Sefton (1875–1891) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1877 to 1878 he ran thirteen times and won three races. He showed little promise as a two-year-old, but developed into a leading colt the following year, when his wins included the 1878 Epsom Derby. At the end of the season he was retired to stud where he had little success. He was put down in 1891. The famous "Sefton Lodge" stables in Newmarket, owned by the horse's owner, were named after him. Background Sefton, a dark-coated bay horse with one white sock, was bred by Jonathan Peel at the Glasgow Stud (owned by James Carr-Boyle, 5th Earl of Glasgow) at Enfield, Middlesex. As a yearling was sold for 1,000 guineas to William Stuart Stirling-Crawfurd (1819–1883) of Milton in Lanarkshire, Scotland (now a suburb of Glasgow), an "old school" sportsman who had married the widow of the Duke of Montrose. Sefton was trained at Manton by Alec Taylor Sr., who had established his training facility there in 1870 under the patronage of Stirling-Crawfurd. Sefton's sire Speculum was a top class stayer who won the Goodwood Cup. He went on to be a successful and influential sire, being the male-line ancestor of the Derby winners Sunstar and Phil Drake. Sefton's achievements enabled Speculum to become Champion sire in 1878. Sefton's dam was an unnamed mare by West Australian who was later given the name Lady Sefton. During Sefton's career, she was usually known as "Liverpool's dam" after a good colt she had produced in 1869. Racing career 1877: two-year-old season Sefton raced four times as a two-year-old without success. His best performance came at Stockbridge Racecourse in June, when he finished second to Redwing in the Hurstbourne Stakes. He was unplaced in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood in July and the Criterion Stakes in October. 1878: three-year-old season Sefton made his debut as a three-year-old in the inaugural running of the Craven Stakes at Newmarket in April. He showed form far in advance of anything he had shown in 1877 by finishing half a length second to Thurio, with the pair well clear of the thirteen other runners. Sefton's next race was an unusual one for a Classic contender, as he took on older horses in the valuable City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom on 30 April. Carrying only 78 pounds he disputed the lead from