Alice Hawthorn was bred by John Plummer of Skipton.[3] According to local folklore, the horse was named after a girl who helped with the foal's birth.[4][5] Hawthorn was described as a "fine animal",[6] but "singularly narrow" and an "awkward walker".[7]
In 1841, Alice Hawthorn made her racing debut at York Racecourse for the October Meeting, with a fourth place finish in the All-aged Stakes.[3] In 1842, she became known for a three day winning streak at Chester racecourse. First she won the Chester Cup, the following day she won a handicap stakes race, and then the Cheshire Stakes the next day.[8] That year, she started nine times and won seven races.[3]
She was later leased to John Salvin who continued her racing career.[9][10] In 1843, she won eighteen races out of twenty six starts, including the Doncaster Cup and the Innkeeper's Plate.[11][3] In the Doncaster, she beat Charles the Twelfth in his final race.[12]
In 1844, Alice Hawthorn would win twenty races out of twenty four starts, including the Goodwood Cup.[13] Her final racing year was 1845, where she started seven times and own three races.[3] After her racing career was over, she became a broodmare.[14][15] In 1857, she produced Thormanby, who would win the 1860 Derby.[3]
