Hermit (horse)
Hermit | |
---|---|
Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland (5 times) | |
Last updated on 14 February 2011 |
Hermit (1864–1890), sometimes known, incorrectly as "The Hermit", was a 19th-century
Breeding
Hermit was a "yellowish"
He was bred by
Racing career
1866: two-year-old season
Hermit was given his first trial when still a yearling in December 1865. He conceded 35 pounds (16 kg) to a yearling filly named Problem and won their private race comfortably. When Problem won the valuable Brocklesby Stakes on her debut at Lincoln Racecourse in March, it was clear to Machell and Chaplin that they had a potentially top class colt.[5]
Hermit began his racing career at the First Spring Meeting at
By late summer Hermit had established himself as one of the best colts of his generation and a contender for the following year's classics. He did not appear again in 1866 after his wins at Stockbridge however, causing his quality and soundness to be questioned by some commentators.[7]
1867: three-year-old season
Hermit did not race in 1867 before the Derby, meaning that he had been off the course for more than 10 months when he appeared at Epsom. In spring the 2000 Guineas was won by Vauban, with Hermit's stable companion Knight of the Garter beaten two lengths in second and Marksman third. Vauban became a leading fancy for the Derby but Machell's confidence in Hermit was reinforced when he conceded ten pounds to Knight of the Garter and defeated him convincingly in a private trial race.[8]
A week before the Derby Hermit
- "Despis'd, abus'd forsaken,
- Predicted not to "stay"
- A byeword and a proverb
- The Hermit won the day!"[12]
Chaplin won well over £100,000 on the race[5] and rewarded those associated with the win. Daley was given £1,000 and Bloss who had ensured Hermit's security by sleeping in the horse's stable for several weeks in the build-up to the race, was rewarded with £5,000.[4] By contrast the result of the race brought Chaplin's sporting and personal rival Harry Hastings to the brink of financial ruin.[8] Two days after his win in the Derby, Daley completed a double when Hippia defeated the 1/3 favourite Achievement to win The Oaks.
Hermit followed up his Derby win with two runs at Royal Ascot, where he reportedly looked much better than he had done at Epsom.
At Doncaster on 11 September, Hermit was one of 12 runners for the St Leger. He started the 6/5 favourite ahead of the filly Achievement, with Vauban and Julius the only other runners at less than 33/1. He finished second to Achievement, beaten by one length, with Julius a head away in third and Vauban fourth. According to contemporary reports, Hermit ran very gamely, but was unable to catch the long-striding filly in the straight.[15] Chaplin later claimed that he had been unhappy with the colt's preparation, feeling that the training regime imposed by Bloss and Machell had been too severe.[16] Two days later Hermit met Achievement again in the Doncaster Cup over two mile five furlongs and was beaten by three quarters of a length. On the same afternoon, Hermit ran a sweepstakes over one and three-quarter miles, in which he was ridden to victory by Custance against two opponents, both of whom were receiving seven pounds from the Derby winner.[17]
On 24 September Hermit started 6/4 favourite for the Grand Duke Michael Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket and finished second by a length to Friponnier, to whom he was conceding seven pounds.[18] Hermit and Friponnier met again at the next Newmarket meeting when they were the only two runners for a one-mile sweepstakes. On this occasion Hermit conceded five pounds to his opponent and was beaten ten lengths. On the following day Hermit finished second again when he failed by one and a half lengths to conceded 14 pounds to Longchamps in the Newmarket Derby.[19]
1868–69: later career
On 16 April at the Craven meeting at Newmarket, Hermit was narrowly beaten by the Cesarewitch winner Julius, to whom he was conceding seven pounds in a Biennial Stakes.[20] At the next Newmarket meeting Hermit and Julius met in a match race over two miles with Hermit carrying one pound less than his opponent. Julius won comfortably by two lengths. At the same meeting, Henry Chaplin paid a forfeit when Hermit failed to appear for a ten furlong match in which he was set to concede thirteen pounds to The Palmer.[21]
Having finished first or second in his first seventeen starts, Hermit's form deteriorated badly, and he was unplaced in all his subsequent races. In September, Hermit carried top weight and started 2/1 favourite for the Portland Plate at Doncaster but finished unplaced behind Lady Zetland.[22] At Newmarket on 8 October he was unplaced again when carrying top weight in a one-mile handicap.[23] In late October at the Houghton meeting Chaplin again paid a forfeit when Hermit did not take part in a scheduled match against The Palmer. On his final start of the year at the same meeting Hermit finished unplaced in the six furlong Houghton handicap.[24]
As a five-year-old, Hermit returned to the Epsom Derby meeting on 27 May where he carried top weight of 130 pounds in Six Mile Hill Handicap over a mile and a half. He started at odds of 20/1 and finished unplaced behind
Stud record
Hermit was an exceptional sire, with 846 English stakes winners, and was the leading English sire for seven years (1880–86).
His notable progeny includes:
Foaled | Name | Sex | Major Wins/Achievements |
---|---|---|---|
1871 | Ascetic | Stallion | Leading sire of Irish steeple chasers for almost 20 years. Sired St Blaise (Epsom Derby (1883), Leading sire in North America (1890), sired Potomac). |
1873 | Moorhen | Mare | Dam of the champion sire Gallinule |
1878 | Thebais | Mare | 1000 Guineas Stakes |
1878 | Tristan | Stallion | Ascot Gold Cup |
1879 | Shotover | Mare | 2000 Guineas Stakes (1882), Epsom Derby (1882). 3rd dam of Frizette. |
1879 | St Marguerite | Mare | 1000 Guineas Stakes. Granddam of Rock Sand. |
1882 | Lonely | Mare | Yorkshire Oaks |
1885 | Friar's Balsam | Stallion | Brilliant as a two-year-old, but plagued by mouth abscesses during and after the 2000 Guineas Stakes |
1885 | Bella-Donna | Mare | Dam of Beldame |
1885 | Zama | Mare | Dam of the champion sire Hannibal |
1888 | Cinderella | Mare | Dam of Peter Pan
|
Hermit died on 29 April 1890 at the age of 25 at his owner's
Place of rest
His skeleton is now held at The Royal Veterinary College, Camden campus, part of the University of London. He is used in anatomy demonstrations for all years and courses.
Pedigree
Sire Newminster (GB) 1848 |
Touchstone 1831 |
Camel | Whalebone |
---|---|---|---|
Selim mare | |||
Banter | Master Henry | ||
Boadicea | |||
Beeswing 1833 |
Dr Syntax | Paynator | |
Beningborough mare | |||
Ardrossan mare | Ardrossa | ||
Lady Eliza | |||
Dam Seclusion (GB) 1857 |
Tadmor 1846 |
Ion | Cain |
Margaret | |||
Palmyra | Sultan | ||
Hester | |||
Miss Sellon 1851 |
Cowl | Bay Middleton | |
Crucifix | |||
Belle Dame | Belshazzar | ||
Ellen (Family:5-d)[30] |
References
- ^ a b Liz Martiniak Thoroughbred Heritage. "Hermit at Thoroughbred Heritage site". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1867. p. 42. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ "Newminster". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ a b c "Viscount Chaplin's Memoirs, Part VI". Glasgow Herald. 7 August 1926. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ ISBN 0-354-08536-0.
- ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1867. p. 43. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ "The Derby". Saturday review. 25 May 1867. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ a b c Henry Blyth (1967-05-08). "Two Toffs, A Lady And A Horse - 05.08.67 - SI Vault". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ Baily's Magazine of Sports & Pastimes. A. H. Baily & co. 1867. p. 211. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ Baily's Magazine of Sports & Pastimes. A. H. Baily & co. 1867. p. 168. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ Baily's Magazine of Sports & Pastimes. A. H. Baily & co. 1867. p. 227. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ Baily's Magazine of Sports & Pastimes. A. H. Baily & co. 1867. p. 172. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1867. p. 393. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1867. p. 44. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1867. p. 395. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ a b "Viscount Chaplin's Memoirs, Part VII". Glasgow Herald. 9 August 1926. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1867. pp. 116–118. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. 1867. p. 127. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ The Sporting review, ed. by 'Craven'. Rogerson & Tuxford. p. 135. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ C., J., E., and J. P. Weatherby (1868). THE RACING CALENDAR FOR THE YEAR 1868. Wetherbys. p. 74. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ C., J., E., and J. P. Weatherby (1868). THE RACING CALENDAR FOR THE YEAR 1868. Wetherbys. p. 116. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ C., J., E., and J. P. Weatherby (1868). THE RACING CALENDAR FOR THE YEAR 1868. Wetherbys. p. 440. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ C., J., E., and J. P. Weatherby (1868). THE RACING CALENDAR FOR THE YEAR 1868. Wetherbys. p. 521. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ C., J., E., and J. P. Weatherby (1868). THE RACING CALENDAR FOR THE YEAR 1868. Wetherbys. p. 568. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ C., J., E., and J. P. Weatherby (1869). The Racing Calendar. Wetherbys. p. 199. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ C., J., E., and J. P. Weatherby (1869). The Racing Calendar. Wetherbys. p. 348. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Hermit Pedigree". Pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
- ^ Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), Thoroughbred Breeding of the World, Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970
- ^ Staff (1893). "1890" (PDF). The New York Clipper Annual. Retrieved 31 July 2011.
- ^ "Castanea - Family 5-d". Bloodlines.net. Retrieved 2012-02-12.