Although he was a younger full brother to one of St. Simon's finest sons, Persimmon, Diamond Jubilee was so highly-strung and aggressive as a 2-year-old that he was slated for castration. When the veterinarian came to carry out the task, however, he found that the colt had an undescended testicle. As the veterinary surgery of the time was not up to removing a testicle still within the abdominal cavity without subjecting the horse to severe risk, there was nothing for it but to leave Diamond Jubilee ungelded. The forced change of plan proved most fortunate, as Diamond Jubilee not only swept the English Triple Crown (for which he would not have been eligible as a gelding) but became a four-time champion sire in Argentina.
Race record
16 starts, 6 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, £28,185
1899:
1900:
1901:
Honors
English champion 3-year-old male (1900)
As an individual
A bay horse standing a shade under 16 hands, Diamond Jubilee was considered exceptionally handsome. His best point was perhaps his powerful hindquarters. He was a ridgling as a colt, but the retained testicle reportedly descended into his scrotum by the time he reached full maturity. He was aggressive, high-strung, intelligent and highly dominant, and bore close watching at all times even in his old age.
As a stallion
A great sire in Argentina, Diamond Jubilee had his English stud career hampered by the fact that he stood alongside his elder brothers Persimmon and Florizel II, both already established successes. Diamond Jubilee was also an important broodmare sire in his adopted country, ranking among the top 10 broodmare sires for 10 consecutive years (1922-1931). Thee of his sons became champion sires in Chile.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
Notable progeny
As de Espadas (ARG), Campanazo (ARG), Dalmacia (ARG), Last Reason (ARG), Mehemet Ali (ARG), Moloch (ARG), Mustafá (ARG), Ricuarte (ARG), Saca Chispas (ARG), Smasher (ARG), Taormina (GER)
Notable progeny of daughters
Calchaqui (ARG), Diamant (ARG), Espolin (ARG), Lucky Day (ARG), Pojito (ARG), Traum (GER), Tulipan (GER), Vindicata (ARG)
Connections
Diamond Jubilee was bred and owned by His Royal Highness Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. He was trained by Richard Marsh. While he carried the Prince's colors at 2 and 3, he was leased to the Duke of Devonshire as a 4-year-old as the Prince, now King Edward VII, observed the customary year of mourning for his mother, Queen Victoria. Diamond Jubilee entered stud in 1902 at the royal stud at Sandringham and stood there until 1906, when he was sold to Don Ignacio Correas for export to Argentina at a price of 30,000 guineas. Diamond Jubilee spent the remainder of his life at Correas' Haras Las Ortegas.
Pedigree notes
Diamond Jubilee is inbred 4x5 to Voltigeur, winner of the 1850 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes. He is a full brother to Persimmon, winner of the 1896 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes and a four-time champion in England as both a sire of winners and a broodmare sire. Diamond Jubilee is also a full brother to 1895 Jockey Club Cup winner and successful sire Florizel II and to Sandringham, who sired some stakes winners in the United States but had little lasting influence. In addition, Diamond Jubilee is a half brother to Barracouta (by Barcaldine), dam of 1899 Austrian Derby winner Llubar (by Friar Lubin).
Perdita II, the dam of Diamond Jubilee, was unattractive and temperamental, but she had enough talent to win the Ayr Gold Cup and dead-heat for the Liverpool Summer Cup. She is a half sister to Dorothy Draggletail (by Springfield), whose granddaughter Andromeda produced three Italian Classic winners in Arianna, Androclea and Ardea; another granddaughter, Willana, is the dam of 1929 Henckel-Rennen (German Two Thousand Guineas) winner Wilfried. Perdita II's dam, the Young Melbourne mare Hermione, was produced from La Belle Helene, by 1860 St. Leger Stakes winner St. Albans.
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the estate of Walter Vosburgh, now in the private collection of Dale Wyatt. Used by permission.
Last updated: September 17, 2025
Race record
16 starts, 6 wins, 5 seconds, 1 third, £28,185
1899:
- Won Boscawen Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
- 2nd Prince of Wales's Stakes (ENG, Goodwood)
- 2nd Middle Park Plate (ENG, 6FT, Newmarket)
- 2nd Dewhurst Plate (ENG, 7FT, Newmarket)
1900:
- Won Two Thousand Guineas (ENG, 8FT, Newmarket)
- Won Newmarket Stakes (ENG, 10FT, Newmarket)
- Won Derby Stakes (ENG, 12FD, Epsom)
- Won Eclipse Stakes (ENG, 10FD, Sandown; new course record 2:07-2/5)
- Won St. Leger Stakes (ENG, about 14.5FD, Doncaster)
- 2nd Princess of Wales's Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Newmarket)
1901:
- 2nd Princess of Wales's Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Newmarket)
- 3rd Jockey Club Stakes (ENG, 14FT, Newmarket)
Honors
English champion 3-year-old male (1900)
As an individual
A bay horse standing a shade under 16 hands, Diamond Jubilee was considered exceptionally handsome. His best point was perhaps his powerful hindquarters. He was a ridgling as a colt, but the retained testicle reportedly descended into his scrotum by the time he reached full maturity. He was aggressive, high-strung, intelligent and highly dominant, and bore close watching at all times even in his old age.
As a stallion
A great sire in Argentina, Diamond Jubilee had his English stud career hampered by the fact that he stood alongside his elder brothers Persimmon and Florizel II, both already established successes. Diamond Jubilee was also an important broodmare sire in his adopted country, ranking among the top 10 broodmare sires for 10 consecutive years (1922-1931). Thee of his sons became champion sires in Chile.
Sire rankings
Per Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, Churchill, Reichard, and Rogers):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1914-1916; 3rd in 1911, 1912, 1917, and 1920; 4th in 1913; 5th in 1924; 6th in 1923; 7th in 1918; 8th in 1919.
- 2nd on the Argentine broodmare sire list in 1929; 3rd in 1930; 4th in 1928.
- 7th on the combined English/Irish general sire list in 1907.
Per Thoroughbred Heritage (www.tbheritage.com):
- Led the Argentine general sire list in 1914-1916 and 1921.
Notable progeny
As de Espadas (ARG), Campanazo (ARG), Dalmacia (ARG), Last Reason (ARG), Mehemet Ali (ARG), Moloch (ARG), Mustafá (ARG), Ricuarte (ARG), Saca Chispas (ARG), Smasher (ARG), Taormina (GER)
Notable progeny of daughters
Calchaqui (ARG), Diamant (ARG), Espolin (ARG), Lucky Day (ARG), Pojito (ARG), Traum (GER), Tulipan (GER), Vindicata (ARG)
Connections
Diamond Jubilee was bred and owned by His Royal Highness Albert Edward, Prince of Wales. He was trained by Richard Marsh. While he carried the Prince's colors at 2 and 3, he was leased to the Duke of Devonshire as a 4-year-old as the Prince, now King Edward VII, observed the customary year of mourning for his mother, Queen Victoria. Diamond Jubilee entered stud in 1902 at the royal stud at Sandringham and stood there until 1906, when he was sold to Don Ignacio Correas for export to Argentina at a price of 30,000 guineas. Diamond Jubilee spent the remainder of his life at Correas' Haras Las Ortegas.
Pedigree notes
Diamond Jubilee is inbred 4x5 to Voltigeur, winner of the 1850 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes. He is a full brother to Persimmon, winner of the 1896 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes and a four-time champion in England as both a sire of winners and a broodmare sire. Diamond Jubilee is also a full brother to 1895 Jockey Club Cup winner and successful sire Florizel II and to Sandringham, who sired some stakes winners in the United States but had little lasting influence. In addition, Diamond Jubilee is a half brother to Barracouta (by Barcaldine), dam of 1899 Austrian Derby winner Llubar (by Friar Lubin).
Perdita II, the dam of Diamond Jubilee, was unattractive and temperamental, but she had enough talent to win the Ayr Gold Cup and dead-heat for the Liverpool Summer Cup. She is a half sister to Dorothy Draggletail (by Springfield), whose granddaughter Andromeda produced three Italian Classic winners in Arianna, Androclea and Ardea; another granddaughter, Willana, is the dam of 1929 Henckel-Rennen (German Two Thousand Guineas) winner Wilfried. Perdita II's dam, the Young Melbourne mare Hermione, was produced from La Belle Helene, by 1860 St. Leger Stakes winner St. Albans.
Fun facts
- Diamond Jubilee was named in honor of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, which took place in the year of his birth. The Diamond Jubilee was a celebration marking Victoria's completion of 60 years as Queen of England.
- Diamond Jubilee thoroughly loathed the royal jockeys, Jack Watts and Mornington Cannon, and on one occasion tried to kill the latter by rolling on him after he had thrown him. The one rider he would tolerate willingly was his stable lad, Herbert Jones, who rode the cantankerous colt throughout his 3-year-old season.
- As Diamond Jubilee was shipped to Argentina in July 1906, he served both a full Northern Hemisphere season and a full Southern Hemisphere season that year, a rarity at that time.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the estate of Walter Vosburgh, now in the private collection of Dale Wyatt. Used by permission.
Last updated: September 17, 2025