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Dimensions: measurements note 73.5 by 104 cm., 29 by 41 in.

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Provenance: The Compton Family, Newby Hall, Yorkshire, Sotheby's London, 13th November 1996, lot 15

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Notes: This magnificent picture captures the famous race, held at Newmarket on the first sporting meet of the 1793 season, in which Lurcher, a bay colt out foaled in 1789 by Dungannon, beat Kitt Carr and Ormond in a 500 guinea stake. Lurcher, who was the favourite with odds set at evens, was owned by Mr Christopher Wilson, a prominent member of the Jockey Club who bought the horse from Mr Rider, and this was his first race under Wilson's colours. The race was run over two miles and half a furlong on the Beacon course and a version of this painting was presented to the Jockey Club by Mr Wilson to commemorate his great victory. Lurcher was by no means Wilson's only winner and he owned and trained many famous racehorses include Champion, who was the first horse to win both the Derby and the St. Leger in 1800, the first Two Thousand Guineas Stakes winner, Wizard, on 18υth April 1809, and Charlotte, the first One Thousand Guineas winner in 1814. An avid art collector, in a cruel twist of fate, Wilson dropped dead on the premises at Christie's, King Street, on Derby Day, 1842.