 Educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, John Bowes pursued an interest in theatre, art, and horse racing.A member of the Jockey Club, he owned Streatlam Stud that bred and raised racehorses at Streatlam and Gibside.His stable won the 2,000 Guineas Stakes three times, The Derby four times, and, in capturing the English Triple Crown with West Australian, won the 1853 St. Leger Stakes.