an eight-row grandstand, to seat 14,000 people, surrounding an oval space 360 feet by 260 feet. Named Batty's Grand National Hippodrome, or Batty's Hippodrome, the arena opened in May 1851, with a French troupe from the Hippodrome in Paris. In addition to equestrian events, Batty staged camel and ostrich races, and balloon ascents. Batty's Hippodrome opened for a second season in 1852, during which a balloon launch went awry, causing serious injury to its occupants after the balloon averted a collision with the Crystal Palace Exhibition and crashed into a nearby mansion. Batty ceased performances at the Hippodrome after the 1852 season and the arena operated as a riding track for several years until its demolition. No trace of Batty's Hippodrome remains today. When Batty died in 1868, he was reportedly worth a half a million pounds sterling. He is buried in Kensal Green Cemetery in London. In the 21st century, American ringmaster Noah Mickens of Oregon's Wanderlust Circus uses Batty's name as his own stage name. Prior to Wanderlust, Mickens' early circus was called Batty's Hippodrome, another homage to Batty. References 1801 births 1868 deaths Circus owners British circus performers English male equestrians People of the Victorian era Burials at Kensal Green Cemetery