Fitz Herbert (USA)
1906 – 1926
Ethelbert (USA) x Morganatic (USA), by Emperor (USA)
Family 4-r
1906 – 1926
Ethelbert (USA) x Morganatic (USA), by Emperor (USA)
Family 4-r
A selling stakes winner at 2, Fitz Herbert blossomed at 3 and was widely acclaimed as the best horse in American racing after winning 14 of his 15 starts that year. He was less successful at 4 but nonetheless continued to be ranked at the top of American racing. He was sent to Europe in 1912 with the intent of racing in England and France but did not start abroad and entered stud in 1913. He was a great disappointment as a stallion and is mostly seen in pedigrees through his daughter Escarpolette, third dam of 1959 American champion sprinter and important sire Intentionally.
Race record
44 starts, 31 wins, 7 seconds, 3 thirds
1908:
1909:
1910:
Honors
As an individual
A strongly made bay horse, Fitz Herbert was lengthy with a good shoulder, strong coupling, and powerful hindquarters. His legs were clean.
As a stallion
Fitz Herbert’s stud career was highly disappointing considering his racing class. His best runner was the French-bred Lady Gertrude, a stakes winner in the United States.
Connections
Fitz Herbert was bred by Perry Belmont. Initially owned by Andrew “Jack” Joyner, he changed hands twice as a 2-year-old, going to Herman Brandt for prices reported from US$1,500 to US$4,000 and then to the partnership of owner-trainer Samuel Hildreth and John E. Madden for prices reported from US$10,000 to US$18,000. Hildreth soon bought out Madden’s share and raced Fitz Herbert at 3 and 4. The colt was then bought for US$40,000 by Charles Kohler in 1910 and, after winning several races at 5, was sent to France in 1912. Fitz Herbert entered stud in 1913 at Haras du Fresnay-le-Buffard as the property of Charles Carroll and Clarence Mackay, who were leasing the stud farm from a French breeder of trotters. In 1920, Marcel Boussac bought Haras du Fresnay and the Caroll-Mackay horses, Fitz Herbert included. The stallion died in 1926.
Pedigree notes
Fitz Herbert is outcrossed through five generations. Sired by 1899 American champion 3-year-old male Ethelbert, he was produced from Morganatic (by the Enquirer horse Emperor), who produced nothing else of importance. She in turn was produced from the Mortemer mare Lassie, likewise unimportant other than for her place in Fitz Herbert’s pedigree. Her dam Wyandotte (by Leamington out of the Eclipse mare Nemesis) was a half sister to 1884 Champagne Stakes winner Eachus (by Reform) and to Retribution (by Reform), dam of 1896 American Horse of the Year Requital (by Eothen) and 1892 Flash Stakes winner Nick (by Mortemer) and second dam of the good stakes winner Vails.
Fun facts
Last updated: December 23, 2021
Race record
44 starts, 31 wins, 7 seconds, 3 thirds
1908:
- Won Woodhaven Stakes (USA, 4.5FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Elmhurst Selling Stakes (USA, 5FD, Jamaica; dead heat with Trance)
- Won Oakland Handicap (USA, 6.5FD, Emeryville)
- Won Garvanza Handicap (USA, 8FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Ozone Stakes (USA, 4FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Carnarsie Stakes (USA, 4FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Boquet Selling Stakes (USA, 5FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Holly Handicap (USA, 5.5FD, Gravesend)
- 3rd Prospect Handicap (USA, about 6FD, Gravesend)
- 3rd Junior Champion Stakes (USA, about 6FD, Gravesend)
- 3rd Clay Handicap (USA, 5FD, Emeryville)
1909:
- Won Suburban Handicap (USA, 10FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- Won Jerome Handicap (USA, 10FD, Belmont)
- Won Lawrence Realization Stakes (USA, 13FD, Sheepshead Bay; new world record 2:45)
- Won Coney Island Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA; 12FD, Sheepshead Bay; walkover)
- Won First Special Stakes (USA, 10FD, Gravesend)
- Won Advance Stakes (USA, 10FD, Sheepshead Bay)
- Won Broadway Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Gravesend)
- Won Election Day Handicap (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- Won Pocantico Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont)
- Won Hall Stakes (USA, 10FD, Pimlico; new track record 2:08)
- Won Bowie Handicap (USA, 16FD, Pimlico; new American record 3:25-4/5)
- 2nd Oriental Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Gravesend)
1910:
- Won Brooklyn Handicap (USA, 10FD, Gravesend)
Honors
- American Horse of the Year (1909, 1910)
- American champion 3-year-old male (1909)
- American co-champion handicap male (1910)
As an individual
A strongly made bay horse, Fitz Herbert was lengthy with a good shoulder, strong coupling, and powerful hindquarters. His legs were clean.
As a stallion
Fitz Herbert’s stud career was highly disappointing considering his racing class. His best runner was the French-bred Lady Gertrude, a stakes winner in the United States.
Connections
Fitz Herbert was bred by Perry Belmont. Initially owned by Andrew “Jack” Joyner, he changed hands twice as a 2-year-old, going to Herman Brandt for prices reported from US$1,500 to US$4,000 and then to the partnership of owner-trainer Samuel Hildreth and John E. Madden for prices reported from US$10,000 to US$18,000. Hildreth soon bought out Madden’s share and raced Fitz Herbert at 3 and 4. The colt was then bought for US$40,000 by Charles Kohler in 1910 and, after winning several races at 5, was sent to France in 1912. Fitz Herbert entered stud in 1913 at Haras du Fresnay-le-Buffard as the property of Charles Carroll and Clarence Mackay, who were leasing the stud farm from a French breeder of trotters. In 1920, Marcel Boussac bought Haras du Fresnay and the Caroll-Mackay horses, Fitz Herbert included. The stallion died in 1926.
Pedigree notes
Fitz Herbert is outcrossed through five generations. Sired by 1899 American champion 3-year-old male Ethelbert, he was produced from Morganatic (by the Enquirer horse Emperor), who produced nothing else of importance. She in turn was produced from the Mortemer mare Lassie, likewise unimportant other than for her place in Fitz Herbert’s pedigree. Her dam Wyandotte (by Leamington out of the Eclipse mare Nemesis) was a half sister to 1884 Champagne Stakes winner Eachus (by Reform) and to Retribution (by Reform), dam of 1896 American Horse of the Year Requital (by Eothen) and 1892 Flash Stakes winner Nick (by Mortemer) and second dam of the good stakes winner Vails.
Fun facts
- There is some dispute regarding how many starts Fitz Herbert actually made. Most references indicate that he made 44 starts, but the December 26, 1910, issue of the Daily Racing Form showed him as having made 46 starts.
- Jack Joyner is said to have sold Fitz Herbert in the belief that the colt was a “morning glory,” an animal that shows much better in training than in actual racing. He later attempted to repurchase Fitz Herbert but to no avail.
- Fitz Herbert was unable to race in Europe due to a foot injury, but had he been able to continue his racing career, it likely would have been as a steeplechaser due to the paucity of French races open to horses bred outside the country.
Last updated: December 23, 2021