Hermit (GB)
1864 – 1890
Newminster (GB) x Seclusion (GB), by Tadmor (GB)
Family 5-d
1864 – 1890
Newminster (GB) x Seclusion (GB), by Tadmor (GB)
Family 5-d
Hermit's victory in the 1867 Derby Stakes had more than a little drama about it, not only because of the intense rivalry between Hermit's owner Henry Chaplin and his former close friend, the 4th Marquess of Hastings, but because the colt had nearly collapsed just two weeks before the great race after suffering a severe bleeding episode during a training gallop. Hermit not only won the Derby but captured three more races that season, though his form tailed off at 4. At stud, he was extremely successful in spite of a tendency to pass on his own proneness to respiratory bleeding.
Race record
20 starts, 8 wins, 9 seconds, 0 thirds, £41,261
1866:
1867:
1868:
Honors
English champion 3-year-old male (1867)
Assessments
While Hermit was generally acknowledged as the champion English 3-year-old colt of 1867, he was inferior to his crop's champion filly, Achievement, who beat him in all three of their meetings.
As an individual
A well-made chestnut horse standing 15.2-1/2 hands, Hermit had extremely powerful hindquarters. He could not be faulted for gameness but was said to have had a rather delicate constitution. He was a known bleeder, a trait that ran on both sides of his pedigree. He was extremely gentle and good-natured even as a stallion, so much so that owner Harry Chaplin would let his own small children ride on Hermit's back.
As a stallion
Hermit was England's champion sire seven consecutive times (1880-1886),and he also ranked among the top 10 English broodmare sires on 16 occasions. He was particularly noted as a sire of good fillies. He frequently passed on his own excellent temperament, but he also passed on his tendency toward exercise-induced pulmonary bleeding.
Notable progeny
Alicante (FR), Ascetic (GB), Bavarde (FR), Friar's Balsam (GB), Gamin (FR), Gay Hermit (GB), Heaume (FR), Lonely (GB), Shotover (GB), St. Blaise (GB), St. Marguerite (GB), St. Mirin (GB), Thebais (GB), Tristan (GB), Whipper-in (GB)
Connections
Hermit was bred by William Blenkiron at his Middle Park Stud, and was sold to Henry "Harry" Chaplin (later 1st Viscount Chaplin) for 1,000 guineas from Middle Park Stud's annual yearling auction. Hermit was trained by George Bloss with oversight from Chaplin's racing manager, Captain James Machell. Hermit stood at Chaplin's Blankney Stud throughout his stud career and died there in 1890.
Pedigree notes
Hermit is inbred 3x5 to 1838 English champion sire Camel and 5x5 to 1814 English champion sire Selim. He is a full brother to Chanoinesse, not a great producer in her own day but a notable foundation mare through her daughters. He is a half brother to the minor stakes winner and 1871 One Thousand Guineas runner-up Steppe (by Saunterer), who following export to New Zealand produced 1892 CJC New Zealand Derby and three-time New Zealand champion sire Stepniak (by Nordenfeldt) as well as 1898 Great Northern Derby winner Stepfeldt (by Nordenfeldt), dam of 1907 CJC New Zealand Derby winner Elevation (by San Francisco) and 1915 Great Northern Derby winner Reputation (by Martian). Hermit is also a half brother to Fair Rosamond (by King John), dam of 1880 One Thousand Guineas winner Elizabeth (by Statesman); to Religeiuse, dam of 1878 Henckel-Rennen (German Two Thousand Guineas) winner Lateran (by Grimston); to Katrine (by Blair Athol), third dam of 1900 Polish Two Thousand Guineas winner Malborough; and to Reticence (by Vespasian), third dam of the fine stayer and two-time English champion sire Son-in-Law and of the 1896 Cesarewitch Stakes winner St. Bris.
Hermit's dam Seclusion won six races and was second in the 1860 Coronation Stakes and Nassau Stakes. She was produced from the Cowl mare Miss Sellon, whose half sister Second Hand (by Sleight of Hand) is the second dam of 1874 Polish Derby winner Fortuna. The next dam in the tail-female lineage, Belle Dame (by Belshazzar) is out of the Irish-bred Ellen, a daughter of Starch.
Fun facts
Race record
20 starts, 8 wins, 9 seconds, 0 thirds, £41,261
1866:
- Won Troy Stakes (ENG, Stockbridge)
- Won Biennial Stakes (ENG, Stockbridge)
- Won Biennial Stakes (ENG, Ascot)
- Won Biennial Stakes (ENG, 4FT, Bath)
- 2nd Woodcote Stakes (ENG, 6FT, Epsom)
1867:
- Won Derby Stakes (ENG, 12FT, Epsom)
- Won Biennial Stakes (Eng, Ascot)
- Won St. James's Palace Stakes (Eng, 8FT, Ascot)
- 2nd St. Leger Stakes (ENG, about 14.5FT, Doncaster)
- 2nd Doncaster Cup (ENG, 21FT, Doncaster)
- 2nd Grand Duke Michael Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
- 2nd Newmarket Derby (ENG, Newmarket)
1868:
- 2nd Biennial Stakes (ENG, Newmarket)
- 2nd match race against Julius (Eng, Newmarket)
Honors
English champion 3-year-old male (1867)
Assessments
While Hermit was generally acknowledged as the champion English 3-year-old colt of 1867, he was inferior to his crop's champion filly, Achievement, who beat him in all three of their meetings.
As an individual
A well-made chestnut horse standing 15.2-1/2 hands, Hermit had extremely powerful hindquarters. He could not be faulted for gameness but was said to have had a rather delicate constitution. He was a known bleeder, a trait that ran on both sides of his pedigree. He was extremely gentle and good-natured even as a stallion, so much so that owner Harry Chaplin would let his own small children ride on Hermit's back.
As a stallion
Hermit was England's champion sire seven consecutive times (1880-1886),and he also ranked among the top 10 English broodmare sires on 16 occasions. He was particularly noted as a sire of good fillies. He frequently passed on his own excellent temperament, but he also passed on his tendency toward exercise-induced pulmonary bleeding.
Notable progeny
Alicante (FR), Ascetic (GB), Bavarde (FR), Friar's Balsam (GB), Gamin (FR), Gay Hermit (GB), Heaume (FR), Lonely (GB), Shotover (GB), St. Blaise (GB), St. Marguerite (GB), St. Mirin (GB), Thebais (GB), Tristan (GB), Whipper-in (GB)
Connections
Hermit was bred by William Blenkiron at his Middle Park Stud, and was sold to Henry "Harry" Chaplin (later 1st Viscount Chaplin) for 1,000 guineas from Middle Park Stud's annual yearling auction. Hermit was trained by George Bloss with oversight from Chaplin's racing manager, Captain James Machell. Hermit stood at Chaplin's Blankney Stud throughout his stud career and died there in 1890.
Pedigree notes
Hermit is inbred 3x5 to 1838 English champion sire Camel and 5x5 to 1814 English champion sire Selim. He is a full brother to Chanoinesse, not a great producer in her own day but a notable foundation mare through her daughters. He is a half brother to the minor stakes winner and 1871 One Thousand Guineas runner-up Steppe (by Saunterer), who following export to New Zealand produced 1892 CJC New Zealand Derby and three-time New Zealand champion sire Stepniak (by Nordenfeldt) as well as 1898 Great Northern Derby winner Stepfeldt (by Nordenfeldt), dam of 1907 CJC New Zealand Derby winner Elevation (by San Francisco) and 1915 Great Northern Derby winner Reputation (by Martian). Hermit is also a half brother to Fair Rosamond (by King John), dam of 1880 One Thousand Guineas winner Elizabeth (by Statesman); to Religeiuse, dam of 1878 Henckel-Rennen (German Two Thousand Guineas) winner Lateran (by Grimston); to Katrine (by Blair Athol), third dam of 1900 Polish Two Thousand Guineas winner Malborough; and to Reticence (by Vespasian), third dam of the fine stayer and two-time English champion sire Son-in-Law and of the 1896 Cesarewitch Stakes winner St. Bris.
Hermit's dam Seclusion won six races and was second in the 1860 Coronation Stakes and Nassau Stakes. She was produced from the Cowl mare Miss Sellon, whose half sister Second Hand (by Sleight of Hand) is the second dam of 1874 Polish Derby winner Fortuna. The next dam in the tail-female lineage, Belle Dame (by Belshazzar) is out of the Irish-bred Ellen, a daughter of Starch.
Fun facts
- Hermit had been intended to run in the 1867 Two Thousand Guineas prior to the Derby Stakes but was withdrawn before the race. Stories vary as to why: in one version, Henry Chaplin withdrew his colt to allow his racing manager, Captain Machell, to have a better shot at winning the Guineas with Knight of the Garter (who ended up finishing second to Vauban, a colt Hermit had defeated twice at 2). In another, Hermit appeared to have been “gotten at” with a narcotic. In any event, the colt ended up running in the Derby Stakes off nothing but workouts.
- Hermit's Derby was run under some of the worst conditions ever for the great event, with snow and sleet sweeping across Epsom Downs. To add to the runners' misery, there were 10 false starts before the field was finally sent away.
- Hermit provided his owner with a measure of revenge against Henry Rawdon-Hastings, 4th Marquess of Hastings, who had eloped with Chaplin's fiancée in 1864. When Hermit won the Derby Stakes of 1867 with Lord Hastings' colt Uncas unplaced, Lord Hastings lost over £100,000, including a bet of £20,000 made with Henry Chaplin. Although Chaplin graciously agreed to await collection of the debt until Lord Hastings' financial situation should improve (he himself had won as much as £140,000 in bets and could afford to wait), Lord Hastings died in poverty the following year. Ironically, Lord Hastings had been the underbidder on Hermit at the Middle Park Stud yearling sale two years earlier.
- In spite of his supposed delicacy, Hermit won the Biennial Stakes and the St. James's Palace Stakes on successive days of the 1867 Royal Ascot meeting. In September of the same year, he performed quite creditably in an even more demanding series of races: he ran second to champion filly Achievement in the St. Leger Stakes and on the next day ran twice, finishing second to Achievement again in the Doncaster Cup and then winning a sweepstakes over the St. Leger distance.