The Squire was foaled in 1838 by The Saddler out of a grey mare by Minos. For Mr J. Bell he won four races as a two-year-old and five as a three-year-old. His only visit to Newmarket was for the Cesarewitch for which he was a very hot favourite but ran poorly. At the same visit, however, he won a 500 guinea match with a good horse called Ralph. Both carried eight stone and the match was run over a course called the Ditch In, with The Squire being ridden by Hesseltine.