A contemporary of Ormonde, still regarded by many experts as the greatest English racehorse of the 19th century, and the excellent Minting, Gay Hermit compiled a respectable record on the race course in England but was well below the leaders of his vintage crop. His importation to Argentina provides a measuring stick of the quality of Argentine racing at the time compared to racing in England, as he won Argentina's premier all-aged race, the Gran Premio Internacional (later known as the Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini), in spite of the fact that he broke down about 300 yards from the finish. He proved a most beneficial sire in his adopted country, leading the general sire list four times and becoming a great sire of broodmares as well.
Race record
1885:
1886:
1887:
1888:
As an individual
A bay horse, Gay Hermit broke down in the Doncaster Stakes as a 3-year-old and again while winning the Gran Premio Internacional at 5; the latter injury ended his racing career.
As a stallion
Gay Hermit was Argentina's champion sire in 1896-1898 and in 1901. He also led the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1910-1913, 1915 and 1916.
Notable progeny
Balcarce (ARG), Berezina (ARG), Citoyenne (ARG), Colombia (ARG), Cordon Rouge (ARG), Espina (ARG), Fedra (ARG), Gonin (ARG), Talma (ARG), Tarantula (ARG), Túnica (ARG), Valero (ARG)
Connections
Gay Hermit was bred by J. Crowther and M. Harrison. He was owned by “Mr. Manton” (the nom de course of Caroline, Duchess of Montrose), though he was listed as owned by Mr. A. Taylor (Alec Taylor, the colt's trainer) during the last two months of his juvenile season. After the 1887 English racing season, Gay Hermit was purchased by Santiago Luro, who imported him to Argentina. Luro won the 1888 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini with the horse before installing him as a stallion at his Haras Ojo de Agua.
Pedigree notes
Gay Hermit is inbred 3x5 to 1834 St. Leger Stakes and four-time English champion sire Touchstone and 5x5 to 1810 Derby Stakes winner and two-time English champion sire Whalebone. He is a full brother to Chesterfield Cup winner Hermitage and to juvenile stakes winner Burgundy, second dam of the very quick juvenile Emotion, whose victories included the Fern Hill stakes against all-aged competition, and of 1905 Deutsches Derby (German Derby) winner Patience. Burgundy is also the third dam of 1929 Polla de Potrancos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) winner Tresiete.
Gay Hermit was produced from Doll Tearsheet, also the dam of 1887 Derby Stakes winner Merry Hampton (by Hampton). Doll Tearsheet is out of the Longbow mare Mrs Quickly and is a half sister to Blue Sleeves (by Beadsman), third dam of 1895 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner and 1902 French champion sire Omnium II. She is also a half sister to Green Sleeves (by Beadsman), second dam of 1878 Prix du Jockey Club winner Insulaire, and to Happy Wife (by Beadsman), third dam of Gran Premio del Fascio (Italian St. Leger) winner Qui Vive.
Fun facts
Race record
1885:
- Won Woodcote Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Epsom)
- Won Royal Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Windsor; dead heat with Exmoor)
- Won Hopeful Stakes (ENG, 5FT, Newmarket; dead heat with Modwena)
- 2nd Champagne Stakes (ENG, 5f+152yT, Doncaster)
- 2nd Midsummer Plate (ENG, 5FT, Windsor)
- 3rd Whitsuntide Plate (ENG, 5FT, Manchester)
1886:
- Won Great Yorkshire Stakes (ENG, 14FT, York)
- Won Triennial Produce Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
- Won Triennial Stakes (ENG, Ascot)
- 2nd Stockbridge Cup (ENG, Stockbridge)
1887:
- Won Royal Hunt Cup (ENG, 7f+166yT, Ascot)
- 2nd Liverpool Cup (ENG, 12FT, Liverpool)
1888:
- Won Gran Premio Internacional (ARG, 3000m, Hipódromo Nacional)
As an individual
A bay horse, Gay Hermit broke down in the Doncaster Stakes as a 3-year-old and again while winning the Gran Premio Internacional at 5; the latter injury ended his racing career.
As a stallion
Gay Hermit was Argentina's champion sire in 1896-1898 and in 1901. He also led the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1910-1913, 1915 and 1916.
Notable progeny
Balcarce (ARG), Berezina (ARG), Citoyenne (ARG), Colombia (ARG), Cordon Rouge (ARG), Espina (ARG), Fedra (ARG), Gonin (ARG), Talma (ARG), Tarantula (ARG), Túnica (ARG), Valero (ARG)
Connections
Gay Hermit was bred by J. Crowther and M. Harrison. He was owned by “Mr. Manton” (the nom de course of Caroline, Duchess of Montrose), though he was listed as owned by Mr. A. Taylor (Alec Taylor, the colt's trainer) during the last two months of his juvenile season. After the 1887 English racing season, Gay Hermit was purchased by Santiago Luro, who imported him to Argentina. Luro won the 1888 Gran Premio Carlos Pellegrini with the horse before installing him as a stallion at his Haras Ojo de Agua.
Pedigree notes
Gay Hermit is inbred 3x5 to 1834 St. Leger Stakes and four-time English champion sire Touchstone and 5x5 to 1810 Derby Stakes winner and two-time English champion sire Whalebone. He is a full brother to Chesterfield Cup winner Hermitage and to juvenile stakes winner Burgundy, second dam of the very quick juvenile Emotion, whose victories included the Fern Hill stakes against all-aged competition, and of 1905 Deutsches Derby (German Derby) winner Patience. Burgundy is also the third dam of 1929 Polla de Potrancos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) winner Tresiete.
Gay Hermit was produced from Doll Tearsheet, also the dam of 1887 Derby Stakes winner Merry Hampton (by Hampton). Doll Tearsheet is out of the Longbow mare Mrs Quickly and is a half sister to Blue Sleeves (by Beadsman), third dam of 1895 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner and 1902 French champion sire Omnium II. She is also a half sister to Green Sleeves (by Beadsman), second dam of 1878 Prix du Jockey Club winner Insulaire, and to Happy Wife (by Beadsman), third dam of Gran Premio del Fascio (Italian St. Leger) winner Qui Vive.
Fun facts
- In 1887, Gay Hermit ran second to St. Mirin in the Liverpool Cup. Both horses were sons of Hermit, both had been owned by “Mr. Manton” (though St. Mirin had been sold to the Duke of Westminster after running third in the 1886 St. Leger Stakes), and both were exported to Argentina, where they became sires of Classic winners.