Bred in Ireland by the 4th Earl of Dunraven, he was by the 1918 English Triple Crown champion, Gainsborough.

As a three-year-old, he finished fourth in the first two British Classic Races then won the third, the St Leger Stakes.

In his will, Rutherford left two pictures of Solario and the Coronation Cup he won to the Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery.

Solario was sent to stand at Terrace House Stud (now Tattersalls' Park Paddocks in Newmarket, Suffolk).

Solario sired his second Epsom Derby winner when another son, Straight Deal, won the 1943 running.