About: Caroline Agnes Graham, Duchess of Montrose

Caroline Agnes Horsley-Beresford, Duchess of Montrose (1818-1894), of 45 Belgrave Square, London, was a notable racehorse owner and socialite, a "wildly extravagant woman" who "strode across the racing scene". She was known as the "Red Duchess", from both her scarlet racing colours (inherited from her second husband) and her habit of dressing from head to foot in that colour at race meetings. It was said of her in one of her obituaries that "few women in England create more stir in all classes of society". She betted heavily, hardly ever missed attending a race meeting where her horses were competing, and associated almost exclusively with followers of the turf.