Bred and owned by George Witty of Yorkshire, he was probably a half-brother to Jenny Cameron* (b f 1742). The Witty family maintained a small racing and breeding establishment from early in the eighteenth century into the second decade of the nineteenth century. George Witty is probably most famous as the breeder of the successful race mare Meliora (ch f 1729 Fox) who later became the dam of Tartar (ch c 1743 Crofts Partner). Tartar in turn sired the legendary King Herod (b c 1758).

Grenadier raced for three years, initially under the name of Captain. Said to stand a full fifteen hands one inch, he covered at the Witty stud in Beverley, Yorkshire, for a fee of 1 guinea. In the stud he sired a number of racehorses although his stock did not breed on.