Exterminator (USA)
May 30, 1915 – September 26, 1945
McGee (GB) x Fair Empress (USA), by Jim Gore (USA)
American Family 1
May 30, 1915 – September 26, 1945
McGee (GB) x Fair Empress (USA), by Jim Gore (USA)
American Family 1
A gangly, ill-mannered juvenile when he was gelded, Exterminator matured into one of the most beloved horses ever to look through a bridle. Noted for his intelligence and his engaging personality as much as for his racing talent, Exterminator was the epitome of the professional racehorse. He gave his best regardless of distance, track, footing, trainer, jockey or the amount of lead piled on his back. In a long, arduous racing career, he was never less than all class.
Race record
100 starts, 50 wins, 17 seconds, 17 thirds, US$252,996
1918:
1919:
1920:
1921:
1922:
1923:
1924:
Honors
Assessments
Exterminator was rated #29 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Rated third among American 3-year-old males of 1918 by The Blood-Horse.
Rated third among American older males of 1919 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A tall chestnut whose height was variously reported from 16.2 hands to 17 hands, Exterminator was an angular, rawboned animal whose gawky appearance earned him such nicknames as “Old Bones,” “Slim,” and “The Galloping Hat Rack.” Nonetheless, he was generally correct and incredibly sound and durable. A highly intelligent horse, he would lean his weight on bad actors at the post and pin them into position until the field was away. He also had the reputation of recognizing cameras and posing for them. In his retirement, he became attached to a series of companion ponies (and possibly one Sicilian miniature donkey) named “Peanuts.” Each time one of his companions died, Exterminator would be inconsolable until he could finally be induced to accept a replacement.
Connections
Exterminator was bred by F. D. Knight. He was purchased by Cal Milam for US$1,500 at the 1916 Saratoga yearling sales. Milam raced him as a 2-year-old and then sold him for a price most commonly reported as US$9,000 and two unraced fillies to Henry McDaniel, acting as agent for Willis Sharpe Kilmer in the spring of 1918. Exterminator was originally purchased as a work horse for Kilmer's favorite, Sun Briar, but eventually became the star of the Kilmer stable although Kilmer always insisted that Sun Briar was his superior. Following McDaniel's resignation as Kilmer's trainer, Exterminator was trained by J. Simon Healy, Will McDaniel, F. Curtis, Willie Knapp, Eugene Wayland, William Shields, Henry McDaniel again, and John I. Smith, winning for all of them. After coming out of the 1924 Queen's Hotel Handicap lame, the great gelding was retired to Kilmer's Remlik Hall in Virginia. Remlik Hall burned down in 1938, and Exterminator was then moved to Court Manor, also in Virginia. In 1942, he and his old stablemate Sun Briar moved to Sun Briar Court near Binghamton, NY, where they lived the rest of their days.
Pedigree notes
Exterminator is inbred 5x5 to Blair Athol. His dam Fair Empress is a half sister to stakes winner Merry Acrobat (by Handspring). His third dam, Raybelle (by Rayon d'Or), is a full sister to The Belle, dam of 1897 Travers Stakes winner Rensselaer (by Hayden Edwards), and to Pandora, dam of 1899 Preakness Stakes winner Half Time (by Hanover) and 1900 Carter Handicap winner Box (by Order). Raybelle is also a full sister to Ssarg, dam of three stakes winners.
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Exterminator with Sarah Kilmer (widow of Willis Sharpe Kilmer) and his pony companion, Peanuts; photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: March 20, 2022.
Race record
100 starts, 50 wins, 17 seconds, 17 thirds, US$252,996
1918:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Carrollton Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Laurel)
- Won Ellicott City Handicap (USA, 9FD, Laurel)
- Won Pimlico Autumn Handicap (USA, 10FD, Pimlico)
- Won Latonia Cup (USA, 18FD, Latonia)
- Won Thanksgiving Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Latonia)
- 2nd Latonia Derby (USA, 12FD, Latonia)
- 2nd Kenner Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd National Handicap (USA, 9FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Turf and Field Handicap (USA, 8FT, United Hunts)
- 3rd Washington Handicap (USA, 9FD, Laurel)
- 3rd Bowie Handicap (USA, 12FD, Pimlico)
1919:
- Won Saratoga Cup (USA, 14FD, Saratoga; equaled track record 2:58)
- Won Ben Ali Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Lexington)
- Won Camden Handicap (USA, 10FD, Lexington)
- Won Galt House Handicap (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Pimlico Cup Handicap (USA, 18FD, Pimlico; new track record 4:13)
- 2nd Champlain Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Harford County Handicap (USA, 8f+70yD, Havre de Grace)
- 2nd Havre de Grace Handicap (USA, 9FD, Havre de Grace)
- 2nd Annapolis Handicap (USA, 12FD, Laurel)
- 2nd Latonia Cup (USA, 18FD, Latonia)
- 3rd Kentucky Handicap (USA, 12FD, Churchill Downs)
- 3rd Delaware Handicap (USA, 8FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Saratoga)
- Also equaled the track record of 1:45 for 8.5FD at Havre de Grace in an allowance race
1920:
- Won Long Beach Handicap (USA, 9FD, Jamaica)
- Won Brookdale Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Windsor Jockey Club Handicap (CAN, 9FD, Windsor; equaled track record 1:51-1/5)
- Won George Hendrie Memorial Handicap (CAN, 8.5FD, Windsor)
- Won Saratoga Cup (USA, 14FD, Saratoga; new track record 2:56-2/5)
- Won Autumn Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)
- Won Toronto Autumn Cup (CAN, 10FD, Woodbine)
- Won Ontario Jockey Club Cup (CAN, 18FD, Woodbine)
- Won Pimlico Cup Handicap (USA, 18FD, Pimlico; new track record 3:53)
- 2nd Saratoga Handicap (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Champlain Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Frontier Handicap (CAN, 9FD, Windsor)
1921:
- Won Long Beach Handicap (USA, 9FD, Jamaica; new track record 1:50)
- Won Independence Handicap (USA, 12FD, Latonia)
- Won Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Saratoga)
- Won Saratoga Cup (USA, 14FD, Saratoga; by walkover)
- Won Autumn Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)
- Won Toronto Autumn Cup (CAN, 10FD, Windsor)
- Won Pimlico Cup (USA, 18FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Kings County Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- 2nd Excelsior Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- 3rd Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Daniel Boone Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Latonia)
- 3rd Frontier Handicap (CAN, 9FD, Windsor)
- 3rd Annapolis Handicap (USA, 12FD, Laurel)
- 3rd Lexington Cup Handicap (USA, 12FD, Lexington)
1922:
- Won Harford Handicap (USA, 6FD, Havre de Grace)
- Won Pimlico Spring Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Clark Handicap (USA, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Kentucky Handicap (USA, 12FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Saratoga Cup (USA, 14FD, Saratoga)
- Won Toronto Autumn Cup Handicap (CAN, 10FD, Woodbine)
- 2nd Philadelphia Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Havre de Grace)
- 3rd Pimlico Cup Handicap (USA, 18FD, Pimlico)
1923:
- Won Philadelphia Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Havre de Grace);
- 3rd Harford Handicap (USA, 6FD, Havre de Grace)
1924:
- 3rd Queen's Hotel Handicap (CAN, 8.5FD, Dorval Park)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1957)
- Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2016)
- Saratoga Hoofprints Walk of Fame (inducted as part of the inaugural class in 2013)
- American Horse of the Year (1922)
- American champion older male (1920)
- American co-champion older male (1921, 1922)
Assessments
Exterminator was rated #29 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by a panel of experts assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Rated third among American 3-year-old males of 1918 by The Blood-Horse.
Rated third among American older males of 1919 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A tall chestnut whose height was variously reported from 16.2 hands to 17 hands, Exterminator was an angular, rawboned animal whose gawky appearance earned him such nicknames as “Old Bones,” “Slim,” and “The Galloping Hat Rack.” Nonetheless, he was generally correct and incredibly sound and durable. A highly intelligent horse, he would lean his weight on bad actors at the post and pin them into position until the field was away. He also had the reputation of recognizing cameras and posing for them. In his retirement, he became attached to a series of companion ponies (and possibly one Sicilian miniature donkey) named “Peanuts.” Each time one of his companions died, Exterminator would be inconsolable until he could finally be induced to accept a replacement.
Connections
Exterminator was bred by F. D. Knight. He was purchased by Cal Milam for US$1,500 at the 1916 Saratoga yearling sales. Milam raced him as a 2-year-old and then sold him for a price most commonly reported as US$9,000 and two unraced fillies to Henry McDaniel, acting as agent for Willis Sharpe Kilmer in the spring of 1918. Exterminator was originally purchased as a work horse for Kilmer's favorite, Sun Briar, but eventually became the star of the Kilmer stable although Kilmer always insisted that Sun Briar was his superior. Following McDaniel's resignation as Kilmer's trainer, Exterminator was trained by J. Simon Healy, Will McDaniel, F. Curtis, Willie Knapp, Eugene Wayland, William Shields, Henry McDaniel again, and John I. Smith, winning for all of them. After coming out of the 1924 Queen's Hotel Handicap lame, the great gelding was retired to Kilmer's Remlik Hall in Virginia. Remlik Hall burned down in 1938, and Exterminator was then moved to Court Manor, also in Virginia. In 1942, he and his old stablemate Sun Briar moved to Sun Briar Court near Binghamton, NY, where they lived the rest of their days.
Pedigree notes
Exterminator is inbred 5x5 to Blair Athol. His dam Fair Empress is a half sister to stakes winner Merry Acrobat (by Handspring). His third dam, Raybelle (by Rayon d'Or), is a full sister to The Belle, dam of 1897 Travers Stakes winner Rensselaer (by Hayden Edwards), and to Pandora, dam of 1899 Preakness Stakes winner Half Time (by Hanover) and 1900 Carter Handicap winner Box (by Order). Raybelle is also a full sister to Ssarg, dam of three stakes winners.
Books and media
- Old Bones the Wonder Horse was written by Mildred Mastin Pace and illustrated by Wesley Dennis. It was originally published as a hardback by McGraw-Hill and was later released as a paperback by Scholastic in 1983.
- Exterminator was released in 2002 as the 18th book in the Thoroughbred Legends series from Eclipse Press. It was written by Eva Jolene Boyd.
- Exterminator is profiled in Chapter 4 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- “The Work Horse,” chapter 3 in Greatest Kentucky Derby Upsets (a Blood-Horse compilation), details Exterminator's upset Kentucky Derby win. The book was published in 2007 by Eclipse Press.
- Here Comes Exterminator: The Longshot Horse, the Great War and the Making of an American Hero was written by Eliza McGraw and released by Thomas Dunne Books (an imprint of St. Martin's Press) in 2016. The book won the 2016 Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award as 2016's best book related to horse racing.
Fun facts
- Exterminator's win in the 1918 Kentucky Derby made his sire McGee the father of the two longest shots to win the Derby up to that time. McGee's other winner was Donerail, whose 1913 odds of 91.45-to-one still gives him the record for the longest odds on a Kentucky Derby winner.
- Exterminator's 1918 Kentucky Derby win, coupled with Viva America's triumph in the same year's Kentucky Oaks, made McGee the second stallion to sire the winners of the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks in the same year. The other stallions to have accomplished the double are King Alfonso, sire of 1885 Derby winner Joe Cotton and 1885 Oaks winner Lizzie Dwyer; Bull Lea, sire of 1952 Derby winner Hill Gail and 1952 Oaks winner Real Delight; and Native Dancer, sire of 1966 Derby winner Kauai King and 1966 Oaks winner Native Street.
- Exterminator had the latest known foaling date of any Kentucky Derby winner, arriving on May 30. He was not the youngest Kentucky Derby winner, however. He was 2 years, 11 months and 11 days old at the time of his Derby win on May 11, 1918, while Northern Dancer (foaled May 27) was 2 years,11 months and 5 days old when the 1964 Kentucky Derby ran on May 2.
- One of Exterminator's “unplaced” finishes was actually a time challenge over 10 furlongs at Hawthorne to see if he could break the track record. He failed to do so, resulting in the “unplaced” finish even though there were no other starters in the event.
- According to the sporting periodical Collyer's Eye, Exterminator developed a taste for champagne after bring sent two bottles by James Coffroth following a comeback race at Tijuana by the old champion in 1924. The horse eagerly drank up the "bubbly" after it was poured into his water bucket, and Coffroth, apparently quite pleased with how his gift had been received, promised the he would supply Exterminator with more champagne any time he raced at Tijuana, win, lose, or draw.
- During his long racing career, Exterminator faced off against fellow Kentucky Derby winners 15 times and came home ahead of his fellow Classic winners in nine of those races.
- The Exterminator Handicap was inaugurated in 1940 at Pimlico over a distance of 2 miles plus 70 yards. Exterminator was unable to make it to the inaugural race but attended the 1941 renewal to the cheers of a crowd of 38,000. The race was later cut to 1½ miles in 1951-1958 and then to 1¼ miles in 1959, its final renewal.
- Exterminator's final public appearance was on October 2, 1943, when his appearance helped raise $10 million in war bond sales at Belmont Park.
- After Exterminator settled in at Sun Briar Court, he became a great favorite with local schoolchildren, who visited him regularly. Kilmer's widow threw a birthday party for Exterminator and the neighborhood's children on the Sunday closest to his birthday through Exterminator's 30th year.
- In retirement, Exterminator had a habit of teasing his companion pony until he sensed the other equine was ready to kick at him, then leaning his weight on the smaller animal so that it could not do so.
- Due to a city ordinance forbidding burial of animals in city limits, Exterminator was buried alongside Sun Briar in a pet cemetery south of Binghamton.
Photo credit
Exterminator with Sarah Kilmer (widow of Willis Sharpe Kilmer) and his pony companion, Peanuts; photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: March 20, 2022.