Hermis (foaled 1899 in Kentucky) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse.

Hermis
Circa 1904.
SireHermence
GrandsireIsonomy
DamKaty of the West
DamsireSpendthrift
SexStallion
Foaled1899
CountryUnited States
ColourChestnut
BreederHiram Berry for H. A. Engman
Owner2) Henry M. Ziegler
3) Louis V. Bell
4) Edward R. Thomas
5) Alexander Shields
TrainerCharles Hughes
Jack McCormack
Alexander Shields (from 1903)
Record55: 28-8-6
Earnings$84,155
Major wins
First Special Stakes (1902)
Travers Stakes (1902)
Jerome Handicap (1902)
Ocean View Handicap (1902)
Saranac Handicap (1902)
Brighton Cup (1903)
Merchants and Citizens Handicap (1903)
Edgemere Handicap (1903)
Ocean Handicap (1903)
Cup Preliminary Stakes (1903)
Brookdale Handicap (1904)
Suburban Handicap (1904)
Test Handicap (1904)
Islip Handicap (1905)
Awards
American Horse of the Year
(1902, 1903)
American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse (1902)
American Champion Older Male Horse
(1903, 1904)

Background edit

Hermis was a chestnut horse bred by Hiram Berry: H. A. Engman owned his dam, Katy of the West. He was purchased as a two-year-old by Cincinnati theatre man Henry M. Ziegler and was trained by Charles Hughes.[1] Hermis would be sold to Louis V. Bell who turned him over to Jack McCormack to train.[2] Sold in 1903 to banker Edward R. Thomas, Hermis would then be trained by Alexander Shields who later would acquire a part ownership and then full ownership in 1906.[3][4]

Racing career edit

Beginning at age three, Hermis was a dominant force in racing and would be awarded 1902 American Champion Three-Year-Old Male Horse and American Horse of the Year honors. At age four he was the 1903 American Champion Older Male Horse and repeated as American Horse of the Year. At his final race during the 1904 World's Fair Handicap in St. Louis, Hermis received an injury to his leg due to being kicked by 1903 Kentucky Derby winner Judge Himes during the start. As a result of the injury, Hermis never raced again.[5] However, for 1904 Hermis was again selected as the American Champion Older Male Horse. At the time such Champion designations were espoused by various racing media but these designated honors were selected retrospectively by a panel of experts as published by The Blood-Horse magazine.[6]

Stud record edit

Hermis was retired to stud duty. On January 3, 1912, the New York Times reported that he had been sold to Edmond Blanc, a prominent French breeder and owner of Haras de Jardy at Marnes-la-Coquette in what is today the western suburbs of Paris.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Ziegler Horses To Race In The East". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1908-05-15. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  2. ^ "Career Of Noted Trainer At End: James H. McCormick Dies in Germany". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1912-04-09. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  3. ^ "How the Great Hermis Was Trained: Alex Shields Worked the Great Little Horse between Shafts of a Sulky". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1917-02-19. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  4. ^ "Alex Shields Gets Stalwart and Hermis: Pays $11,000 for Former and $4,000 for Latter". Daily Racing Form at University of Kentucky Archives. 1906-07-08. Retrieved 2019-01-26.
  5. ^ Staff (September 13, 1908). "All sorts". Cincinnati Enquirer.
  6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. ^ [ Displaying Abstract ] (2012-06-10). "HOLMER SECOND IN FOOT RACE - American Ten Yards Behind Kolehmainen at Powderhall. - Article - NYTimes.com". New York Times. Retrieved 2014-01-21.