[1] The chestnut was not a particularly pretty horse; he was described by one turf writer as "the very incarnation of ugliness", possessing a plain head with a slight Roman nose and hindquarters like a carthorse.

He had good feet, strong legs and was very powerful, however, giving him the ability to carry high weights.

Although a poor mover he was very fast; his speed made up for his terrible temperament, which was considered "a bit savage".

Although the colt was thought to be "over-large," Brownlow Cecil, 2nd Marquess of Exeter purchased the yearling for 180 sovereigns, with the contingency that he would pay £500 more if Stockwell won The Derby.

He finished eighth in The Derby, although some believe that the colt had a tooth abscess lanced just prior to the race which would have affected his running.

Stockwell ran once as a four-year-old, finishing second by a head in the Emperor of Russia's Plate (Ascot Gold Cup).

After the 1862 season, Stockwell was moved to Naylor's stud farm at Hooton Park, where he lived for the final eight years of his life in relative luxury.