The King of Lancashire

The 15th Earl took no interest in the sport or thoroughbred breeding and sold all the bloodstock, which resulted in the Knowsley Stud falling into a state of neglect that continued until 1893. Happily, once the 16th Earl, Frederick Arthur, inherited the title, together with his son Edward it was agreed that the fortunes of the Turf should be revived. It was at this time that Newmarket became the centre of training (and remains so to this day). Lord Derby invited Mr George Lambton to be his private trainer in the summer of 1893 and leased Bedford Lodge at Newmarket for Lambton to train his horses. Lambton, feeling that he lacked sufficient experience, was at first reluctant to accept, but was finally persuaded by Lord Stanley (the future 17th Earl) and thus was started a racing partnership that was to last for forty years and be one of the most memorable in the annals of the British Turf. Lambton was to become one of the greatest trainers of the century.

The 16th Earl was also responsible for reviving the stud farm at Knowsley and employed Mr. Griffiths to take charge of the operation and set about revitalising the paddocks, new trees were planted and new paddocks laid out. The transformation took almost five years to complete and became a monument to his endeavours. Another achievement was his advice that the filly Canterbury Pilgrim should be bought at the dispersal sale when the Duchess of Montrose died in 1894.

Canterbury Pilgrim went on to win The Oaks in 1896 and this triumph was the first classic win for a horse carrying the Derby colours for forty-five years. On her retirement Canterbury Pilgrim was sent to the Knowsley stud where she was destined to breed seven winners including Swynford (1910, St. Leger) and Sansovino (1924, Derby). From this major acquisition stemmed the entire success of the Stanley racing empire throughout the next half century. Keystone II was another champion, winning The Oaks in 1906 for the 16th Earl.

The family's association with the Turf reached its peak during the life of the 17th Earl. He was known locally as the King of Lancashire, a name that was taken up by Churchill for his title of the biography of the 17th Earl. His legacy of wins is unsurpassed and besides his many achievements as politician and statesman it is perhaps in the field of sport that he achieved his most enduring record. It is said that he was by far the greatest influence in racing, not only in his generation but also in its history. He was outstanding as an owner; he won more than 1,000 races, including 20 classics, i.e. 3 Derbys (1924 Sansovino; 1933 Hyperion; and 1942 Watling Street), 6 St Legers, 2 Oaks, the Two Thousand Guineas twice and the One Thousand Guineas seven times - a total worth in those days of nearly £845,000 in prize money. So great was his influence on thoroughbred breeding, that most top-ranking stallions today carry the line of Derby blood.

Of all the horses owned by the 17th Earl, it is perhaps Hyperion that stands out as something of a legend (on a par with the 12th Earl's Sir Peter Teazle). In the three years that he raced, he won nine out of 13 races including the Derby and St Leger in 1933. Hyperion, a chestnut colt by Gainsborough out of Selene standing just over fifteen hands high, won the Derby by 4 lengths in 1933 with the celebrated jockey Tommy Weston riding. He ran in a record time of two minutes thirty four seconds. The Times' racing correspondent wrote: 'Never in my time has a Derby been won my time has a Derby been won more easily. There was no doubt about the result half a mile from the finish.' Hyperion went to stud in 1934 in Newmarket to sire a generation of champions.

The famous 'lucky white button' became part of the jockey's colours during the time of the 17th Earl. Just before the 1924 Derby, Tommy Weston caught his white scarf in the top button of his racing top. After winning the Derby that year on Sansovino, he realised it was a lucky sign, and has remained a part of the colours ever since.