Sefton (racehorse)

Sefton
Hand-coloured engraving of Sefton and Henry Constable
Sire	Speculum
Grandsire	Vedette
Dam	Lady Sefton
Damsire	West Australian
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1875
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Glasgow Stud
Owner	Alec Taylor, Sr.
Trainer	William Stirling-Crawfurd
Record	11: 3-2-2
Earnings	£
Major wins
City and Suburban Handicap (1878) Epsom Derby (1878) Newmarket St. Leger (1878)

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.

Sefton, a dark-coated bay horse with one white sock, was bred by Jonathan Peel at the Glasgow Stud at Enfield, Middlesex. As a yearling was sold for 1,000 guineas to William Stirling-Crawfurd, an "old school" sportsman who had married the widow of the Duke of Montrose. Sefton was trained at Manton by Alec Taylor, Sr..

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.

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.