According to George Edwin Collins, "Nimrod junior", in his 1902 book "History of the Brocklesby hounds, 1700–1901",[1] Half Caste was bred by Mr W. Marris (of Limber, Lincolnshire) and was then purchased by Mr F. E. Epworth (of Great Coates, Lincolnshire) – both members of the Brocklesby Hunt[2] – who sold him on to Samuel Brisco Sheward, the leading society horsedealer from 43a Green Street, Mayfair, London.

[3] John Gerard Leigh's obituary[4] states that Half Caste was one of the first two steeplechasers he had owned, and was bought by him for 500 Guineas (£500) from Samuel Brisco Sheward, described as his 'fidus Achates' (faithful friend), who was his normal supplier of horses and represented him officially for racing purposes.

He was entered in the 1859 Grand National under the name of Mr Willoughby, a nom de course of John Gerard Leigh,[4] and was ridden by his trainer Chris Green.

[5] The Morning Post, though, thought that the gelding "was not very taking in his appearance" but noted he was the only horse to have escaped from an outbreak of (equine) influenza that had swept through Chris Green's stable.

Half Caste beat French raider, Jean Du Quesne, by a short neck, winning in a time of 10 minutes 2 seconds, and The Huntsman finished third.