Bred at the 16th Lord Derby's stud in Lincolnshire, England he was sired by John O'Gaunt, a son of Isinglass, winner of the British Triple Crown in 1893.

His dam was Lord Derby's foundation mare and 1896 Epsom Oaks winner Canterbury Pilgrim who also produced Chaucer, the 1927 and 1933 Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland.

Lord Derby died in June 1908 and his son Edward took over the family's racing and breeding operations.

Trained by George Lambton at the Stanley House Stables in Newmarket, Suffolk, Swynford was a difficult horse to handle and in his only start at age two ran unplaced.

[1] Swynford was the Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1923 and the Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1932, Sywnford's progeny included six British Classic race winners and in 1923 he was the Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland.