ford was passionately fond of horse racing and owned a stable and stud in newmarket. in 1841 he was also the owner of a newmarket property called fidget hall, a stud farm just beyond bury hill that was later renamed moulton paddocks. his big wins included the oaks stakes in 1843 with "poison" and the coronation stakes with "guaracha" in 1846. some of the horses he sold on from his stable had later success including "the hermit" (1851) by "bay middleton" out of "jenny lind". ford acquired several of lord chesterfield's horses in 1850, and immediately put these up for sale including "lady evelyn" by "don john", (winner of the oaks 1849), and "mrs taft", a future cesarewitch handicap winner.