Ormonde (GB)
March 18, 1883 – May 21, 1904
Bend Or (GB) x Lily Agnes (GB), by Macaroni (GB)
Family 16-h
March 18, 1883 – May 21, 1904
Bend Or (GB) x Lily Agnes (GB), by Macaroni (GB)
Family 16-h
One of the greatest racehorses of the 19th century, Ormonde seemed destined to become one of the world's great sires as well. Instead, he proved severely subfertile, siring fewer than 50 foals in a stud career that spanned three continents and 16 years. Nonetheless, he made an indelible mark on the world's stud books by siring Orme, a first-rate racehorse whose male line flourished well into the 20th century, and Goldfinch, sire of the great taproot mare Chelandry. He also sired Ormondale, winner of the 1905 Futurity Stakes and a useful sire.
Race record
16 starts, 16 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, £28,465
1885:
1886:
1887:
Assessments
Many experts consider Ormonde to be the greatest English racehorse of the 19th century. There is no question that he was much the best English-based colt of his own crop, which was rated as an exceptionally good one.
As an individual
A bay horse, Ormonde stood 16 hands. He had good bone, a well laid shoulder, powerful hindquarters, and straight hocks. His good looks were slightly marred by a set of lop ears. A "good doer" with a kindly temperament, he had an exceptionally long stride when at racing speed. He became a roarer by the end of his 3-year-old season, following in the hoofprints of his dam Lily Agnes. Three of Ormonde's full siblings were similarly afflicted.
As a stallion
Ormonde sired eight named foals in England, 18 in California, and about 20 in Argentina. None of his Argentine foals achieved any great significance, but he sired 12 stakes winners according to Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967.
Notable progeny
Goldfinch (GB), Orme (GB), Ormondale (USA)
Connections
Ormonde was bred and owned by Hugh Grosvenor, the first Duke of Westminster. He was trained by John Porter. Following his racing career, Ormonde stood two seasons at the Duke's Eaton Stud, siring a total of eight foals, before being sold to Argentine breeder Juan Salvador Boucau for £12,000 in 1889. While the Duke cited Ormonde's breathing problems (which many horsemen believed to be hereditary) as the primary reason for the sale, there is reason to believe that he already suspected that Ormonde was severely subfertile beyond anything that could be blamed on a severe illness that the horse suffered in his second year at stud. Ormonde was resold in 1893, this time to William O'Brien Macdonough for US$150,000, and was imported to the United States. The great horse sired 18 foals in California before developing partial paralysis and being humanely destroyed on May 21, 1904, at Macdonough's Rancho Wikiup.
Pedigree notes
Ormonde is inbred 5x4 to the good English sire Pantaloon and 5x4 to two-time English champion sire Birdcatcher. He is a full brother to the good stakes winner Ossory; to stakes winner Fleur de Lys; and to Ornament, dam of the great English race mare Sceptre (by Persimmon), 1898 Hardwicke Stakes winner Collar, and multiple stakes winner Star Ruby (by Hampton). The last-named horse was a sire of some significance in the United States. Ormonde is also a half brother to One Thousand Guineas winner Farewell (by Donovan).
Lily Agnes, the dam of Ormonde, was a fine race mare in her own right, including the 1874 Doncaster Cup and the 1875 Great Ebor Handicap among her 19 victories. A full sister to the good juvenile Jessie Agnes and to the useful staying filly Tiger Lily (dam of 1892 Goodwood Cup winner Martagon), she was sired by Derby Stakes winner Macaroni, whose daughters formed a notable nick with Bend Or, out of Polly Agnes, by The Cure.
Books and media
Ormonde is one of 50 Thoroughbred stallions profiled in Joe Palmer's Names in Pedigrees (1939, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; reprinted in 1974).
Fun facts
Last updated: June 20, 2023
Race record
16 starts, 16 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds, £28,465
1885:
- Won Post Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- Won Criterion Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- Won Dewhurst Plate (ENG, 7FT, Newmarket)
1886:
- Won Two Thousand Guineas (ENG, 8FT, Newmarket)
- Won Derby Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Epsom)
- Won St. James's Palace Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Ascot)
- Won Hardwicke Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Ascot)
- Won St. Leger Stakes (ENG, about 14.5FT, Doncaster)
- Won Great Foal Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Newmarket)
- Won Newmarket St. Leger (ENG, 16FT, Newmarket; by walkover)
- Won Champion Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Newmarket)
- Won Free Handicap Sweepstakes (ENG, about 10.25FT, Newmarket)
- Won a private sweepstakes (ENG, about 10.25FT, Newmarket; walked over after Melton and The Bard were withdrawn)
1887:
- Won Rous Memorial Stakes (ENG, 8FT, Ascot)
- Won Hardwicke Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Ascot)
- Won Imperial Gold Cup (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
Assessments
Many experts consider Ormonde to be the greatest English racehorse of the 19th century. There is no question that he was much the best English-based colt of his own crop, which was rated as an exceptionally good one.
As an individual
A bay horse, Ormonde stood 16 hands. He had good bone, a well laid shoulder, powerful hindquarters, and straight hocks. His good looks were slightly marred by a set of lop ears. A "good doer" with a kindly temperament, he had an exceptionally long stride when at racing speed. He became a roarer by the end of his 3-year-old season, following in the hoofprints of his dam Lily Agnes. Three of Ormonde's full siblings were similarly afflicted.
As a stallion
Ormonde sired eight named foals in England, 18 in California, and about 20 in Argentina. None of his Argentine foals achieved any great significance, but he sired 12 stakes winners according to Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967.
Notable progeny
Goldfinch (GB), Orme (GB), Ormondale (USA)
Connections
Ormonde was bred and owned by Hugh Grosvenor, the first Duke of Westminster. He was trained by John Porter. Following his racing career, Ormonde stood two seasons at the Duke's Eaton Stud, siring a total of eight foals, before being sold to Argentine breeder Juan Salvador Boucau for £12,000 in 1889. While the Duke cited Ormonde's breathing problems (which many horsemen believed to be hereditary) as the primary reason for the sale, there is reason to believe that he already suspected that Ormonde was severely subfertile beyond anything that could be blamed on a severe illness that the horse suffered in his second year at stud. Ormonde was resold in 1893, this time to William O'Brien Macdonough for US$150,000, and was imported to the United States. The great horse sired 18 foals in California before developing partial paralysis and being humanely destroyed on May 21, 1904, at Macdonough's Rancho Wikiup.
Pedigree notes
Ormonde is inbred 5x4 to the good English sire Pantaloon and 5x4 to two-time English champion sire Birdcatcher. He is a full brother to the good stakes winner Ossory; to stakes winner Fleur de Lys; and to Ornament, dam of the great English race mare Sceptre (by Persimmon), 1898 Hardwicke Stakes winner Collar, and multiple stakes winner Star Ruby (by Hampton). The last-named horse was a sire of some significance in the United States. Ormonde is also a half brother to One Thousand Guineas winner Farewell (by Donovan).
Lily Agnes, the dam of Ormonde, was a fine race mare in her own right, including the 1874 Doncaster Cup and the 1875 Great Ebor Handicap among her 19 victories. A full sister to the good juvenile Jessie Agnes and to the useful staying filly Tiger Lily (dam of 1892 Goodwood Cup winner Martagon), she was sired by Derby Stakes winner Macaroni, whose daughters formed a notable nick with Bend Or, out of Polly Agnes, by The Cure.
Books and media
Ormonde is one of 50 Thoroughbred stallions profiled in Joe Palmer's Names in Pedigrees (1939, The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association; reprinted in 1974).
Fun facts
- In the peerage of England and Ireland, the honors of Ormonde have been held by a complex succession of earls, marquesses and dukes. The original title was granted in the 14th century to James Butler, an Irish nobleman who became the first Earl of Ormond. The spelling “Ormonde” became the accepted version in the 17th century.
- Ormonde's owner, the Duke of Westminster, actually rode him in a couple of his exercise canters, later being quoted in trainer John Porter's memoirs as commenting, “I felt every moment that I was going to be shot over his head, his propelling power is so terrific.”
- Following his retirement from racing, Ormonde was the guest of honor at a garden party hosted by his owner in honor of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.
- After his death, Ormonde's bones were returned to England and were placed on display at the Natural History Museum in London.
- Ormonde's brother Ossory came to a most undignified end for a good racehorse. Sold for export to South America as a stallion prospect, he died of exhaustion as his ship plowed through severe weather in the Atlantic Ocean in early 1889, and his carcass was thrown overboard.
- According to the Baker Street Journal, a publication dedicated to Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, Ormonde was probably the inspiration for the fictional horse Silver Blaze in Doyle's short story of that title.
Last updated: June 20, 2023