Despite the brevity of his racing career, he was regarded by contemporary experts as one of the best British racehorses of his era and arguably the greatest horse ever trained in the North of England.

[8][9] The race was delayed by eight false starts,[10] and when the runners eventually got under way, Blair Athol broke slowly and was towards the back of the field in the early stages.

Snowden rode a patient race, steadily making ground and moving up to track the leaders on the final turn.

A furlong from the finish, Blair Athol moved level with the leader and then drew away with "ridiculous ease" to win by two lengths from General Peel with Scottish Chief third.

He started favourite ahead of Fille de l'Air, a French filly whose hostile reception after winning The Oaks had led to an intensification of the nationalistic rivalry surrounding the event.

[15] Ridden on this occasion by Tom Chaloner, Blair Athol was held up in last place before moving up to contest the lead in the straight.

[18] At Doncaster on 14 September, Blair Athol started 2/1 favourite for the St Leger in a field of ten, being slightly favoured over General Peel, who was believed to be in much better form than at Epsom.

Inside the final furlong he was switched to the outside[19] and came "shooting past" the other runners and won very easily by two lengths from General Peel.

[2] When Blair Athol was moved from Malton to take up stud duties at Fairfield, near York, the road was lined by cheering supporters.

"[1] Blair Athol began his stud career at the farm of John Jackson, the York bookmaker who had attempted to buy him as a two-year-old.

[23] When Jackson became ill in 1868 he sold off all his horses and Blair Athol was bought for £5,000 and moved to the Middle Park stud at Newmarket.