More notable for hardiness than great class, Judge Himes owed his Kentucky Derby winner in no small part to an ill-judged ride by Jimmy Winkfield on the favorite, Early. Hoping to win his third consecutive Derby, Winkfield used up his mount too soon and left Early too exhausted to hold off Judge Himes' closing surge. While Judge Himes won several other stakes races at 3 and was a stakes winner again at 5, he was essentially an off-track specialist and did not enjoy a high overall reputation, dropping into the selling-race class by the end of his career. He was not a success at stud.
Race record
104 starts, 18 wins, 14 seconds, 22 thirds, US$27,995
1903:
1905:
As an individual
A chestnut, Judge Himes was described in post-Kentucky Derby coverage as being of “great size” and “splendid conformation”; however, later coverage described him as “homely.” He was a difficult horse to ride, possibly because of persistent heel soreness, and was known as “the old rogue” around the stable. He particularly favored heavy going. He was injured in December of his 5-year-old season and never regained his earlier form.
As a stallion
Judge Himes sired nothing of any significance.
Connections
Foaled at Hartland Farm, Judge Himes was bred by Johnson N. Camden. He was owned by Charles R. Ellison, who bought Judge Himes as a yearling for US$1,700. He was trained by John P. Mayberry and was ridden to his Kentucky Derby triumph by Hal Booker. In February 1906, Judge Himes was reported as sold to Fred Cook as a stallion prospect for Cook's Illinois farm, but this sale may have fallen through as Judge Himes raced on for another month before being bought by Phil Chinn. Two years later, he was sold again, this time at public auction, and sired a few half-bred foals before disappearing from view.
Pedigree notes
Judge Himes' pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. Sired by the English import Esher, he was produced from the Longfellow mare Lullaby. She, in turn, is out of the War Dance mare Lady Richards, whose dam Lucretia (by Yorkshire) is a half sister to Molly Rogers (by Sovereign), second dam of 1905 St. Louis Derby winner Uncle Charlie. The female line traces back to an unnamed daughter of Medley and cannot be linked to any of the Bruce Lowe families.
Fun facts
Last updated: March 26, 2021
Race record
104 starts, 18 wins, 14 seconds, 22 thirds, US$27,995
1903:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Hawthorne Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Excelsior Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Endurance Handicap (USA, 16FD, Hawthorne)
- Won Oak Park Handicap (USA, 9FD, Harlem)
- 3rd Latonia Club Membership Handicap (USA, 18FD, Latonia)
- 3rd Flyaway Handicap (USA, 6FD, Worth)
- 3rd Maywood Handicap (USA, 8f+100yD, Harlem)
- 3rd Blue Grass Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Churchill Downs)
1905:
- Won Whirlpool Stakes (CAN, 9FD, Kenilworth)
- 2nd Speculation Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Gravesend)
- 2nd Park Hotel Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hot Springs)
- 3rd Eastman Hotel Stakes (USA, 9FD, Hot Springs)
As an individual
A chestnut, Judge Himes was described in post-Kentucky Derby coverage as being of “great size” and “splendid conformation”; however, later coverage described him as “homely.” He was a difficult horse to ride, possibly because of persistent heel soreness, and was known as “the old rogue” around the stable. He particularly favored heavy going. He was injured in December of his 5-year-old season and never regained his earlier form.
As a stallion
Judge Himes sired nothing of any significance.
Connections
Foaled at Hartland Farm, Judge Himes was bred by Johnson N. Camden. He was owned by Charles R. Ellison, who bought Judge Himes as a yearling for US$1,700. He was trained by John P. Mayberry and was ridden to his Kentucky Derby triumph by Hal Booker. In February 1906, Judge Himes was reported as sold to Fred Cook as a stallion prospect for Cook's Illinois farm, but this sale may have fallen through as Judge Himes raced on for another month before being bought by Phil Chinn. Two years later, he was sold again, this time at public auction, and sired a few half-bred foals before disappearing from view.
Pedigree notes
Judge Himes' pedigree is outcrossed through five generations. Sired by the English import Esher, he was produced from the Longfellow mare Lullaby. She, in turn, is out of the War Dance mare Lady Richards, whose dam Lucretia (by Yorkshire) is a half sister to Molly Rogers (by Sovereign), second dam of 1905 St. Louis Derby winner Uncle Charlie. The female line traces back to an unnamed daughter of Medley and cannot be linked to any of the Bruce Lowe families.
Fun facts
- Judge Himes was named for Isidore H. Himes, an assistant probate judge of the city of Chicago and a personal friend of Charles Ellison.
- The 1903 Kentucky Derby was the first to be started with a web barrier. Consisting of a wide tape strung between two iron arms, the barrier was set up so that it would snap up and forward out of the horses' way when the starter pressed a button. The web barrier would be used until 1930, when the mechanical starting gate was introduced at Churchill Downs.
- Judge Himes' only win from 10 starts at 2 was the medium of a betting coup for his owner, Charles Ellison, and he appears to have been the medium for heavy betting throughout his career.
- Judge Himes' entry in the Kentucky Derby remained uncertain until just 45 minutes before the race, when owner Charles Ellison sought out jockey Hal Booker and told him to get ready to ride.
Last updated: March 26, 2021