Cheers with jockey up, on a racecourse

Cheers was a brown colt by Persimmon out of Applause II by Balfe. He was bred in 1899 by the Duke of Devonshire. Over a four year career from 1901 to 1904, he ran in many of the best races in opposition to such famous horses as Sceptre and Ard Patrick. The present picture was probably painted to commemorate his most famous victory in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown in 1902, which was worth £9,675 when the Derby itself was only worth some £5,000 in that year. Twelve ran in the Eclipse with Cheers at 20/1. Ridden as usual by Danny Mather, he beat favourites Rising Glass and Royal Lancer by a length. The scene is probably set on Newmarket Heath, where he was trained.