Mathew Dawson

Mathew Dawson
Caricature of Mathew Dawson, 1886
Occupation	Trainer
Born	9 January 1820 Gullane, Scotland, Great Britain
Died	18 August 1898
Major racing wins
British Classic Race wins: 2,000 Guineas (5) 1,000 Guineas (5) Epsom Oaks (5) Epsom Derby (6) St. Leger Stakes (7)
Significant horses
St. Simon, Melton, Ladas, Sir Visto, Minting, Atlantic.

Mathew Dawson (1820–1898) was a British racehorse trainer. In a career which lasted from 1840 until his death in 1898 he trained the winners of twenty-eight British Classic Races, a figure surpassed by only two other men. He was significant as one of the first trainers to run a public stable, rather than being the employee of a wealthy patron. He was based for most of his career at Newmarket, Suffolk. His first name is sometimes recorded as "Matthew", but "Mathew" is more usual.

Dawson was born at his family’s home Stamford Hall, Gullane, Haddingtonshire in 1820. His father George Dawson, his elder brother Thomas and his younger brother John were all racehorse trainers. He was apprenticed to his father and worked in 1838 for his brother Thomas at his stables at Middleham, North Yorkshire.

Dawson began training racehorses in Scotland in 1840, where his main patrons were Lord Kelburn and William Hope Johnstone. His most important winner in this period was The Era, who won the Northumberland Plate in 1845. He also sent a horse called Pathfinder to run in the Epsom Derby, but the horse finished last, almost a furlong behind the other runners.

In 1846, Dawson moved to England to become the stud manager and private trainer for Lord John Scott at Yew Tree Cottage at Compton, Berkshire. While working for Scott he recorded his first Royal Ascot win in 1851 and trained his first Classic winner when Catherine Hayes won the Epsom Oaks in 1853. When Scott sold his horses to James Merry in 1857, Dawson continued to train them, but moved his base to Russley Park, near Lambourn. For Merry, Dawson trained Sunbeam to win the St Leger in 1858 and Thormanby to win the 1860 Derby.