Margrave with J. Robinson up, a racecourse beyond

Margrave by Muley out of Principessa's dam by Election was foaled in 1829 and was a chestnut despite being so dark a colour; as such he was a liver chestnut. The present scene is presumably Doncaster where the horse had his major triumph when he won the St. Leger for John Gully, the prize fighter, and was ridden by James Robinson. He also won the Criterion and Grand Duke Michael Stakes at Newmarket. He was one of John Scott's sixteen St. Leger winners from his yard at Malta. The picture is possibly a study for the larger painting by Herring engraved by R.G. Reeve and published by S. & J. Fuller for the Leger series in 1833, though with the background removed and Robinson's position changed.