused in any particular area except on the far right side where the darkest clouds are slightly thin. In general the condition is to be recommended.
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

In this painting, John Frederick Herring Sr. celebrates the petite, delicate form of the filly Matilda as she walks towards the start of the formidable stretch of the St. Leger race at Doncaster. Carrying the Hon. Edward Petre's colors of black and pink, th꧂e jockey James Robinson turns to seek a final word of advice from the t🍎rainer Jonathan Scott.

The success of this trio in 1827 carried the hopes of not only Petre but also the North of England 'as the jealousy of a south-country horse winning the St. Leger is too well known to be enlarged upon,'[1]This race saw Matilda successfully beat the pride of Southern England races to-date Mameluke, against all odds. Despite the intense and popular interest in this race at the time Herring immortalises a calm intimate moment here in the painting. History records however, the tumult of the numerous false starts which preceded the eventual start of the race. Mameluke was🦩 reputedly so unmana𓂃geable that his jockey Sam Chifney had difficulty getting him to the starting post.

Matilda, by Comus out of Juliana was owned and bred by Petre who, along with Stapleton Park York, also owned Ingatestone Hall in Essex.  Despite owning many winners he was eventually bankrupted through his passion for the turf.  The year before St. Leger, Matilda had impressively won a 100 sovereign sweep at York as well as a 500 sovereign sweep at Doncaster. However, Matilda was in fact Petre's second string as he also owned Granby (who was actually favourite) ridden by Will Scott t🐎he trainer's 💃son.

Petre later gave Matilda to the Duke of Cleveland who bred from her the successful runners Henriade, Foxberry and Alzira. Herring painted a second picture of Matilda which was engraved for the Great St. Leger Winners series and of which there are two original versions; one also owned by Petre and anotherꦫ in the collection of 🍨the Jockey Club, Newmarket.

[1] T H Taunton Portraits of Celebrated Racehorses, 1887, p. 289