The bay colt had an unruly temperament, and was castrated at the end of the 1817 racing season in an attempt to improve his behavior, but he died shortly after the procedure.

[4] The Duke of York reportedly won several thousand pounds by betting on Prince Leopold to win the Derby.

[7] The next day, Prince Leopold received 125 guineas after a subscription race did not attract enough entries (termed as a "walk over").

The General Stud Book reports that Prince Leopold died after the operation in 1817,[15] but the Sporting Magazine lists his death year as 1818.

[14] The 1817 Racing Calendar reports that Lord Stawell's horse Pandour received a forfeit from Prince Leopold (listed as dead) on 29 September 1817,[5] making the 1817 death date more likely.