Hermis (USA)
1899 – c. 1913
Hermence (GB) x Katy of the West (USA), by Spendthrift (USA)
American Family 2
1899 – c. 1913
Hermence (GB) x Katy of the West (USA), by Spendthrift (USA)
American Family 2
Hermis was far from a spectacular juvenile—he raced at least once in a selling race—but his connections thought enough of him to nominate him to the 1902 American Derby, then the United States’ richest race for 3-year-olds. He was injured in that race and did not finish. Nonetheless, he justified the hopes placed on him. Back in action within a month after his American Derby debacle, he progressed rapidly and by season’s end was generally acknowledged as both the best American 3-year-old and the best American racehorse of any age. He remained at the top of his division for two more years and (by consensus) was the American Horse of the Year again at age 4. He was a far better racehorse than stallion.
Race record
55 starts, 28 wins, 8 second, 6 thirds, US$84,155
1902:
1903:
1904:
1905:
Honors
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Hermis was leggy with a good shoulder and a long, sloping pelvis. His disposition was kind but his courage was sometimes suspect. He had good natural speed and generally did his best running from on or close to the pace. Although he was a good doer, he was not an easy horse to get into condition after a layoff and was generally better in the fall than in the spring or summer.
As a stallion
Clio D. Hogan’s Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967 (vol. 2) credits Hermis with having sired two stakes winners.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Hermis was bred by H. A. Engman. He was owned by H. M. Ziegler (who bought the colt as a 2-year old) and trained by Charles Hughes. Just before the Travers Stakes (which ran on August 8, 1902); he was was bought by Louis V. Bell for a reported US$15,000; after his purchase, he was trained by Jack McCormack. In May 1903, he changed hands again for a reported $60,000, then a record for an American horse in training. His new owner was Edward R. Thomas, who reportedly bought the horse to please his wife. Following this sale, Hermis was trained by Alexander Shields, who soon acquired part ownership of him and by 1906 had full ownership of the horse. In 1908, Hermis was sold for US$900 at auction. He was exported to France in October 1910 and in 1912 was bought by Edmond Blanc for his Haras de Jardy. From there, he was sent to Belgium in 1913. All trace of him was lost during World War I.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the Isonomy horse Hermence, Hermis is inbred 4x4x5 to seven-time English champion sire Stockwell, winner of the 1852 Two Thousand Guineas and St. Leger Stakes. He is a half brother to Tootsie Mack (by Sir Walter), dam of stakes winner J. J. Lillis (by Bannockburn).
Hermis was produced from Katy of the West, whose dam Perdita was sired by Prince Charlie out of the Planet mare Persia, a full sister to 1876 Ohio Derby winner Bombay and a half sister to 1886 Phoenix Handicap winner Grimaldi (by Lisbon). Produced from the Sovereign mare Nora, Persia is also a half sister to Kentucky Belle, whose daughter Belle Knight (by Knighthood) produced 1887 Latonia Oaks winner Unite, 1888 Latonia Oaks winner Lavinia Belle, and the fine gelding Freeland, all by Longfellow. The female line traces back to an unnamed daughter of Janus (usually referenced as the Janus Mare Number 2 to distinguish her from the foundation mare of American Family 1, also an unnamed daughter of Janus) and cannot be linked to any of the Bruce Lowe families.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the estate of Walter Vosburgh; now in the private collection of Dale Wyatt. Used by permission.
Last updated: June 18, 2023
Race record
55 starts, 28 wins, 8 second, 6 thirds, US$84,155
1902:
- Won Jerome Handicap (USA, 10FD, Morris Park)
- Won Travers Stakes (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won First Special (USA, 10FD, Gravesend)
- Won Oceanview Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Gravesend)
- Won Saranac Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga; equaled track record 1:51-2/5)
- Won Mamaroneck Handicap (USA, 10FD, Morris Park)
1903:
- Won Brighton Cup (USA, 18FD, Brighton Beach)
- Won Edgemere Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct; new track record 1:53)
- Won Merchants' and Citizens' Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Ocean Handicap (USA, 8FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 2nd Saratoga Champion Stakes (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Twin City Handicap (USA, 10FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- Set new track record of 1:52-1/5 for 9FD at Morris Park
- Set new track record of 2:23-1/5 for 12FD at Brighton Beach
1904:
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- Won Test Handicap (USA, 8FD, Brighton Beach; equaled track record 1:38)
- Won Brookdale Handicap (USA, 9FD, Gravesend)
- 2nd World's Fair Handicap (USA, 10FD, St. Louis)
1905:
- Won Islip Handicap (USA, 9FD, Brighton Beach)
Honors
- American Horse of the Year (1902, 1903)
- American champion 3-year-old male (1902)
- American co-champion handicap male (1903)
- American champion handicap male (1904)
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Hermis was leggy with a good shoulder and a long, sloping pelvis. His disposition was kind but his courage was sometimes suspect. He had good natural speed and generally did his best running from on or close to the pace. Although he was a good doer, he was not an easy horse to get into condition after a layoff and was generally better in the fall than in the spring or summer.
As a stallion
Clio D. Hogan’s Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967 (vol. 2) credits Hermis with having sired two stakes winners.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Hermis was bred by H. A. Engman. He was owned by H. M. Ziegler (who bought the colt as a 2-year old) and trained by Charles Hughes. Just before the Travers Stakes (which ran on August 8, 1902); he was was bought by Louis V. Bell for a reported US$15,000; after his purchase, he was trained by Jack McCormack. In May 1903, he changed hands again for a reported $60,000, then a record for an American horse in training. His new owner was Edward R. Thomas, who reportedly bought the horse to please his wife. Following this sale, Hermis was trained by Alexander Shields, who soon acquired part ownership of him and by 1906 had full ownership of the horse. In 1908, Hermis was sold for US$900 at auction. He was exported to France in October 1910 and in 1912 was bought by Edmond Blanc for his Haras de Jardy. From there, he was sent to Belgium in 1913. All trace of him was lost during World War I.
Pedigree notes
Sired by the Isonomy horse Hermence, Hermis is inbred 4x4x5 to seven-time English champion sire Stockwell, winner of the 1852 Two Thousand Guineas and St. Leger Stakes. He is a half brother to Tootsie Mack (by Sir Walter), dam of stakes winner J. J. Lillis (by Bannockburn).
Hermis was produced from Katy of the West, whose dam Perdita was sired by Prince Charlie out of the Planet mare Persia, a full sister to 1876 Ohio Derby winner Bombay and a half sister to 1886 Phoenix Handicap winner Grimaldi (by Lisbon). Produced from the Sovereign mare Nora, Persia is also a half sister to Kentucky Belle, whose daughter Belle Knight (by Knighthood) produced 1887 Latonia Oaks winner Unite, 1888 Latonia Oaks winner Lavinia Belle, and the fine gelding Freeland, all by Longfellow. The female line traces back to an unnamed daughter of Janus (usually referenced as the Janus Mare Number 2 to distinguish her from the foundation mare of American Family 1, also an unnamed daughter of Janus) and cannot be linked to any of the Bruce Lowe families.
Fun facts
- Hermis’s stable mascot was a fox terrier named Minnie, a gift to Edward Thomas from Sir Thomas Lipton.
- Hermis’s trophy for winning the 1903 Brighton Cup was among five trophies stolen from the National Museum of Racing at Saratoga in September 2013. Although the alleged perpetrators were caught and were indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2023, the trophy was not recovered and is believed to have been melted down for the precious metals it contained.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the estate of Walter Vosburgh; now in the private collection of Dale Wyatt. Used by permission.
Last updated: June 18, 2023