His Eminence was the second of three sons of Falsetto to win the Kentucky Derby but was not the equal of either Chant (1894) or Sir Huon (1906) as a racehorse. Injury may have been a contributing factor as he does not appear to have raced at 3 after the Washington Park meeting in Chicago in June-July 1901. He served only briefly at stud before being returned to training at 4. He was a winner at Sheepshead Bay that year and at 5 was again successful in stakes company. He was eventually retrained for steeplechasing but reportedly died after falling at a jump.
Race record
53 starts, 11 wins, 7 seconds, 8 thirds, US$16,295
1900:
1901:
1902:
1903:
As an individual
A handsome bay colt of compact build, His Eminence was said to have been a good mover with clean limbs but not very inclined to contest the issue when hooked. He was at his best when he could either take control of a race early or make one clear run to pass tired leaders.
As a stallion
His Eminence sired nothing of any note.
Connections
His Eminence was the last Kentucky Derby winner bred from a mating planned by A. J. Alexander of the famous Woodburn Stud. At the dispersal of Alexander's stock in 1897, his dam was sold to Overton Chenault for US$75 with the future Derby winner in utero. His Eminence was foaled at Chenault's Spendthrift Stud, and Chenault, in turn, sold His Eminence at Sheepshead Bay for US$500 as a yearling. The buyer was Captain J. B. Lewman, who raced the colt for part of his juvenile season under the training of Press West before selling him to owner-trainer Frank B. Van Meter for $US700. Following His Eminence's victories in the Kentucky Derby and Clark Stakes, Van Meter sold him to Clarence Mackay for US$18,000, though the sale was originally reported as having been to Chicago brewer George Ehret. Mackay stood the horse at stud in 1902 before returning him to training, but on the death of his father, sent his horses to the auction block at Saratoga, His Eminence included. The horse sold for US$9,000 to F. Gebhard but proved a disappointment in his colors and was auctioned off again in September 1903 at Gravesend, selling for US$2,900 to Joseph C. Yeager. From there, His Eminence eventually passed into the hands of William Collins Whitney, who had him retrained with steeplechasing in mind. The horse is believed to have died in a fall about 1906.
Pedigree notes
His Eminence is inbred 4x4x3 to 16-time American champion sire Lexington, 4x4 to 1844 St. Leger Stakes winner Faugh-a-Ballagh, 5x4 to undefeated American Eclipse, and 5x5 to the important 19th-century English sire Pantaloon. He is a half brother to Starlight (by King Alfonso), dam of multiple stakes winner Orontas (by Azra).
Patroness, the dam of His Eminence, is a half sister to 1885 Kentucky Derby winner Joe Cotton (by King Alfonso) and to 1878 Manhattan Handicap winner Garrick (by Lexington). She is also a half sister to Haidee (by King Alfonso), dam of multiple stakes winner Rey del Tierra (by Prince of Norfolk). In addition, she is a half sister to Lady Caroline (by Australian), second dam of 1903 Preakness Stakes winner Flocarline and 1890 Breeders' Stakes winner Periwinkle.
Inverness, the dam of Patroness and her siblings, was imported to the United States as an unraced youngster and was stakes-placed in good company in her adopted country. Sired by the 1863 Two Thousand Guineas and Derby Stakes winner Macaroni, she was produced from the Faugh-a-Ballagh mare Elfrida, in turn a daughter of the Liverpool mare Espoir.
Fun facts
Last updated March 15, 2020
Race record
53 starts, 11 wins, 7 seconds, 8 thirds, US$16,295
1900:
- 3rd Wenonah Stakes (USA, 4.5FD, Churchill Downs)
1901:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Clark Stakes (USA, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
1902:
- 2nd Russet Handicap (USA, 12FT, Sheepshead Bay)
1903:
- Won Omnium Handicap (USA, 9FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- 2nd Russet Handicap (USA, 12FT, Sheepshead Bay)
- 3rd Twin City Handicap (USA, 10FD, Sheepshead Bay)
As an individual
A handsome bay colt of compact build, His Eminence was said to have been a good mover with clean limbs but not very inclined to contest the issue when hooked. He was at his best when he could either take control of a race early or make one clear run to pass tired leaders.
As a stallion
His Eminence sired nothing of any note.
Connections
His Eminence was the last Kentucky Derby winner bred from a mating planned by A. J. Alexander of the famous Woodburn Stud. At the dispersal of Alexander's stock in 1897, his dam was sold to Overton Chenault for US$75 with the future Derby winner in utero. His Eminence was foaled at Chenault's Spendthrift Stud, and Chenault, in turn, sold His Eminence at Sheepshead Bay for US$500 as a yearling. The buyer was Captain J. B. Lewman, who raced the colt for part of his juvenile season under the training of Press West before selling him to owner-trainer Frank B. Van Meter for $US700. Following His Eminence's victories in the Kentucky Derby and Clark Stakes, Van Meter sold him to Clarence Mackay for US$18,000, though the sale was originally reported as having been to Chicago brewer George Ehret. Mackay stood the horse at stud in 1902 before returning him to training, but on the death of his father, sent his horses to the auction block at Saratoga, His Eminence included. The horse sold for US$9,000 to F. Gebhard but proved a disappointment in his colors and was auctioned off again in September 1903 at Gravesend, selling for US$2,900 to Joseph C. Yeager. From there, His Eminence eventually passed into the hands of William Collins Whitney, who had him retrained with steeplechasing in mind. The horse is believed to have died in a fall about 1906.
Pedigree notes
His Eminence is inbred 4x4x3 to 16-time American champion sire Lexington, 4x4 to 1844 St. Leger Stakes winner Faugh-a-Ballagh, 5x4 to undefeated American Eclipse, and 5x5 to the important 19th-century English sire Pantaloon. He is a half brother to Starlight (by King Alfonso), dam of multiple stakes winner Orontas (by Azra).
Patroness, the dam of His Eminence, is a half sister to 1885 Kentucky Derby winner Joe Cotton (by King Alfonso) and to 1878 Manhattan Handicap winner Garrick (by Lexington). She is also a half sister to Haidee (by King Alfonso), dam of multiple stakes winner Rey del Tierra (by Prince of Norfolk). In addition, she is a half sister to Lady Caroline (by Australian), second dam of 1903 Preakness Stakes winner Flocarline and 1890 Breeders' Stakes winner Periwinkle.
Inverness, the dam of Patroness and her siblings, was imported to the United States as an unraced youngster and was stakes-placed in good company in her adopted country. Sired by the 1863 Two Thousand Guineas and Derby Stakes winner Macaroni, she was produced from the Faugh-a-Ballagh mare Elfrida, in turn a daughter of the Liverpool mare Espoir.
Fun facts
- His Eminence's Kentucky Derby was the only one to take place in April; it was contested on the 29th of that month.
- While the Louisville Courier-Journal reported His Eminence as “virtually sold” to J. B. Kemper of Chicago for US$10,000 on April 7, 1901, the sale ended up falling through and His Eminence remained the property of Frank Van Meter.
- Following the birth of His Eminence, his dam Patroness produced one more filly before coming up barren in 1900. That year, the mare was stripped of her registration papers and sold for US$35 or US$50 (depending on the source) to Ferguson & Co. through the Breeders' Protective Association at the Lexington December sales. Along with 44 other mares who were likewise being disposed of as worthless for producing Thoroughbreds, she was then taken to Atlanta and resold. She was believed to have been purchased for farm work but could not be traced further after His Eminence won the Kentucky Derby.
Last updated March 15, 2020