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Lot Essay
Bloomsbury, a bay colt (1836) by Mulatto out of Arcotlass by Ardrossan, was bred by Robert Ridsdale and was both owned and trained when he won the Derby, by the breeder's brother, William Ridsdale. The Ridsdales, especially Robert, had very colourful careers. Robert ran out of money when Bloomsbury was a foal and the horse was offered for sale. Nobody wanted him and he eventually raced for William but not before a dispute with Lord Chesterfield. Chesterfield had horses with Ridsdale and Bloomsbury was entered in the Derby in the former's name. It was never really established what happened but Chesterfield threatened to scratch the horse at one stage and was persuaded not to when someone paid him back for all the entry fees he had paid for. The Derby was Bloomsbury's first race and he won it fairly easily at 25-1 ridden by Sim Templeman. He won again at Ascot and both the Derby and Ascot seconds objected on the grounds that the horses pedigree was not as stated. This was eventually the basis of a court hearing but came to nothing and Ridsdale collected the prize money. There were ugly rumours that the horse was in fact a four year old but they remained rumours and were never the basis of any action. Bloomsbury had some good form in later life but was unplaced in the St Leger. His best run was probably when second under nine stone in the 1840 Cesarewich. He was eventually sold to Germany as a stallion.