An older half brother to Sir Barton, Sir Martin was equally celebrated in his day after establishing himself as the best American juvenile of 1908. Following his 2-year-old season, he was sent to England, where he started as the favorite for the Derby Stakes but fell during the running. He later atoned for his failure by winning the Coronation Cup. Unpopular as a sire in England, Sir Martin was a fairly successful stallion after returning to the United States but had little long-term influence.
Race record
32 starts, 13 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$78,506 (not including English or French earnings)
1908:
1909:
1910:
1913:
Honors
American champion 2-year-old male (1910)
Assessments
John E. Madden considered Sir Martin one of the two best horses he had bred along with Grey Lag, who was widely considered the best American racehorse of 1921.
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Sir Martin possessed a good shoulder and a long, sloping pelvis if an old photograph of him is to be trusted.
As a stallion
According to Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967, Sir Martin sired 17 stakes winners. Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse) credits him with 18 stakes winners (9.5%) from 189 foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual series:
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers:
Notable progeny
Joy Smoke (USA), Spinach (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Sir Martin was bred and owned by his trainer, John E. Madden, who sold the colt to Louis Winans for US$70,000 or $75,000 (accounts vary) at the end of Sir Martin's juvenile season. Following his sale, Sir Martin was sent to England and was trained by Joseph Cannon while there. He started favorite for the 1909 Derby Stakes but fell during the running. His later racing career was erratic and may have been hampered by injury. Sir Martin entered stud in England at Lordship Stud in 1914 but was not popular there (in part due to his status as a half-bred under the standards of the Jersey Act) and was repatriated by Madden after the 1919 breeding season as a replacement for his sire, Ogden, who was then in poor health. (Ogden was pensioned after the 1921 breeding season.) He was the only horse retained when Madden dispersed his stock in 1926. Madden died in 1929, but in compliance with the terms of his will, Sir Martin remained at Madden's stud, Hamburg Place, as a pensioner. The horse died in 1930 and was buried in the equine cemetery at Hamburg Place, joining his sire and dam.
Pedigree notes
Sir Martin is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to 1919 American Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Sir Barton. He is also a half brother to Lady Doreen, dam of three-time American champion Princess Doreen (by Spanish Prince II) and the stakes-winning steeplechaser Word of Honor (by Ormondale).
Lady Sterling, the dam of Sir Martin and his siblings, is by Hanover out of English-bred Aquila, an unraced daughter of Sterling who produced nothing else of any note. The next dam in the tail-female line, Eagle (by four-time Argentine champion sire Phoenix, who sired Eagle prior to export), was produced from the See Saw mare Au Revoir, whose half sister Ante Diem (by Musket) founded an important family in Argentina.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: September 7, 2021
Race record
32 starts, 13 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third, US$78,506 (not including English or French earnings)
1908:
- Won Saratoga Special (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Great American Stakes (USA, 5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won National Stallion Race (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- Won Flatbush Stakes (USA, 7FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- Won Double Event #2 (USA, 6FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- Won Great Trial Stakes (USA, 6FD, Sheepshead Bay)
1909:
- Won Challenge Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- Won Durham Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
- 2nd Grand Prix de Deauville (FR, 2600mT, Deauville)
- 3rd Cambridgeshire Stakes (ENG, 9FT, Newmarket)
1910:
- Won Coronation Cup (ENG, 12FT, Epsom)
1913:
- Won Ellesmere Handicap (ENG, Manchester)
Honors
American champion 2-year-old male (1910)
Assessments
John E. Madden considered Sir Martin one of the two best horses he had bred along with Grey Lag, who was widely considered the best American racehorse of 1921.
As an individual
A chestnut horse, Sir Martin possessed a good shoulder and a long, sloping pelvis if an old photograph of him is to be trusted.
As a stallion
According to Clio Hogan's Index to Stakes Winners 1865-1967, Sir Martin sired 17 stakes winners. Sires and Dams of Stakes Winners 1925-1985 (Blood-Horse) credits him with 18 stakes winners (9.5%) from 189 foals.
Sire rankings
Per the American Racing Manual series:
- 5th on the American broodmare sire list in 1937 and 1939
Per The Blood-Horse:
- 5th on the American general sire list in 1930; 9th in 1926; 10th in 1925.
- 4th on the American broodmare sire list in 1937; 5th in 1939; 7th in 1934.
- Led the American juvenile sire list by number of winners in 1925 (progeny earnings not available at that time).
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers:
- 5th on the American general sire list in 1930; 9th in 1926; 10th in 1925.
- 4th on the American broodmare sire list in 1937; 5th in 1939; 7th in 1934.
Notable progeny
Joy Smoke (USA), Spinach (USA)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Sir Martin was bred and owned by his trainer, John E. Madden, who sold the colt to Louis Winans for US$70,000 or $75,000 (accounts vary) at the end of Sir Martin's juvenile season. Following his sale, Sir Martin was sent to England and was trained by Joseph Cannon while there. He started favorite for the 1909 Derby Stakes but fell during the running. His later racing career was erratic and may have been hampered by injury. Sir Martin entered stud in England at Lordship Stud in 1914 but was not popular there (in part due to his status as a half-bred under the standards of the Jersey Act) and was repatriated by Madden after the 1919 breeding season as a replacement for his sire, Ogden, who was then in poor health. (Ogden was pensioned after the 1921 breeding season.) He was the only horse retained when Madden dispersed his stock in 1926. Madden died in 1929, but in compliance with the terms of his will, Sir Martin remained at Madden's stud, Hamburg Place, as a pensioner. The horse died in 1930 and was buried in the equine cemetery at Hamburg Place, joining his sire and dam.
Pedigree notes
Sir Martin is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to 1919 American Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Sir Barton. He is also a half brother to Lady Doreen, dam of three-time American champion Princess Doreen (by Spanish Prince II) and the stakes-winning steeplechaser Word of Honor (by Ormondale).
Lady Sterling, the dam of Sir Martin and his siblings, is by Hanover out of English-bred Aquila, an unraced daughter of Sterling who produced nothing else of any note. The next dam in the tail-female line, Eagle (by four-time Argentine champion sire Phoenix, who sired Eagle prior to export), was produced from the See Saw mare Au Revoir, whose half sister Ante Diem (by Musket) founded an important family in Argentina.
Fun facts
- Sir Martin was the first American-bred horse to start as favorite for the Derby Stakes.
- Sir Martin's run in the 1909 Derby Stakes drew more American wagering than had ever been bet before on an English race.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: September 7, 2021