13 Facts About Mathew Dawson

Mathew Dawson was significant as one of the first trainers to run a public stable, rather than being the employee of a wealthy patron.

Mathew Dawson was based for most of his career at Newmarket, Suffolk.

Mathew Dawson was apprenticed to his father and worked in 1838 for his brother Thomas at his stables at Middleham, North Yorkshire.

Mathew Dawson began training racehorses in Scotland in 1840, where his main patrons were Lord Kelburn and William Hope Johnstone.

Mathew Dawson sent a horse called Pathfinder to run in The Derby, but the horse finished last, almost a furlong behind the other runners.

In 1846, Mathew Dawson moved to England to become the stud manager and private trainer for Lord John Scott at Yew Tree Cottage at Compton, Berkshire.

When Scott sold his horses to James Merry in 1857, Mathew Dawson continued to train them but moved his base to Russley Park, near Lambourn.

For Merry, Mathew Dawson trained Sunbeam to win the St Leger in 1858 and Thormanby to win the 1860 Derby.

In 1866, Mathew Dawson moved to Newmarket, basing himself first at St Mary's Square and then Heath House, where he had his greatest successes.

For Falmouth, Mathew Dawson trained the winners of fourteen classics between 1870 and 1883 including two Derbies with Kingcraft and Silvio.

Mathew Dawson trained a fourth Derby winner when Lord Hastings' colt Melton won in 1885.

In 1885, Mathew Dawson retired from large-scale training and moved to Exning Manor, which he renamed Melton House.

Now in his seventies, and often unable to walk because of chronic gout, Mathew Dawson won a further four Classics for Rosebery, including successive Derby winners in 1894 and 1895.