Racing plate worn by Batt when winning the 1897 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket.

Racing plate worn by Batt when winning the 1897 Criterion Stakes at Newmarket,
mounted with painted back plate in yellow & black in keeping with the Duke of Westminster’s racing colours, inscribed with the race details, some fading and minor paint loss.

Batt was a bay colt foaled in 1895 by Sheen out of Vampire (Galopin) and was owned by the Duke of Westminster. He won 5 races from 8 starts including the Houghton S., Criterion S., Doncaster S. & Great Foal S. The colt also finished second in the Derby behind Jeddah, and also runner-up in the Eclipse Stakes.

The Criterion Stakes of this time was an important 2-y-o race at Newmarket and won by some famous horses including Ormonde, Flying Fox, Pretty Polly & Gay Crusader. It should not be confused with the G3 event for older horses run on the July Course since 1978 (known as the Van Geest Stakes for some of that time).