Old Rowley

Summary

Old Rowley was the name of a stallion racehorse belonging to King Charles II (1660-1685) of England. The Rowley Mile Racecourse at Newmarket, Suffolk, developed by the king as a national centre for horseracing, is named after the horse. As the stallion was libidinous and "renowned for the number and beauty of its offspring", Old Rowley became a nickname for the king himself, who had many mistresses and sired many illegitimate children.