Omar Khayyam (horse)

Omar Khayyam
Omar Khayyam
	Brooklyn Derby (1917); Kenner Stakes (1917); Travers Stakes (1917); Saratoga Cup (1917); Lawrence Realization Stakes (1917); Havre de Grace Handicap (1917); Pimlico Autumn Handicap (1917); Marines' Liberty Bond Handicap (1918); Rennert Handicap (1919) American Classics wins:; Kentucky Derby (1917)
Awards
	American Co-Champion 3-Yr-Old Male Horse (1917)
	Last updated on October 28, 2019

Omar Khayyam (1914–1938) was a British-born

mathematician, poet, and astronomer, Omar Khayyam

.

Bloodlines

Omar Khayyam was out of the

St. Leger Stakes and Ascot Gold Cup. He was sired by Marco, a leading three-year-old in England in 1895 and great-grandson of the first English Triple Crown Champion, West Australian

.

Hopeful Stakes. In his three-year-old season, no U.S. Triple Crown series had yet been formalized; the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes were held on the same day.^[3] Choosing to run in the Derby, Omar Khayyam was fourth in a mile and an eighth prep race at Lexington to Ticket. As a result, he was sent off at 13–1 odds in the Kentucky Derby. Ridden by jockey Charles Borel, Omar Khayyam unleashed a powerful stretch run to come from tenth place to win over the favorite Ticket.^[4]

Three weeks after his Derby win, Omar Khayyam was sold as part of his owner's multi-horse dispersal auction held on the grounds of New York's Belmont Park. He was purchased by Canadian biscuit manufacturer Wilfrid Viau. For his new owner, the colt went on to win the Prospect Handicap at Jamaica Race Course; the Brooklyn Derby at the old Aqueduct Racetrack; and (at the Saratoga Race Course) the Kenner Stakes, the Saratoga Cup and the Travers Stakes. In Maryland Omar Khayyam won the Havre de Grace Handicap and – despite a 30-pound handicap – set a new Pimlico Race Course track record in winning the Pimlico Autumn Handicap.

After the other entrants were scratched, the October 18, 1917, John R. McLean Memorial Championship at

match race between Omar Khayyam and August Belmont Jr. Belmont Stakes winner, Hourless. Earlier that year, Omar Khayyam had beaten Hourless in the 1½ mile Lawrence Realization Stakes and in the Brooklyn Derby. This time, however, Hourless won by a length. Despite Omar Khayyam's earlier wins over Hourless and the fact that he had earned $20,000 more than Hourless in purses that year (in more starts with greater consistency), Omar Khayyam shared American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse honors with Hourless.^[5]

As a four-year-old in 1918, Omar Khayyam's chances of winning were limited due to his high weight assignments; however, he won the Marines' Liberty Bond Handicap. The following year, at five, he won the Rennert Handicap at Pimlico under Clarence Kummer before being retired to stand at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky for the 1920 season.

Progeny

In 1929, Omar Khayyam was moved to the J. P. Jones stud in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he remained until his death in 1938. Among his offspring was

Toboggan

and Baltimore Handicaps.

Pedigree

Pedigree of Omar Khayyam
Sire Marco 1892	Barcaldine 1878	Solon	West Australian
		Solon	Birdcatcher Mare
		Ballyroe	Belladrum
		Ballyroe	Bon Accord
	Novitiate 1882	Hermit	Newminster
		Hermit	Seclusion
		Retty	Lambton
		Retty	Fern
Dam Lisma 1907	Persimmon 1893	St. Simon	Galopin
		St. Simon	St. Angela
		Perdita	Hampton*
		Perdita	Hermione
	Luscious 1894	Royal Hampton	Hampton*
		Royal Hampton	Princess
		Alveole	Crafton
		Alveole	Ste. Alveole

* Omar Khayyam is inbred 4D × 4D to the stallion Hampton, meaning that he appears twice fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

References

^ [1] Marco (scroll down for Omar Khayyam). Accessed February 14, 2011.
^ [2] Omar Khayyam's five-generation pedigree. Accessed February 14, 2011.
^ "Preakness Stakes". Archived from the original on 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2010-10-07. Preakness Stakes history. Accessed February 14, 2011.
^ [3] New York Times, May 13, 1917. Accessed February 14, 2011.
^ [4] New York Times article on the 1917 John R. McLean Memorial Championship. Accessed February 14, 2011.

External links

[1] [1] Marco (scroll down for Omar Khayyam). Accessed February 14, 2011.

[2] [2] Omar Khayyam's five-generation pedigree. Accessed February 14, 2011.

[3] "Preakness Stakes". Archived from the original on 2011-04-29. Retrieved 2010-10-07. Preakness Stakes history. Accessed February 14, 2011.

[4] [3] New York Times, May 13, 1917. Accessed February 14, 2011.

[5] [4] New York Times article on the 1917 John R. McLean Memorial Championship. Accessed February 14, 2011.

[3]

[4]

[5]