Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals

An important relic associated with one of the finest 19th century breeders of racehorses:

YORKSHIRE, Doncaster, oval ivory, Ladies Stand, Erected 1858, back named (James Cookson, Esq), 50 x 37mm, 8.44g (W –; D & W –; cf. DNW 176, 284). About very fine, very rare, pierced for suspension £200-£300

James Cookson (1816-88), later James Sawrey Cookson, son of Col. James Cookson (1775-1841), of Neasham Hall, Croft, co Durham; graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, 1839; served briefly in the army in Bombay before succeeding to his father’s estates in 1841; chairman of Darlington Farmers Club, 1849; twice married prior to his engagement to and subsequent union with Georgina Margaret Rawlinson (1845-1924), eldest daughter of Capt. William Edward Rawlinson (†1848), Indian Army, in 1865; High Sheriff of Durham 1871; inherited the manor of Broughton, Cumbria in 1881 from a distant relation, John Sawrey; subsequent to Cookson’s death his wife and the younger of their seven children moved to Broughton Tower, which seat she held until 1920.

Always a supporter of the turf, James Cookson established a stud at Neasham Hall and in 1847 purchased the thoroughbred colt Sweetmeat (b.1842), which had won the 1845 Doncaster Gold Cup, for 300 guineas. The horse fathered numerous winners and Cookson turned a tidy profit when it was sold to a Russian buyer for 800 guineas in 1861. That same year the Cookson-trained horses Kettledrum (1858-85) and Dundee finished first and second in the Epsom Derby. Dundee started as 3-1 favourite, whilst the unconsidered Kettledrum was a rank 500-1 outsider. In the race however Dundee was badly hampered and limped home second behind his stablemate who came down the hill “like a flash, a sight not to be forgotten”. The only explanation for Kettledrum's performance was said to have been divine intervention – allegedly Pope Pius IX bet £10 on him to win, £5,000 being sent to the Holy City the following day! Possibly this story is a slight exaggeration, perhaps because St Hubert's RC Church in Towneley, Lancashire (where Kettledrum’s owner lived) was largely financed out of Kettledrum winnings, and has two stained glass windows featuring the horse, as well as stone carvings of horse’s heads. Cookson also bred the great Formosa (1865-81) which in 1868 won the 1,000 Guineas, the 2,000 Guineas, the St Leger, the Epsom Oaks and the Newmarket Oaks, a remarkably singular achievement.

A contemporary of Cookson described him as “a hunting man from his earliest days, a typical country gentleman of the old school, and one born to master hounds.” Cookson was master of the Hurworth Hunt from 1862-5 and 1867-72. “There is no better-known man in the North of England and very few so popular. He is fond of the racecourse, as he is bound to be; but his chief enjoyment is among his mares and yearlings of Neasham. He is the most genial of companions, with a Turf lore that makes us envious as we listen to him. Long may his years be at Neasham, and often may we meet him in the paddock at Doncaster, or on his hospital coach at Stockton or Redcar, and then, if a home-bred one has won the Champagne or the Hardwicke, or taken the Great Foal Stakes, we know the grasp of his hand will be warmer, and there will be in his voice a cheerier ring.”

Please note ivory is covered by CITES legislation and may be subject to import/export trade restrictions