St. Blaise (horse)
Encyclopedia
St. Blaise was a British Thoroughbred
racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1882 to 1884 he ran twelve time and won seven races, although three of these wins were walk-overs. His most important success came in 1883 when he won the Epsom Derby
. At the end of the season he was sold and exported to the United States to stand as a stallion where he had some success. St. Blaise was killed in a fire in 1909.
high, with a white blaze
and three white feet. He was bred at Crichel
in Dorset
by Henry Sturt, 1st Baron Alington
who owned him during his racing career in partnership with Sir Frederick Johnstone
. The colt was first sent into training with Lord Alington’s private trainer H. Percy in Dorset, but was moved at the end of his two-year-old season to the stables of John Porter
at Kingsclere
.
St. Blaise’s sire Hermit won the Derby in 1867 and later became an outstandingly successful stallion, being Champion Sire for seven successive years. In addition to St. Blaise, he sired the Classic winners Shotover
(2000 Guineas & Derby), St. Marguerite (1000 Guineas), Lonely (Oaks
) and Thebais (1000 Guineas & Oaks). His dam, Fusee made little impact as a racehorse, and was close to being destroyed after her career was ended by injury. She survived however, to become a good broodmare, producing, in addition to St. Blaise, good winners such as Candlemas (Chesterfield Cup, Epsom Grand Prize) and Friar Rush (Salisbury Cup).
and the Middle Park Plate
. St. Blaise was then sent to Goodwood
for the Molecomb Stakes
in which he dead-heated
for first place when attempting to give seven pounds Elzevir, a horse who went on to win the Royal Hunt Cup
.
On 27 October he was sent to Newmarket
to run in the Dewhurst Stakes
for which he started 3/1 second favourite. He started quickly but dropped away in the closing stages and finished unplaced behind Ladislas. On the following day on the same course he won a weakly contested race for the Troy Stakes (the race was run twice a year) in which he beat Pebble by a neck. Following the race he was described in The Sportsman
as a "nice colt" and a "thorough stayer", but below Derby class.
St. Blaise was then trained more vigorously and ran impressively in a private trial race on the Friday before the race. The Prince of Wales was visiting Kingsclere at the time and was impressed enough with St. Blaise to place a large bet on the colt for the Derby. Shortly before the Derby, St. Blaise and his connections travelled to Epsom and stayed nearby at an inn called the Sheepshearer's Arms at Burgh Heath
. This was interpreted as a good omen at the original St. Blaise was the patron saint
of the wool trade.
The Prince of Wales, who had won a reported £5,000 on the race, was among the first to congratulate his owners and later hosted a "brilliant party" to celebrate St Blaise's victory. There were later allegations that Fred Archer had “pulled” Galliard to allow Highland Chieftain to win. One version of the conspiracy theory claimed that Highland Chief crossed the line in front, but that the racecourse judge awarded the race to St. Blaise because he wanted to frustrate the plans of the Archer brothers.
over 3000m at Longchamp on 5 June. Ridden by Archer, he started favourite at 4/5 against five French opponents. He was held up in the early stages before making his challenge just as Frontin, ridden by Tom Cannon, took the lead in the straight. St Blaise and the French colt had a "splendid race" in the closing stages, but although the Derby winner steadily reduced the margin between them he could not overhaul the leader and was beaten by a head. The French celebrations which followed, involving hat-throwing, singing and flag-waving were described as "disgusting" by a British observer.
Only three days after his run in France, St. Blaise was sent to Royal Ascot for the Ascot Derby, a race now known as the King Edward VII Stakes
. He was made 5/4 favourite, but after going well until the straight he appeared to "cut it" (give up) and finished a well beaten third of the four runners behind Ladislas and Ossian.
the proposed Eclipse Stakes
and the Manchester Cup.
He made his first appearance in the City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom on April 23 in which he carried 124 pounds and started 7/2 favourite. He raced prominently and led the field into the straight but faded badly in the last quarter of a mile and finished among the back markers.
The City and Suburban was St Blaise's last competitive race although he had two walk-over wins in either late 1883 or 1884.
and exported to the United States. When Belmont died in 1890, St. Blaise was sold at auction where he was bought for $100,000 by Charles Reed of Tennessee. He was later sold to James Ben Ali Haggin
and then to August Belmont II. The best of St. Blaise’s progeny included Potomac, who was the outstanding American two-year-old of 1890 when he won the Belmont Futurity Stakes and Margrave the winner of the 1896 Preakness Stakes
. St. Blaise lived to the advanced age (for a Thoroughbred) of twenty-nine when he was killed in a fire at the Nursery Stud at Lexington, Kentucky
on 14 October 1909.
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...
racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1882 to 1884 he ran twelve time and won seven races, although three of these wins were walk-overs. His most important success came in 1883 when he won the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
. At the end of the season he was sold and exported to the United States to stand as a stallion where he had some success. St. Blaise was killed in a fire in 1909.
Background
St. Blaise was a “big, slashing” chestnut horse standing just under 16 handsHand (unit)
The hand is a non-SI unit of measurement of length, now used only for the measurement of the height of horses in some English-speaking countries, including Australia, Canada, the UK and the USA. With origins in ancient Egypt, it was originally based on the breadth of a human hand...
high, with a white blaze
Horse markings
Markings on horses usually are distinctive white areas on an otherwise dark base coat color. Most horses have some markings, and they help to identify the horse as a unique individual. Markings are present at birth and do not change over the course of the horse's life...
and three white feet. He was bred at Crichel
Crichel House
Crichel House is a country house located near the village of Moor Crichel in Dorset, England. It is surrounded by of parkland, which includes a crescent-shaped lake covering ....
in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
by Henry Sturt, 1st Baron Alington
Henry Sturt, 1st Baron Alington
Henry Gerard Sturt, 1st Baron Alington was a British peer and Conservative Party politician. The son of Henry Sturt, he was created 1st Baron Alington of Crichel on 15 January 1876....
who owned him during his racing career in partnership with Sir Frederick Johnstone
Sir Frederick Johnstone, 8th Baronet
Sir Frederick John William Johnstone, 8th baronet was an English racehorse owner and Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1874 to 1885....
. The colt was first sent into training with Lord Alington’s private trainer H. Percy in Dorset, but was moved at the end of his two-year-old season to the stables of John Porter
John Porter (horseman)
John Porter was an English Thoroughbred flat racing trainer whose horses won the English Triple Crown three times.-Biography:Born in Rugeley, Staffordshire, the National Horseracing Museum says that John Porter "was undoubtedly the most successful trainer of the Victorian era."From 1854 to 1855,...
at Kingsclere
Kingsclere
Kingsclere is a large village and civil parish in the county of Hampshire, England. Kingsclere is located near to Watership Down, the setting of Richard Adams' 1972 novel Watership Down.-Geography:...
.
St. Blaise’s sire Hermit won the Derby in 1867 and later became an outstandingly successful stallion, being Champion Sire for seven successive years. In addition to St. Blaise, he sired the Classic winners Shotover
Shotover (horse)
Shotover was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. In a career that lasted from 1882 to 1884 she ran fifteen times and won five races. As a three-year-old, racing against colts, she became the first filly to win the first two legs of the English Triple Crown: the 2000 Guineas at...
(2000 Guineas & Derby), St. Marguerite (1000 Guineas), Lonely (Oaks
Epsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
) and Thebais (1000 Guineas & Oaks). His dam, Fusee made little impact as a racehorse, and was close to being destroyed after her career was ended by injury. She survived however, to become a good broodmare, producing, in addition to St. Blaise, good winners such as Candlemas (Chesterfield Cup, Epsom Grand Prize) and Friar Rush (Salisbury Cup).
1882: two-year-old season
St. Blaise began his racing career at Stcokbridge Racecourse in June 1882. He won a Biennial Stakes and then walked over in the Troy Stakes, before finishing second to Macheath in the Hurstbourne Stakes. Later in the season Macheath won the July StakesJuly Stakes
The July Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run on the July Course at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July....
and the Middle Park Plate
Middle Park Stakes
The Middle Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was established...
. St. Blaise was then sent to Goodwood
Goodwood Racecourse
Goodwood Racecourse is a horse-racing track five miles north of Chichester, West Sussex, in England controlled by the family of the Duke of Richmond, whose seat is nearby Goodwood House...
for the Molecomb Stakes
Molecomb Stakes
The Molecomb Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to two-year-old thoroughbreds. It is run at Goodwood over a distance of 5 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late July or early August.-History:...
in which he dead-heated
Tie (draw)
To tie or draw is to finish a competition with identical or inconclusive results. The word "tie" is usually used in North America for sports such as American football. "Draw" is usually used in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Commonwealth of Nations and it is usually used for sports such as...
for first place when attempting to give seven pounds Elzevir, a horse who went on to win the Royal Hunt Cup
Royal Hunt Cup
The Royal Hunt Cup is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.-History:...
.
On 27 October he was sent to Newmarket
Newmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
to run in the Dewhurst Stakes
Dewhurst Stakes
The Dewhurst Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 7 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October.The event was established in 1875, and it...
for which he started 3/1 second favourite. He started quickly but dropped away in the closing stages and finished unplaced behind Ladislas. On the following day on the same course he won a weakly contested race for the Troy Stakes (the race was run twice a year) in which he beat Pebble by a neck. Following the race he was described in The Sportsman
The Sportsman (1865 newspaper)
The first British newspaper titled The Sportsman began publishing from 1865, some six years after the Sporting Life. It ran until 1924....
as a "nice colt" and a "thorough stayer", but below Derby class.
Spring
St. Blaise grew and made good physical progress during the winter and in mid-April he appeared for the first time in the Derby betting lists at 33/1. He made his seasonal debut on 25 April in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, for which he started at odds of 25/1 in a field of fifteen and was ridden by George Barrett. He was not fully fit but produced a promising performance to finish fourth behind Galliard, doing the best of the colts who had raced on the far side of the course. Immediately after the race he was offered at odds of 11/1 for the Derby.St. Blaise was then trained more vigorously and ran impressively in a private trial race on the Friday before the race. The Prince of Wales was visiting Kingsclere at the time and was impressed enough with St. Blaise to place a large bet on the colt for the Derby. Shortly before the Derby, St. Blaise and his connections travelled to Epsom and stayed nearby at an inn called the Sheepshearer's Arms at Burgh Heath
Burgh Heath
Burgh Heath is a residential area of the borough of Reigate and Banstead in Surrey, England. It is located on the A217 road, between Banstead and Tadworth. A neighbouring village is Nork...
. This was interpreted as a good omen at the original St. Blaise was the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of the wool trade.
Epsom Derby
At Epsom on 23 May St. Blaise started at odds of 5/1 in a field of fifteen. The race took place in fine weather in front of an "immense" crowd which included the Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the Royal Family. Galliard, ridden by Fred Archer started favourite on 9/2 while one of the outsiders was Highland Chief (trained by Archer’s brother, Charles). The potential conflict of interest for Fred Archer, who was believed to have a strong interest in his brother's stable had been highlighted as a cause for concern. St. Blaise, ridden by Charles Wood, was held up in the early stages as the pacemaker Bonjour made the running but moved into contention at Tattenham Corner. Wood sent St. Blaise through a gap on the inside on the home turn to take the lead as the field entered the straight. St Blaise was briefly challenged by Beau Brummel and then Galliard before Highland Chief emerged with a powerful late run. In the final furlong St Blaise ran on gamely to win a "most exciting race" by a neck (other reports say a head) from Highland Chief with Galliard half a length further back in third.The Prince of Wales, who had won a reported £5,000 on the race, was among the first to congratulate his owners and later hosted a "brilliant party" to celebrate St Blaise's victory. There were later allegations that Fred Archer had “pulled” Galliard to allow Highland Chieftain to win. One version of the conspiracy theory claimed that Highland Chief crossed the line in front, but that the racecourse judge awarded the race to St. Blaise because he wanted to frustrate the plans of the Archer brothers.
After Epsom
St. Blaise was then sent to France for the Grand Prix de ParisGrand Prix de Paris
The Grand Prix de Paris is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in July.-History:...
over 3000m at Longchamp on 5 June. Ridden by Archer, he started favourite at 4/5 against five French opponents. He was held up in the early stages before making his challenge just as Frontin, ridden by Tom Cannon, took the lead in the straight. St Blaise and the French colt had a "splendid race" in the closing stages, but although the Derby winner steadily reduced the margin between them he could not overhaul the leader and was beaten by a head. The French celebrations which followed, involving hat-throwing, singing and flag-waving were described as "disgusting" by a British observer.
Only three days after his run in France, St. Blaise was sent to Royal Ascot for the Ascot Derby, a race now known as the King Edward VII Stakes
King Edward VII Stakes
The King Edward VII Stakes is a Group 2 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and geldings. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
. He was made 5/4 favourite, but after going well until the straight he appeared to "cut it" (give up) and finished a well beaten third of the four runners behind Ladislas and Ossian.
1884: four-year-old season
St. Blaise was kept in training at four and was among the entries for the Ascot Gold CupAscot Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged four years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in June....
the proposed Eclipse Stakes
Eclipse Stakes
The Eclipse Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of 1 mile, 2 furlongs and 7 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early July.-History:The event is named after Eclipse, a...
and the Manchester Cup.
He made his first appearance in the City and Suburban Handicap at Epsom on April 23 in which he carried 124 pounds and started 7/2 favourite. He raced prominently and led the field into the straight but faded badly in the last quarter of a mile and finished among the back markers.
The City and Suburban was St Blaise's last competitive race although he had two walk-over wins in either late 1883 or 1884.
Assessment and earnings
St Blaise earned £2,106 as a two-year-old, and £5,547 at three, placing him fifth on the 1883 list behind Ossian, Galliard, Tristan and Superba. He was considered by some to have been a lucky winner of the Derby: Border Minstrel, who was not entered for the Epsom race, was considered by many to have been the best colt of the year.Stud career
At the end of his racing career, St. Blaise was sold to August BelmontAugust Belmont
August Belmont, Sr. was an American politician.-Early life:August Belmont was born in Alzey, Hesse, on December 8, 1813--some sources say 1816--to Simon and Frederika Elsass Schönberg, a Jewish family. After his mother's death, when he was seven, he lived with his uncle and grandmother in Frankfurt...
and exported to the United States. When Belmont died in 1890, St. Blaise was sold at auction where he was bought for $100,000 by Charles Reed of Tennessee. He was later sold to James Ben Ali Haggin
James Ben Ali Haggin
James Ben Ali Haggin was an Turkish Americanattorney, rancher, investor and a major owner/breeder in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing...
and then to August Belmont II. The best of St. Blaise’s progeny included Potomac, who was the outstanding American two-year-old of 1890 when he won the Belmont Futurity Stakes and Margrave the winner of the 1896 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...
. St. Blaise lived to the advanced age (for a Thoroughbred) of twenty-nine when he was killed in a fire at the Nursery Stud at Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
on 14 October 1909.