Birmingham, winner of the 1830 St. Leger Stakes, in a stable

Birmingham, a bay colt, by Filho-da-Puta out of Miss Craigie by Orville, was foaled in 1827 and bred by his owner, the horse dealer, Mr Beardsworth of Birmingham. He won the last four out of five of his races at small meetings around Birmingham as a two year old and continued in much the same vein as a three year old, winning six of eight races in minor meetings. Later that year he ran in a large field of 28 in the St. Leger at Doncaster on 21 September. The outstanding Derby winner Priam was the favourite at 11-10 with Birmingham, ridden by Patrick Conolly at 15-1. The race was run on very soft ground which bought about Priam's defeat by half a length. The season ended with two further victories and one defeat for Birmingham in three small races. Between 1831 and 1833 he won eight and lost ten races and does not reappear in the records after 1833. Mrs Beardsworth notoriously taught the horse when a foal to follow her round the house.