James Seymour

The work has been carefully presented. The bodycolour has remained strong and fresh. The paper has however discoloured and there is occasional surface dirt. Located at the upper edge of the sheet, there is a skilfully repaired tear measuring circa 21mm. The sheet has not been laid down.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Lath was a bay colt foaled on 8^th April 1732 by the Godolphin Arabian out of Roxana. He was bred by Mr Edward Coke (1701-1733) at Longford Hall in Derbyshire. He was a full brother to the champion sire Cade and a half-brother to the stallion Roundhead, one of the very few horses recorded in the General Stud Book with a coat colouring known as sorrel, being a specific coppery red shade of chestnut.

Lath is believed to have been the very first offspring of the highly important stallion Godolphin Arabian (General Stud Book, 1:392), one of the three so-called 'Pillars of the Stud Book' whose paternal bloodlines can be traced to every single thoroughbred racehorse in the world today. The others stallions are the Darley Arabian and the Byerley Turk.

In 1733 Coke died and Lath, still a yearling, together with his dam Roxana and all of Coke's other broodmares were bequeathed to Francis Leonard, 2^nd Earl of Godolphin (1678-1766) at Gogmagog, Cambridgeshire. The breeder Roger Williams received the stallions, although the Earl subsequently acquired Lath's Arabian sire, hence the name the Godolphin Arabian.

In his day Lath was considered by many to be the best racechorse seen on the course since the Duke of Devonshire's Flying Childers (foaled 1714). At Newmarket in April 1737 Lath won a 100 guineas sweepstakes beating a high class field including Lord Portmore's Squirt and the Duke of Devonshire's John Trott. In October of the same year Lath returned to Newmarket and won a 200 guineas match over Mr Vane's Little Partner. In 1738 his superiority over Squirt, now running in Mr Panton's colours, was confirmed when Lath won a 300 guineas match at Newmarket in October.

At the conclusion of his Turf career Godolphin sold Lath to the breeder Mr Turner in 1739, who in turn sold him on to William Cavendish, 3^rd Duke of Devonshire (1698-1755) where he stood at Stud at Chatsworth as a stallion. Lath's son Regulus was the broodmare sire of the most important stallion of all time Eclipse (foaled 1764), from whom about 90% of all racehorses in the world descend by male line. Other notable Lath progeny include the good racers Red Cap (1744) and Hector (1745) together with several useful broodmares including Ancaster Crazy (1746), an ancestress of two St Leger winners Hollandaise and Serina, as well as in America the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont winners Spokane, Shirley and Joe Daniels respectively.

We would like to thank Graham Budd for his assistance in cataloguing this work.