The first foreign-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby, Omar Khayyam carried on a spirited rivalry with another horse bred abroad, Belmont Stakes winner Hourless. He became a quite useful sire after his retirement but left relatively little lasting impact.
Race record
32 starts, 13 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds, US$58,436
1916:
1917:
1918:
1919:
Honors
American co-champion 3-year-old male (with Hourless) (1917)
As an individual
Omar Khayyam was a small, refined chestnut colt who was nonetheless tough and completely game. He normally preferred to come from behind but had good speed when needed. He successfully carried up to 132 pounds while making weight concessions of up to 30 pounds.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Omar Khayyam sired 133 winners (59.9%) and 21 stakes winners (9.5%) from 222 named foals. Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse) credits Omar Khayyam with 23 stakes winners from 237 foals (9.7%).
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
Notable progeny
Aga Khan (USA), Balko (USA), Mr. Khayyam (USA)
Connections
Omar Khayyam was bred by Sir John Robinson. Imported to the United States, Omar Khayyam became the first foreign-bred horse to win America's premier Classic. He was sold by owners C. K. G. Billings & Johnson (who had purchased the colt for £300 at the advice of trainer C. T. Patterson from the 1915 Newmarket December sales) to Wilfred Viau of Montreal for US$26,000 three weeks after his Kentucky Derby win. Following his sale (the result of a paddock auction at Belmont Park to dissolve the partnership), Omar Khayyam was transferred from Patterson's stable to that of Richard Carman. Omar Khayyam entered stud in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm in 1920. In 1929 he was moved to the stud of J. P. Jones near Charlottesville, Virginia, where he died in September 1938.
Pedigree notes
Omar Khayyam is inbred 3x5 to seven-time English leading sire Hermit, winner of the 1867 Derby Stakes. He is a half brother to Lady Peregrine (by White Eagle), dam of four stakes winners including 1928 Two Thousand Guineas winner Flamingo (by Flamboyant) and second dam of six stakes winners including two-time English champion sprinter Honeyway (by Fairway).
Produced from the useful sprinter Luscious (by Harpenden or Royal Hampton), Omar Khayyam's dam Lisma is a full sister to Reine Claude, third dam of six-time Peruvian champion sire Postin, 1944 Polla de Potrancos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) winner Aden and 1956 Polla de Potrancas (Chilean One Thousand Guineas) winner Hiroshima. Lisma is also a sister in blood to Cream Tart (by Persimmon's full brother Florizel II), second dam of Deutches St. Leger winner Blinzen.
Books and media
Omar Khayyam is profiled in Chapter 4 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo taken by One Day Foto Service in the Churchill Downs winner's circle following the 1917 Kentucky Derby. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: April 8, 2024
Race record
32 starts, 13 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds, US$58,436
1916:
- 2nd Piping Rock Invitational Handicap (USA)
- 2nd Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
1917:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Brooklyn Derby (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Kenner Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Saratoga)
- Won Travers Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Saratoga Cup (USA, 14FD, Saratoga)
- Won Lawrence Realization Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Havre de Grace Handicap (USA, 9FD, Havre de Grace)
- Won Pimlico Autumn Handicap (USA, 10FD, Pimlico; new track record 2:05-2/5)
- 2nd American Champion Stakes (USA, 10FD, Laurel; also seen in some records as the "McLean Memorial Championship")
- 2nd Bowie Handicap (USA, 12FD, Pimlico)
1918:
- Won Marines Liberty Bond Handicap (USA)
- 2nd Bowie Handicap (USA, 12FT, Pimlico)
- 3rd Pimlico Spring Handicap (USA, 8f+70yD, Pimlico)
1919:
- Won Rennert Handicap (USA, Pimlico)
- 2nd Merchants Handicap (USA)
- 3rd Pimlico Spring Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
Honors
American co-champion 3-year-old male (with Hourless) (1917)
As an individual
Omar Khayyam was a small, refined chestnut colt who was nonetheless tough and completely game. He normally preferred to come from behind but had good speed when needed. He successfully carried up to 132 pounds while making weight concessions of up to 30 pounds.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Omar Khayyam sired 133 winners (59.9%) and 21 stakes winners (9.5%) from 222 named foals. Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse) credits Omar Khayyam with 23 stakes winners from 237 foals (9.7%).
Sire rankings
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 6th on the American general sire list in 1926; 7th in 1929.
- Led the American juvenile sire list in 1925 by number of winners (progeny earnings not available at that time).
Notable progeny
Aga Khan (USA), Balko (USA), Mr. Khayyam (USA)
Connections
Omar Khayyam was bred by Sir John Robinson. Imported to the United States, Omar Khayyam became the first foreign-bred horse to win America's premier Classic. He was sold by owners C. K. G. Billings & Johnson (who had purchased the colt for £300 at the advice of trainer C. T. Patterson from the 1915 Newmarket December sales) to Wilfred Viau of Montreal for US$26,000 three weeks after his Kentucky Derby win. Following his sale (the result of a paddock auction at Belmont Park to dissolve the partnership), Omar Khayyam was transferred from Patterson's stable to that of Richard Carman. Omar Khayyam entered stud in Kentucky at Claiborne Farm in 1920. In 1929 he was moved to the stud of J. P. Jones near Charlottesville, Virginia, where he died in September 1938.
Pedigree notes
Omar Khayyam is inbred 3x5 to seven-time English leading sire Hermit, winner of the 1867 Derby Stakes. He is a half brother to Lady Peregrine (by White Eagle), dam of four stakes winners including 1928 Two Thousand Guineas winner Flamingo (by Flamboyant) and second dam of six stakes winners including two-time English champion sprinter Honeyway (by Fairway).
Produced from the useful sprinter Luscious (by Harpenden or Royal Hampton), Omar Khayyam's dam Lisma is a full sister to Reine Claude, third dam of six-time Peruvian champion sire Postin, 1944 Polla de Potrancos (Argentine Two Thousand Guineas) winner Aden and 1956 Polla de Potrancas (Chilean One Thousand Guineas) winner Hiroshima. Lisma is also a sister in blood to Cream Tart (by Persimmon's full brother Florizel II), second dam of Deutches St. Leger winner Blinzen.
Books and media
Omar Khayyam is profiled in Chapter 4 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Omar Khayyam was named for a famous Persian mathematician, poet, philosopher and astronomer of the medieval period.
- 1917 was an unusual year in American racing as the consensus choices for champion 3-year-old male (Omar Khayyam and Hourless), champion 3-year-old filly (Sunbonnet) and 2-year-old male (Sun Briar) were all bred in Europe.
- After an obscurely-bred horse by Weth Nan—Behind the Groove was given the name Omar Khayyam and became a stakes winner in New York-bred races, The Jockey Club amended its naming rules to forbid the reuse of the names of Kentucky Derby winners.
Photo credit
Photo taken by One Day Foto Service in the Churchill Downs winner's circle following the 1917 Kentucky Derby. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: April 8, 2024