Morvich
Encyclopedia
Morvich was an American
Thoroughbred
who was the first California-bred
racehorse
to win the Kentucky Derby
.
Bred by sugar
magnate Adolph B. Spreckels
at his Napa
Stock Farm, Morvich was sired by James R. Keene's
stallion, Runnymede, and was out of the mare
, Hymir by Dr. Leggo. He was sold to Benjamin Block as a castoff with little future. The young colt was described as an "ugly cripple that no one thought could run until (trainer) Burlew proved them wrong." http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/trainer.asp?ID=240
trainer
Fred Burlew, in 1921 Morvich had one of the best seasons in American racing history for a two-year-old. Beginning as a lowly selling plater, he rapidly moved up, winning all eleven of his starts, a feat that ranks close to the record of thirteen consecutive wins set by Tremont
in 1886. Dominating performances against the best horses in his age group saw Morvich the runaway winner of United States Champion Two-Year-Old Colt
honors.
Although Morvich had not raced in 1922 leading up to the Kentucky Derby, bettors
nevertheless made him the heavy favorite to win the prestigious race. Ridden by Albert Johnson
, the colt did not disappoint and easily earned his 12th straight victory. In an era when the U.S. Triple Crown races had not yet become the major event for three-year-olds, Morvich did not compete in the Preakness Stakes
(which was run on the same day as the Kentucky Derby in 1922). Instead, his handlers sent him to New York
to compete in the Carlton Stakes where stunned racing fans at Aqueduct Racetrack
watched as Harry Payne Whitney's
colt Whiskaway handed Morvich his first defeat. The colt
's knees were the likely cause of his decline. Morvich had also developed osselet
s in one fetlock
.
Morvich ended his 1922 campaign with the Derby his only victory in five starts and after finishing unplaced in the Fall Highweight Handicap
at Aqueduct Racetrack, he was retired to stud
duty where he proved less than successful as a sire. His only offspring of note was Downy Pillow, a Debutante Stakes
winner.
His death effectively marked the extinction of the Hermit
male-line in in the United States.[1]
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
who was the first California-bred
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
to win the Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
.
Bred by sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
magnate Adolph B. Spreckels
Adolph B. Spreckels
Adolph Bernard Spreckels was a California businessman who ran Spreckels Sugar Company and who donated the California Palace of the Legion of Honor art museum to the city of San Francisco in 1924. His wife Alma was called the "great grandmother of San Francisco".-Biography:His father was Claus...
at his Napa
Napa, California
-History:The name Napa was probably derived from the name given to a southern Nappan village whose people shared the area with elk, deer, grizzlies and cougars for many centuries, according to Napa historian Kami Santiago. At the time of the first recorded exploration into Napa Valley in 1823, the...
Stock Farm, Morvich was sired by James R. Keene's
James R. Keene
James Robert Keene was a Wall Street stock broker and a major thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder.-Biography:He was born in London, England in 1838. He was fourteen years of age when his family emigrated to the United States in 1852...
stallion, Runnymede, and was out of the mare
Mare (horse)
A mare is an adult female horse or other equine.In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse age three and younger. However, in Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more than four years old; in harness racing a mare is a...
, Hymir by Dr. Leggo. He was sold to Benjamin Block as a castoff with little future. The young colt was described as an "ugly cripple that no one thought could run until (trainer) Burlew proved them wrong." http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/trainer.asp?ID=240
Racing career
Despite the predictions at the time, under future Hall of FameNational Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
Fred Burlew, in 1921 Morvich had one of the best seasons in American racing history for a two-year-old. Beginning as a lowly selling plater, he rapidly moved up, winning all eleven of his starts, a feat that ranks close to the record of thirteen consecutive wins set by Tremont
Tremont (horse)
Tremont an American Thoroughbred racehorse who, according to the New York Racing Association, was acclaimed by 19th Century Thoroughbred Horse Racing historians as the best two-year-old ever bred in the United States....
in 1886. Dominating performances against the best horses in his age group saw Morvich the runaway winner of United States Champion Two-Year-Old Colt
Eclipse Award for Outstanding 2-Year-Old Male Horse
The American Champion Two-Year-Old Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971....
honors.
Although Morvich had not raced in 1922 leading up to the Kentucky Derby, bettors
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
nevertheless made him the heavy favorite to win the prestigious race. Ridden by Albert Johnson
Albert Johnson (jockey)
Albert Johnson was an American Hall of Fame jockey. Born in the rural community of Milan, Washington, Albert Johnson began his career in 1917 at Playfair Race Track in nearby Spokane...
, the colt did not disappoint and easily earned his 12th straight victory. In an era when the U.S. Triple Crown races had not yet become the major event for three-year-olds, Morvich did not compete in the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
(which was run on the same day as the Kentucky Derby in 1922). Instead, his handlers sent him to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to compete in the Carlton Stakes where stunned racing fans at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
watched as Harry Payne Whitney's
Harry Payne Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney was an American businessman, thoroughbred horsebreeder, and member of the prominent Whitney family.- Early years :...
colt Whiskaway handed Morvich his first defeat. The colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
's knees were the likely cause of his decline. Morvich had also developed osselet
Osselet
-Location:Osselets usually occurs in the front legs of the horse, because there is more strain and concussion on the fetlock there than in the hind legs. The arthritis will occur at the joint between the cannon bone and large pastern bone, at the front of the fetlock.-Causes and...
s in one fetlock
Fetlock
Fetlock is the common name for the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints of horses, large animals, and sometimes dogs. It is formed by the junction of the third metacarpal or metatarsal bones proximad and the proximal phalanx distad...
.
Morvich ended his 1922 campaign with the Derby his only victory in five starts and after finishing unplaced in the Fall Highweight Handicap
Fall Highweight Handicap
The Fall Highweight Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually near the end of November at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. Currently run at a distance of 6 furlongs , it is open to horses three years of age and older. The race is a real test for speed and strength in that...
at Aqueduct Racetrack, he was retired to stud
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
duty where he proved less than successful as a sire. His only offspring of note was Downy Pillow, a Debutante Stakes
Debutante Stakes
The Debutante Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Ireland open to two-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at the Curragh over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in August.-History:...
winner.
His death effectively marked the extinction of the Hermit
Hermit (horse)
Hermit was a 19th-century British Thoroughbred racehorse that was a direct descendant of Eclipse. He won the 1867 Epsom Derby, despite running in a snowstorm at 1000:15 odds with 10 false starts.-Breeding:...
male-line in in the United States.[1]