Morvich (USA)
1919 – January 26, 1946
Runnymede (USA) x Hymir (USA), by Dr. Leggo (USA)
Family 1-o
1919 – January 26, 1946
Runnymede (USA) x Hymir (USA), by Dr. Leggo (USA)
Family 1-o
If any horse ever had reason to fear the curse of the number 13, it was Morvich. The first California-bred to win the Kentucky Derby and the second horse to win it while undefeated, he was hailed as the next Man o' War after 12 straight wins culminating in his Derby victory. He was never to win again, starting four more times without success and retiring to stud with a tarnished reputation. He proved a disappointing sire, effectively ending the male line of Hermit in North America.
Race record
16 starts, 12 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$172,909
1921:
1922:
Honors
Assessments
Ranked third among American 3-year-old males of 1922 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A near-black horse officially registered as a brown, Morvich was a blocky, short-necked animal with a deep girth and strong hindquarters. He had a rather upright shoulder and poorly conformed forelegs with bad knees and slightly upright pasterns; he also had his hocks out behind him. One of his knees was badly made enough that some veteran horsemen were surprised that the horse was able to stay in training throughout his juvenile season. Morvich was probably helped by his sensible disposition.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Morvich sired 110 winners (62.5%) and 12 stakes winners (6.8%) from 176 named foals.
Connections
Foaled in California, Morvich was bred and owned by A. B. Spreckels. Following his first race, for which he was trained by William Carroll, Morvich was sold to Max Hirsch for a price variously reported as US$4,000 or $4,500. Before racing Morvich himself, Hirsch turned around and resold the colt for US$7,500 to trainer Fred Burlew, who raced Morvich in his own colors for the colt's next two starts. At that point, Benjamin Block bought a half interest in Morvich and the colt began racing in his colors. Before Morvich's seventh start, the United States Hotel Stakes, Block bought out Burlew's remaining interest for a price variously reported as US$35,000 or $40,000, retaining Burlew as trainer. Following his racing career, Morvich entered stud in Kentucky and was later moved back to his native California, where he died in 1946.
Pedigree notes
Morvich is inbred 5x5 to the noted 19th century American racer and sire Enquirer. His sire Runnymede (by Voter) was a stakes winner in England and is a half brother to 1914 American champion 2-year-old male Pebbles (by Ben Brush), English stakes winner Cataract (by Ben Brush) and the influential sire Ultimus (by Commando). His dam Hymir (by 1905 California Derby winner Dr. Leggo) is an unraced half sister to Favorite (by Runnymede), dam of the stakes-winning steeplechaser Favorsome (by Somers Heir). Hymir's dam Georgia Girl (by Solitaire II) is a full sister to Daruma, dam of multiple stakes winner Carmandale (by Meridian).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: September 5, 2021
Race record
16 starts, 12 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$172,909
1921:
- Won Suffolk Selling Stakes (USA, Jamaica)
- Won Greenfield Selling Stakes (USA, Jamaica)
- Won United States Hotel Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Saratoga Special (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Eastern Shore Handicap (USA, 6FD, Havre de Grace)
- Won Pimlico Futurity (USA, 8FD, Pimlico)
1922:
- Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Carlton Stakes (USA, 8FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Kentucky Special (USA, 10FD, Latonia)
Honors
- California Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Hall of Fame (1988)
- American champion 2-year-old male (1921)
Assessments
Ranked third among American 3-year-old males of 1922 by The Blood-Horse.
As an individual
A near-black horse officially registered as a brown, Morvich was a blocky, short-necked animal with a deep girth and strong hindquarters. He had a rather upright shoulder and poorly conformed forelegs with bad knees and slightly upright pasterns; he also had his hocks out behind him. One of his knees was badly made enough that some veteran horsemen were surprised that the horse was able to stay in training throughout his juvenile season. Morvich was probably helped by his sensible disposition.
As a stallion
According to records kept by The Jockey Club, Morvich sired 110 winners (62.5%) and 12 stakes winners (6.8%) from 176 named foals.
Connections
Foaled in California, Morvich was bred and owned by A. B. Spreckels. Following his first race, for which he was trained by William Carroll, Morvich was sold to Max Hirsch for a price variously reported as US$4,000 or $4,500. Before racing Morvich himself, Hirsch turned around and resold the colt for US$7,500 to trainer Fred Burlew, who raced Morvich in his own colors for the colt's next two starts. At that point, Benjamin Block bought a half interest in Morvich and the colt began racing in his colors. Before Morvich's seventh start, the United States Hotel Stakes, Block bought out Burlew's remaining interest for a price variously reported as US$35,000 or $40,000, retaining Burlew as trainer. Following his racing career, Morvich entered stud in Kentucky and was later moved back to his native California, where he died in 1946.
Pedigree notes
Morvich is inbred 5x5 to the noted 19th century American racer and sire Enquirer. His sire Runnymede (by Voter) was a stakes winner in England and is a half brother to 1914 American champion 2-year-old male Pebbles (by Ben Brush), English stakes winner Cataract (by Ben Brush) and the influential sire Ultimus (by Commando). His dam Hymir (by 1905 California Derby winner Dr. Leggo) is an unraced half sister to Favorite (by Runnymede), dam of the stakes-winning steeplechaser Favorsome (by Somers Heir). Hymir's dam Georgia Girl (by Solitaire II) is a full sister to Daruma, dam of multiple stakes winner Carmandale (by Meridian).
Books and media
- Morvich: An Autobiography of a Horse, by Gerald B. Breitigam, was released in 2010 by BiblioLife as “a pre-1923 historical reproduction.” The work was originally published in 1922 and is available on-line at http://www.archive.org/stream/morvichautobiogr00brei/morvichautobiogr00brei_djvu.txt.
- Morvich is profiled in Chapter 5 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- According to Breitigam's book, Morvich was named for a character from a Russian novel. Another possible source for the name is the Scottish village of Morvich, the home of classical scholar William Young Sellar.
- Benjamin Block's interest in buying out Fred Burlew's share of Morvich was reportedly sparked by a US$75,000 offer from legendary singer and actor Al Jolson to purchase the colt outright.
- Morvich was the 13th Kentucky Derby winner to win the race as his (or her) first start of the season. No Derby winner has done so since then.
- Colonel E. R. Bradley reportedly lost US$63,000 betting against Morvich in the 1922 Kentucky Derby, in which his own Bet Mosie finished second after a wide trip.
- Morvich had no shot at the Triple Crown in 1922 as the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes were contested on the same day.
- The Morvich Handicap was a turf race for 3-year-olds and up at about 6½ furlongs on Santa Anita's downhill course (excepting the 2010 renewal, which was run at 6 furlongs at Hollywood Park). It was inaugurated in 1974 and continued until 2012, when it was renamed the Eddie D Stakes in honor of Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: September 5, 2021