A grand stayer, Hourless was one of three winners of American Triple Crown races sired by 1909 Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) winner Negofol but was much the superior of either Coventry (1925 Preakness Stakes) or Vito (1928 Belmont Stakes). He was the co-champion American 3-year-old of his year along with his arch-rival, Kentucky Derby winner Omar Khayyam, who beat him in two of their three meetings. Foaled in England and imported as a yearling, Hourless was the primary reason for Negofol's importation to the United States in 1920. A useful but not exceptional sire, Hourless is primarily seen in pedigrees through his daughters Helvetia, ancestress of an excellent American branch of Family 8-h, and Late Date, granddam of 1982 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Best in Show.
Race record
15 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$45,175
1917:
1918:
Honors
American co-champion 3-year-old male (1917)
Assessments
Rated second among American juvenile males of 1916 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A lengthy brown horse with an excellent shoulder and powerful hindquarters, Hourless had a long stride. He did not handle off going well. He injured himself while in training early in his 4-year-old season and was retired to stud.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Hourless sired 130 winners (57.0%) and 17 stakes winners (7.5%) from 228 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Notable progeny
Horometer (CAN), Late Date (USA), Mike Hall (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Edelweiss (USA), Snark (USA), Stolen Hour (USA), War Date (USA)
Connections
Hourless was bred and owned by August Belmont II, who imported the colt to the United States as a yearling. Hourless was trained by Sam Hildreth. He entered stud in Kentucky at Belmont's Nursery Stud in 1918.
Pedigree notes
Hourless is inbred 3x4 to nine-time English leading sire St. Simon and 5x5 to seven-time English leading sire Hermit, the 1867 Derby Stakes winner. He is a half brother to Blue Glass (by Prince Palatine), dam of 1933 Belmont Stakes winner Hurryoff (by Haste), English stakes winner Unbreakable (by Sickle) and multiple American stakes winners Blind Play (by Fair Play) and Broadside (by Man o' War); she is also the second dam of multiple stakes winner Impromptu. Hourless is also a half brother to Hour Hand (by Ethelbert), dam of 1923 Coaching Club American Oaks winner How Fair (by Fair Play) and multiple Canadian stakes winner Horologe (by St. Amant).
Hour Glass II is a half sister to 1902 Jockey Club Stakes winner Rising Glass (by Isinglass) and is out of Hautesse II (by Archiduc). The next dam in the lineage, Hauteur (by Rosicrucian), won the 1883 One Thousand Guineas and also produced Hautesse II's full sister Harfleur, second dam of 1911 Prix du Jockey-Club winner and two-time French champion sire Alcantara II.
Books and media
Hourless is profiled in Chapter 4 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: June 14, 2024
Race record
15 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 2 thirds, US$45,175
1917:
- Won Annapolis Handicap (USA, 6FD, Laurel)
- Won Eastern Shore Handicap (USA, 6FD, Havre de Grace)
- Won Juvenile Stakes (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- Won Grand Union Hotel Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Also finished first in the Nursery Handicap (USA, 6FD, Belmont) but was disqualified for interference
1918:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 11FD, Belmont; new track record 2:17-4/5)
- Won Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Southampton Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Jamaica)
- Won American Champion Stakes (USA, 10FD, Laurel; new track record 2:02; also seen in some records as the “McLean Memorial Championship”)
- 2nd Lawrence Realization (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
Honors
American co-champion 3-year-old male (1917)
Assessments
Rated second among American juvenile males of 1916 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A lengthy brown horse with an excellent shoulder and powerful hindquarters, Hourless had a long stride. He did not handle off going well. He injured himself while in training early in his 4-year-old season and was retired to stud.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Hourless sired 130 winners (57.0%) and 17 stakes winners (7.5%) from 228 named foals.
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 6th on the American general sire list in 1931; 10th in 1928.
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- 6th on the American general sire list in 1931; 10th in 1928.
Notable progeny
Horometer (CAN), Late Date (USA), Mike Hall (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Edelweiss (USA), Snark (USA), Stolen Hour (USA), War Date (USA)
Connections
Hourless was bred and owned by August Belmont II, who imported the colt to the United States as a yearling. Hourless was trained by Sam Hildreth. He entered stud in Kentucky at Belmont's Nursery Stud in 1918.
Pedigree notes
Hourless is inbred 3x4 to nine-time English leading sire St. Simon and 5x5 to seven-time English leading sire Hermit, the 1867 Derby Stakes winner. He is a half brother to Blue Glass (by Prince Palatine), dam of 1933 Belmont Stakes winner Hurryoff (by Haste), English stakes winner Unbreakable (by Sickle) and multiple American stakes winners Blind Play (by Fair Play) and Broadside (by Man o' War); she is also the second dam of multiple stakes winner Impromptu. Hourless is also a half brother to Hour Hand (by Ethelbert), dam of 1923 Coaching Club American Oaks winner How Fair (by Fair Play) and multiple Canadian stakes winner Horologe (by St. Amant).
Hour Glass II is a half sister to 1902 Jockey Club Stakes winner Rising Glass (by Isinglass) and is out of Hautesse II (by Archiduc). The next dam in the lineage, Hauteur (by Rosicrucian), won the 1883 One Thousand Guineas and also produced Hautesse II's full sister Harfleur, second dam of 1911 Prix du Jockey-Club winner and two-time French champion sire Alcantara II.
Books and media
Hourless is profiled in Chapter 4 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Hourless was the third of five Belmont Stakes winners bred by August Belmont II. The others were Masterman (1902), Friar Rock (1916), Man o' War (1920), and Chance Shot (1927).
- Hourless was the third foreign-bred horse to win the Belmont Stakes, following the precedent set by 1874 victor Saxon and 1898 winner Bowling Brook.
- Hourless's winning purse of US$10,200 from the American Championship Stakes was donated to the Red Cross for war relief.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: June 14, 2024