King Tom

King Tom (1851-1878) was the foundation stallion of Baron Meyer de Rothschild's stud at Mentmore. Foaled in 1851 he was by Harkaway out of Pochohontas by Glencoe. A thoroughbred he won races as a two year old and when not fully recovered from injury he was second, by a length, to Andover in the Derby. He raced again as a four year old before breaking down and being retired to stud.

Between 1861 and 1871 he was one of the top ten sires fourteen times and leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1870 and 1871. He sired the 1866 and 1867 Oaks winners Tormentor and Hippia, and the 1870 Derby winner Kingcraft. He sired the 1864 Oaks winner Tomato and Hannah who won the Oaks, 1000 Guineas and the St. Ledger.

When he died at the age of twenty seven in 1878 he was buried in the grounds of Mentmore Towers beneath a life size bronze statue of him by sculptor,  Ernst Boehm. When the Primrose family sold Mentmore Towers the statue was removed to Dalmeny where it now stands in the policies beside the house.