Diomed
Diomed | |
---|---|
![]() Diomed "the Marvel" | |
Sire | Florizel |
Grandsire | Herod |
Dam | Mare (1763) by Spectator |
Damsire | Spectator |
Sex | Stallion |
Foaled | 1777 (1777) |
Died | 1808(1808-00-00) (aged 30–31) |
Country | Kingdom of Great Britain |
Colour | Chestnut |
Breeder | Honorable Richard Vernon of Newmarket |
Owner | Sir Charles Bunbury, 6th Baronet |
Record | 20: 11-5-3 |
Major wins | |
Epsom Derby (1780) | |
Honours | |
Diomed Stakes at Epsom Downs Racecourse | |
Last updated on August 24, 2007 |
Diomed (1777–1808) was an English Thoroughbred race horse who won the inaugural running of the Epsom Derby in 1780. Sold and imported to Virginia, he was subsequently a successful sire in the United States after the American Revolutionary War.
Racing years
A bright chestnut standing 15 hands (60 inches, 152 cm),[1] he was named after the Ancient Greek hero Diomedes. By the unraced Florizel out of the unraced Pastorella's Dam, also known as "Sister to Juno" (both going back to the Godolphin Arabian, and Sister to Juno going back as well to the Darley Arabian), Diomed was bred by the Hon. Richard Vernon and owned by Sir Charles Bunbury, 6th Baronet,[1] then trained by him at Hilton Hall. He was started 19 times, winning 11 races, finishing second in 4, and third in 3.
Of these 11 wins, ten were consecutive, which included the inaugural running of the Epsom Derby in 1780.[2] During these early bright years of Diomed's life, he was considered by many to be the best colt seen in the Britain since Eclipse in 1769 and 1770.
He was allowed to rest for a while, but when he was brought back to the races, he had mixed results. Sometimes he would win, and sometimes he wouldn't win, more often the latter than the former. His last win was a King's Plate in 4-mile heats, carrying 168 pounds.
Stud career in England
Sir Charles retired Diomed to stud in 1784. Due to Diomed's tarnished reputation, his fee was only about five guineas, or about $25.
In England, Diomed sired Grey Diomed (b. 1785), a gray stallion out of the mare Grey Dorimant, by Dorimant (b. 1772) either of the Darley Arabian sire line[3] or the St. Victor Barb sire line.[4] Grey Diomed was exported to Russia, where he was a great success, and more Diomed offspring were exported to Russia, where some were likely used as foundation stock for the Orlov Trotter.[5]
Diomed also sired the mare Young Giantess (b. 1790), who foaled Sorcerer and Eleanor, also owned by Sir Charles. Young Giantess also produced two sisters to Eleanor, Julia and Cressida, who produced the Epsom Derby winners Priam and Phantom, as well as the 2000 Guineas winner Antar.[1]
Diomed also sired the notable broodmares Young Noisette (b. 1789), who produced the stallion Marmion (b. 1806), and Fanny (b. 1790).
Over the next decade or so, interest in Diomed as a sire declined, as several of his sons became known for having temperament problems, stubbornness, and too much excitability. Diomed's fertility as a sire also began to decline as he aged. Diomed's fee went down and down until, by the age of 21, it was two guineas. By then, there were virtually no takers, so the old stallion did nothing but graze alone.[6]
In the United States
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Diomed.jpg/200px-Diomed.jpg)
Sir Charles offered Diomed for sale when the stallion was 21 years old. Colonel John Hoomes of Bowling Green, Virginia bought him for $250, and then shipped him to Virginia, where he was returned to stud in 1798. Aside from importing bloodstock into the United States, Hoomes also maintained his own racing stable and stud service in which his good friend, the leading national horseman of the time, John Tayloe III, was a partner. Although Hoomes and Tayloe's English agent wrote Hoomes a letter stating very clearly that Diomed was "...a tried and true bad foal-getter", and strongly recommending he not be put to stud, they were unswayed. Besides being personally impressed with the horse, a stallion of Tayloe's had also recently hurt himself, and Tayloe was in immediate need of a stud to replace him. Diomed went to work.[6]
In those days, stallions did not stand in one place, but moved from stud farm to stud farm, doing live covers of mares. Diomed lived like this until he was 31 years old, and was active to his final days in 1808. His fee increased with his fame and his fame increased so quickly that Hoomes was able to sell a share in him for six times his purchase price soon after he landed on American soil.[6]
Diomed - along with the gray stallion Medley (b. 1776), the brown stallion Shark (b. 1771), and the gray stallion Messenger (b. 1780) - was one of the four most important stallions introduced into early American Thoroughbred foundation stock. Diomed was also subsequently bred to several daughters of Medley and Shark. Diomed's offspring competed with many of the greatest horses in American turf history: Haynie's Maria (b. 1808), about whom Andrew Jackson said, "...Haynie's Maria can beat anything in God's whole creation";[6] Ball's Florizel (b. 1801); Potomac (b. 1803); Duroc (b. 1806), the sire of American Eclipse; and his most influential son of all, Sir Archy (b. 1805).
Sir Archy had a huge influence on Thoroughbred history in the United States, siring the line which led to Timoleon, Boston, and Lexington. His descendants include Black Caviar, Phar Lap, Secretariat and American Pharoah. Other famous descendants of Diomed included Traveller, the war mount of Confederate general Robert E. Lee, as well as Cincinnati, the war mount of Union general Ulysses S. Grant. Diomed and Sir Archy also had strong influence on many U.S. Cavalry war mounts in the American Civil War.
Furthermore, Diomed's influence has been felt through his sons regarding the development of the breeds American Quarter Horse (Sir Archy) and Standardbred (Duroc).[7][8][9][10][11]
At Diomed's death at the age of 31 in 1808, it was reported, "...there was as much mourning over his demise as there was at the death of George Washington."[6]
Sire line tree
- Diomed[12][13][14][15]
- Grey Diomed
- Glaucus
- Anthony
- Cedar
- Greyhound
- Wrangler
- Poplar
- Albemarle
- Peacemaker
- Top Gallant
- Truxton
- Wonder
- Tennessee Oscar
- Columbus
- Bolivar
- Tennessee Oscar
- Florizel (Ball)
- Tuckahoe
- Orphan
- Florizel (Turpin)
- Richmond
- Enterprise
- Vingt'un
- Stump-the-Dealer
- Potomac[16]
- Little John
- Sir Archy[17][18][19][20][21][22]
- Cicero
- Sir Arthur
- Director
- Aratus
- John Henry
- Aratus
- Grey Archy
- Spring Hill
- Tecumseh
- Young Sir Archy
- Columbus
- Reap Hook
- Warbler
- Walk-In-The-Water
- Timoleon[23]
- Washington
- Marquis
- Sir John Falstaff
- Hotspur
- Jackson[20][24]
- Boston[25][26][27]
- Arlington
- Cost Johnson
- Ringgold
- Commodore
- Red Eye
- Cracker
- Big Boston
- Jack Hawkins
- Wade Hampton
- Arrow
- Bob Johnson
- Lecomte[28][29]
- Lexington
- Piketon
- Zero
- Lawrence
- Carolinian
- Contention
- Kosciusko
- Pulaski
- Clermont
- Minor
- Woodford
- Romulus
- Greybeard
- Napoleon
- Virginian
- Byron
- Mercury
- Sidi Hamet
- Berthune
- Andrew Hamet
- Sir Solomon[20]
- Rattler
- Marylander
- Sir Charles[30]
- Collier
- Andrew
- Count Zaldivar
- Frank
- Jim Bell
- Wagner[31]
- Oliver
- Voucher
- Monte
- Cary Bell
- Ashland
- Charley Ball
- Wagner Joe
- Jack Gamble
- Red Jacket
- Starke
- Endorser
- Joe Stoner
- Neil Robinson
- Rynodyne
- Sir William
- Childers
- Roanoke
- Grey Beard
- Santa Anna
- John Hancock
- Grey Beard
- Muckle John[20][32]
- Sumpter
- Almanzor
- Brunswick
- Henry
- Robin Hood
- Gerow
- John Richards
- Corsica
- Stockholder
- Pumpkin Boy
- Tempest
- Pumpkin Boy
- Arab
- Union[20][32]
- Bertrand[33][34]
- McDonough
- Richard Singleton
- Woodpecker
- Grey Eagle[35]
- Bertrand Jr
- Hero
- John Bascombe
- Gauglion Gangle
- Cherokee
- Whalebone
- Arnold Harris
- Whalebone
- Marion
- Cymon
- John Blount
- Phoenomenon
- Sir Richard
- Sir William of Transport
- Sir Leslie
- Celestian
- Gazan
- Plato
- Sir Leslie
- Janus
- Rinaldo
- Robin Adair
- Gohanna
- Occupant
- Waxy
- Pacific[16]
- Chesterfield
- Epsilon
- Castor
- Bill Alexander
- Memnon
- Saxe Weimer
- Crusader
- Pirate
- Sir Archy Montorio
- Rodolph
- Giles Scroggins
- Industry
- Goldboy
- Merlin
- Red Gauntlet
- Tariff
- Hyazim
- Wild Bill
- Gandor
- Copperbottom[7][8][9][20]
- Rock
- Rocket
- Rock
- Longwaist
- Zinganee
- George Martin
- Duroc[9]
- Sir Lovell
- Trouble
- Marshal Duroc
- Marshall Bertrand
- American Eclipse[36][37][38]
- Lance
- Eclipse (Monmouth)
- Hornblower
- Prospect
- Goliah
- Medoc
- Grey Medoc
- Mirabeau
- Sir Halpin
- Bendigo
- Blacknose
- Cripple
- Red Bill
- Telamon
- Bob Letcher
- Shark
- Mariner
- Mingo
- Paul Clifford
- Forward
- Gano
- Ten Broeck
- Zenith
- Eclipse (Brawner)
- Cock of the Rock
- Romp
- Messenger Duroc[39]
- American Star (Stockholm)[39]
- American Star 14 (Seely)[10]
- Star (Wallace)
- American Star (Goldsmith)[40]
- Star (Carpenter)[41]
- American Star Jr[42]
- American Star 37[43]
- King Pharoah[44]
- Magnolia[45]
- Sir Henry[46]
- Star of Catskill[47]
- American Star 14 (Seely)[10]
- Hampton[9]
Pedigree
Sire Florizel | Herod | Tartar | Partner* |
---|---|---|---|
Meliora | |||
Cypron | Blaze | ||
Salome | |||
Cygnet Mare | Cygnet | Godolphin Arabian* | |
Godolphin Blossom | |||
Young Cartouch Mare | Young Cartouch | ||
Ebony | |||
Dam Sister to Juno | Spectator | Crab | Alcock's Arabian |
Sister to Soreheels | |||
Partner Mare | Partner* | ||
Bonny Lass | |||
Horatia | Blank | Godolphin Arabian* | |
Amorett | |||
Sister to Steady | Flying Childers | ||
Miss Belvoir |
* Diomed is inbred 4S x 4D to the stallion Partner, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.
* Diomed is inbred 4S x 4D to the stallion Godolphin Arabian, meaning that he appears fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.
References
- ^ a b c Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), “Thoroughbred Breeding of the World”, Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970
- ^ "Hunting. Dunedin Hounds". 20 July 1893. p. 31. Retrieved 16 April 2018 – via Papers Past.
- ^ "Foundation Sires of the Thoroughbred: D". Thoroughbred Heritage: Historic Sires. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Dorimant". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ "Orlov Trotter Horses". Oklahoma State University. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
- ^ a b c d e “The History of Thoroughbred Racing in America,” by William H.P. Robertson, Bonanza Books, New York
- ^ a b "Copperbottom" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-10-26. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
- ^ a b "Lost Bloodline". Archived from the original on 2019-10-28. Retrieved 2019-10-26.
- ^ a b c d Portraits: Duroc
- ^ a b American Star 14 Pedigree
- ^ History of the Quarter Horse
- ^ Byerley Turk Line
- ^ Herod Sire Line
- ^ Portraits: Diomed
- ^ Biography: Diomed
- ^ a b Studbook: Early P
- ^ Portraits: Sir Archy
- ^ Biography: Sir Archy
- ^ Hall of Fame: Sir Archy
- ^ a b c d e f The Bloodlines Chart
- ^ Virginia Horse: Sir Archy
- ^ Memoir of Sir Archy/Archie, the Godolphin Arabian of America
- ^ Biography: Timoleon
- ^ Steel Dust Pedigree
- ^ Portraits: Boston
- ^ Biography: Boston
- ^ Hall of Fame: Boston
- ^ Biography: Lecomte
- ^ Lecomte: The short life but long legacy of a Louisiana racing hero
- ^ Portraits: Sir Charles
- ^ Studbook: Early W
- ^ a b Shiloh Pedigree
- ^ Portraits: Bertrand
- ^ Studbook: Early B
- ^ Pedigree Analysis: Grey Eagle
- ^ Portraits: American Eclipse
- ^ Biography: American Eclipse
- ^ Hall of Fame: American Eclipse
- ^ a b American Bloodstock
- ^ Wallace's Monthly: Horses for sale
- ^ Wallace's Monthly: Trotting Register
- ^ American Star Jr Pedigree
- ^ American Star 37 Pedigree
- ^ King Pharoah Pedigree
- ^ Wallace's Monthly: The Spirit of the Times Stakes
- ^ Wallace's Monthly: Some Errors Reviewed
- ^ Wallace's Monthly: Star of Catskill
External links
- Diomed's pedigree, plus drawing
- v
- t
- e
- 1780 Diomed
- 1781 Young Eclipse
- 1782 Assassin
- 1783 Saltram
- 1784 Serjeant
- 1785 Aimwell
- 1786 Noble
- 1787 Sir Peter Teazle
- 1788 Sir Thomas
- 1789 Skyscraper
- 1790 Rhadamanthus
- 1791 Eager
- 1792 John Bull
- 1793 Waxy
- 1794 Daedalus
- 1795 Spread Eagle
- 1796 Didelot
- 1797 colt by Fidget
- 1798 Sir Harry
- 1799 Archduke
- 1800 Champion
- 1801 Eleanor ♥
- 1802 Tyrant
- 1803 Ditto
- 1804 Hannibal
- 1805 Cardinal Beaufort
- 1806 Paris
- 1807 Election
- 1808 Pan
- 1809 Pope
- 1810 Whalebone
- 1811 Phantom
- 1812 Octavius
- 1813 Smolensko
- 1814 Blucher
- 1815 Whisker
- 1816 Prince Leopold
- 1817 Azor
- 1818 Sam
- 1819 Tiresias
- 1820 Sailor
- 1821 Gustavus
- 1822 Moses
- 1823 Emilius
- 1824 Cedric
- 1825 Middleton
- 1826 Lap-dog
- 1827 Mameluke
- 1828 Cadland
- 1829 Frederick
- 1830 Priam
- 1831 Spaniel
- 1832 St. Giles
- 1833 Dangerous
- 1834 Plenipotentiary
- 1835 Mundig
- 1836 Bay Middleton
- 1837 Phosphorus
- 1838 Amato
- 1839 Bloomsbury
- 1840 Little Wonder
- 1841 Coronation
- 1842 Attila
- 1843 Cotherstone
- 1844 Orlando
- 1845 The Merry Monarch
- 1846 Pyrrhus The First
- 1847 Cossack
- 1848 Surplice
- 1849 The Flying Dutchman
- 1850 Voltigeur
- 1851 Teddington
- 1852 Daniel O'Rourke
- 1853 West Australian ₩
- 1854 Andover
- 1855 Wild Dayrell
- 1856 Ellington
- 1857 Blink Bonny ♥
- 1858 Beadsman
- 1859 Musjid
- 1860 Thormanby
- 1861 Kettledrum
- 1862 Caractacus
- 1863 Macaroni
- 1864 Blair Athol
- 1865 Gladiateur ₩
- 1866 Lord Lyon ₩
- 1867 Hermit
- 1868 Blue Gown
- 1869 Pretender
- 1870 Kingcraft
- 1871 Favonius
- 1872 Cremorne
- 1873 Doncaster
- 1874 George Frederick
- 1875 Galopin
- 1876 Kisber
- 1877 Silvio
- 1878 Sefton
- 1879 Sir Bevys
- 1880 Bend Or
- 1881 Iroquois
- 1882 Shotover ♥
- 1883 St. Blaise
- 1884 St. Gatien
- Harvester
- 1885 Melton
- 1886 Ormonde ₩
- 1887 Merry Hampton
- 1888 Ayrshire
- 1889 Donovan
- 1890 Sainfoin
- 1891 Common ₩
- 1892 Sir Hugo
- 1893 Isinglass ₩
- 1894 Ladas
- 1895 Sir Visto
- 1896 Persimmon
- 1897 Galtee More ₩
- 1898 Jeddah
- 1899 Flying Fox ₩
- 1900 Diamond Jubilee ₩
- 1901 Volodyovski
- 1902 Ard Patrick
- 1903 Rock Sand ₩
- 1904 St. Amant
- 1905 Cicero
- 1906 Spearmint
- 1907 Orby
- 1908 Signorinetta ♥
- 1909 Minoru
- 1910 Lemberg
- 1911 Sunstar
- 1912 Tagalie ♥
- 1913 Aboyeur
- 1914 Durbar
- 1915 Pommern ₩
- 1916 Fifinella ♥
- 1917 Gay Crusader ₩
- 1918 Gainsborough ₩
- 1919 Grand Parade
- 1920 Spion Kop
- 1921 Humorist
- 1922 Captain Cuttle
- 1923 Papyrus
- 1924 Sansovino
- 1925 Manna
- 1926 Coronach
- 1927 Call Boy
- 1928 Felstead
- 1929 Trigo
- 1930 Blenheim
- 1931 Cameronian
- 1932 April the Fifth
- 1933 Hyperion
- 1934 Windsor Lad
- 1935 Bahram ₩
- 1936 Mahmoud
- 1937 Mid-day Sun
- 1938 Bois Roussel
- 1939 Blue Peter
- 1940 Pont l'Eveque
- 1941 Owen Tudor
- 1942 Watling Street
- 1943 Straight Deal
- 1944 Ocean Swell
- 1945 Dante
- 1946 Airborne
- 1947 Pearl Diver
- 1948 My Love
- 1949 Nimbus
- 1950 Galcador
- 1951 Arctic Prince
- 1952 Tulyar
- 1953 Pinza
- 1954 Never Say Die
- 1955 Phil Drake
- 1956 Lavandin
- 1957 Crepello
- 1958 Hard Ridden
- 1959 Parthia
- 1960 St. Paddy
- 1961 Psidium
- 1962 Larkspur
- 1963 Relko
- 1964 Santa Claus
- 1965 Sea Bird
- 1966 Charlottown
- 1967 Royal Palace
- 1968 Sir Ivor
- 1969 Blakeney
- 1970 Nijinsky ₩
- 1971 Mill Reef
- 1972 Roberto
- 1973 Morston
- 1974 Snow Knight
- 1975 Grundy
- 1976 Empery
- 1977 The Minstrel
- 1978 Shirley Heights
- 1979 Troy
- 1980 Henbit
- 1981 Shergar
- 1982 Golden Fleece
- 1983 Teenoso
- 1984 Secreto
- 1985 Slip Anchor
- 1986 Shahrastani
- 1987 Reference Point
- 1988 Kahyasi
- 1989 Nashwan
- 1990 Quest For Fame
- 1991 Generous
- 1992 Dr Devious
- 1993 Commander in Chief
- 1994 Erhaab
- 1995 Lammtarra
- 1996 Shaamit
- 1997 Benny the Dip
- 1998 High-Rise
- 1999 Oath
- 2000 Sinndar
- 2001 Galileo
- 2002 High Chaparral
- 2003 Kris Kin
- 2004 North Light
- 2005 Motivator
- 2006 Sir Percy
- 2007 Authorized
- 2008 New Approach
- 2009 Sea the Stars
- 2010 Workforce
- 2011 Pour Moi
- 2012 Camelot
- 2013 Ruler of the World
- 2014 Australia
- 2015 Golden Horn
- 2016 Harzand
- 2017 Wings of Eagles
- 2018 Masar
- 2019 Anthony Van Dyck
- 2020 Serpentine
- 2021 Adayar
- 2022 Desert Crown
- 2023 Auguste Rodin
- 2024 City Of Troy