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About Thomas Horspool
- Thomas Horspool (born 22 May 1830) was a British runner who set several world records in the mile soon after relatively precise running tracks and accurate timing devices came into use in the mid-19th century. Born in Liverpool, but living in Basford, Horspool was a glove-knitter by trade.
- He won the 1853 mile championship in Sheffield, won it again in 1854 with a time of 4:29, and defeated main rival John Saville twice in 1856. Their most famous race took place on 28 September 1857 at the Copenhagen Grounds in Manchester.
- There, Horspool defeated Saville by four yards and equaled the mile world record of 4:28 set by Charles Westhall in 1852. Tommy Hayes, himself once a champion runner and now proprietor of the Copenhagen Grounds, declared Horspool "English champion," at a time when no governing body existed to establish titles or championships.
- Horspool returned to the track in 1858 where, on 12 July, he lived up to his title by defeating Manchester professional Job Smith by 10 yards in a new world record of 4:23.
- His time was called "an unsurpassed display of celerity."Horspool retired as undefeated champion soon afterwards and became a publican.
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