Ormonde (horse)

Ormonde (1883-1904) was an English Thoroughbred racehorse, an unbeaten Triple Crown winner, generally considered to be one of the greatest racehorses ever.

Breeding

He was a bay colt, foaled in 1883 at Eaton Stud in Cheshire. Ormonde's sire was the Epsom Derby winner Bend Or, while his dam, Lily Agnes, was sired by another Derby winner, Macaroni. Ormonde was a brother to Ornament who produced the outstanding Sceptre, the only racehorse to win four British Classic Races outright.

Racing record

Ormonde was trained at Kingsclere by John Porter for the 1st Duke of Westminster. As a two-year-old, Ormonde did not race until the end of the season when he won the Post Stakes, the Criterion Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes in quick succession.

At three he won firstly the 2,000 Guineas, defeating the strongly fancied and previously unbeaten Minting. He went on to beat The Bard (also previously undefeated) in the Epsom Derby and followed up by winning the St. James's Palace Stakes and the Hardwicke Stakes, both at Ascot Racecourse, and then completed the Triple Crown by winning the Doncaster St. Leger Stakes in a canter. He ended a triumphant season with wins in the Great Foal Stakes, the Champion Stakes, the Free Handicap and a walkover in a Private Sweepstakes. Throughout the season his breathing had become progressively louder until he was labelled a roarer.Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief),...
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