Durbar (horse)
Encyclopedia
Durbar was a French racehorse. Although not the best of his generation in France (he was inferior to both Sardanaple and La Farina), he proved too good for the leading British colts in the 1914 Epsom Derby
, which he won by three lengths. His pedigree was controversial, with the British authorities not recognising him as a Thoroughbred
. His racing career was ended by the outbreak of the First World War.
high with a white blaze
and three white socks, was bred in France by his owner Herman B. Duryea
. Duryea had been a prominent owner and breeder of racehorses in New York State, until 1908. In that year, gambling was made illegal in the state by the Hart–Agnew Law
, forcing most racetracks to close, and like several of his compatriots Duryea transferred his racing and breeding operations to Europe.
Shortly afterwards and possibly in response to the influx of American horses, the Jockey Club
created a new regulation which became known as the Jersey Act
, banning horses without proven “pure” descent from foundation mares from being registered in the General Stud Book
. Such horses, including many from the most successful American families, were allowed to race but could not be considered Thoroughbreds. Durbar fell foul of the new rule as his dam Armenia descended from an unknown mare.
. Running over 2000m he won his first two races before he was stepped up in class to run second to Sardanaple in the Prix Lagrange. He won the Prix Bienniale on his next start and was then moved up to 2400m to record his most important French victory in the Prix Noailles
. He was brought back in trip for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains
over 1600m at Longchamp but was unable to recover from a poor start and finished unplaced.
At Epsom he started at 20/1 against thirty opponents, one of the largest fields ever assembled for the race. A possible explanation for the size of the field was that an unusually large numbers of "forlorn hopes" were starting in the race in order to collect money on sweepstakes
tickets. A year after the "sufragette Derby
" of 1913 the race was marked by another incident in which a campaigner for women's suffrage
, named as Ada Rice was arrested after, firing a starting pistol
at a policeman. The start of the race was delayed for more than twenty minutes as the starter struggled to control the runners leading the favourite, Kennymore, the winner of the 2000 Guineas tp become increasingly fractious, lashing out with his hooves and attempting to attack other horses. Once the field was underway Durbar, riddem by the French-based American Matt MacGee, was always prominent, led soon after half way, and won easily by three lengths. He was followed home by two other outsiders, Hapsburg and Peter the Hermit in a result which left the huge crowd stunned into silence. Although the colt had been bred and trained in France his owner's nationality meant that his win was greeted as an American victory in the United States.
Following his Epsom win, Durbar was returned to France for his next two races which confirmed the impression that he was a good colt, but some way behind the very best French horses. He finished fourth behind Sardanaple in the Prix du Jockey Club
at Chantilly
and third behind the same colt and La Farina in the Grand Prix de Paris
at Longchamp. On the same day that the Grand Prix was run the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
began the sequence of events which led to the outbreak of the First World War. Horse racing in France was suspended and Durbar never ran again.
His safe evacuation from the Paris area to Normandy
was in part due to the actions of his African-American groom, who reportedly wrapped the horse in an American flag with a notice reading,
in Normandy
, France. In 1924 he was sent to America to stand at the Claiborne Farm
stud at Paris, Kentucky
. In 1931 he was moved again, this time to the Prospect Hill Stud at Bel Air, Maryland, but died before the start of the breeding season. His best European runners included Rebia (Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
) and Scaramouche (Prix de la Foret
). He was less successful after his move to the United States.
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...
, which he won by three lengths. His pedigree was controversial, with the British authorities not recognising him as a 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...
. His racing career was ended by the outbreak of the First World War.
Background
Durbar, a bay horse standing 15.3 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 socks, was bred in France by his owner Herman B. Duryea
Herman B. Duryea
Herman L. B. Duryea was an American Thoroughbred race horse owner and breeder.Herman Duryea built an estate in Old Westbury on Long Island, New York known as "Knole". Completed in 1903, it was designed by Carrere and Hastings...
. Duryea had been a prominent owner and breeder of racehorses in New York State, until 1908. In that year, gambling was made illegal in the state by the Hart–Agnew Law
Hart–Agnew Law
The Hart–Agnew Law was an anti-gambling bill passed into law by the Legislature of the State of New York on June 11, 1908. It was an amalgam of bills enacted as Chapter 506 and 507 which were sponsored by right-wing Assemblyman Merwin K. Hart and Republican Senator George B. Agnew...
, forcing most racetracks to close, and like several of his compatriots Duryea transferred his racing and breeding operations to Europe.
Shortly afterwards and possibly in response to the influx of American horses, the Jockey Club
Jockey Club
The Jockey Club is the largest commercial organisation in British horseracing. Although no longer responsible for the governance and regulation of the sport, it owns 14 of Britain's famous racecourses, including Aintree, Cheltenham and Newmarket, amongst other concerns such as the National Stud and...
created a new regulation which became known as the Jersey Act
Jersey Act
The Jersey Act was introduced to prevent the registration of most American-bred Thoroughbred horses in the British General Stud Book. It had its roots in the desire of the British to halt the influx of American-bred racehorses of possibly impure bloodlines during the early 20th century...
, banning horses without proven “pure” descent from foundation mares from being registered in the General Stud Book
General Stud Book
The General Stud Book was the original breed registry of the United Kingdom for horses. It specifically was used to document the breeding of Thoroughbreds and related foundation bloodstock such as the Arabian horse....
. Such horses, including many from the most successful American families, were allowed to race but could not be considered Thoroughbreds. Durbar fell foul of the new rule as his dam Armenia descended from an unknown mare.
1913: two-year-old season
Durbar ran four times in 1913 without success, but showed some promise, twice finishing fourth and running third in the Prix Prestige on his final start.1914: three-year-old season
Durbar was extremely active in the spring of 1914, running six times in France before being sent to EpsomEpsom Downs Racecourse
Epsom Downs is a Grade 1 racecourse near Epsom, Surrey, England. The "downs" referred to in the name are part of the North Downs. The course is best known for hosting the Epsom Derby, the United Kingdom's premier thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old colts and fillies, over a mile and a half...
. Running over 2000m he won his first two races before he was stepped up in class to run second to Sardanaple in the Prix Lagrange. He won the Prix Bienniale on his next start and was then moved up to 2400m to record his most important French victory in the Prix Noailles
Prix Noailles
The Prix Noailles is a Group 2 flat horse race in France which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 2,000 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in April.-History:...
. He was brought back in trip for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains
Poule d'Essai des Poulains
The Poule d'Essai des Poulains, sometimes referred to as the French 2,000 Guineas, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts...
over 1600m at Longchamp but was unable to recover from a poor start and finished unplaced.
At Epsom he started at 20/1 against thirty opponents, one of the largest fields ever assembled for the race. A possible explanation for the size of the field was that an unusually large numbers of "forlorn hopes" were starting in the race in order to collect money on sweepstakes
Sweepstakes
The United States consumer sales promotion known as a sweepstake has become associated with marketing promotions targeted toward both generating enthusiasm and providing incentive reactions among customers by enticing consumers to submit free entries into drawings of chance...
tickets. A year after the "sufragette Derby
Emily Davison
Emily Wilding Davison was a militant women's suffrage activist who, on 4 June 1913, after a series of actions that were either self-destructive or violent, stepped in front of a horse running in the Epsom Derby, sustaining injuries that resulted in her death four days later.-Biography:Davison was...
" of 1913 the race was marked by another incident in which a campaigner for women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
, named as Ada Rice was arrested after, firing a starting pistol
Starting pistol
A starting pistol or starter pistol is a handgun or electronic toy weapon that is fired to start track and field races, as well as competitive swimming races at some meets. The loud report of the gun going off is a signal to the athletes to begin the event. Usually a cloud of smoke can be seen...
at a policeman. The start of the race was delayed for more than twenty minutes as the starter struggled to control the runners leading the favourite, Kennymore, the winner of the 2000 Guineas tp become increasingly fractious, lashing out with his hooves and attempting to attack other horses. Once the field was underway Durbar, riddem by the French-based American Matt MacGee, was always prominent, led soon after half way, and won easily by three lengths. He was followed home by two other outsiders, Hapsburg and Peter the Hermit in a result which left the huge crowd stunned into silence. Although the colt had been bred and trained in France his owner's nationality meant that his win was greeted as an American victory in the United States.
Following his Epsom win, Durbar was returned to France for his next two races which confirmed the impression that he was a good colt, but some way behind the very best French horses. He finished fourth behind Sardanaple in the Prix du Jockey Club
Prix du Jockey Club
The Prix du Jockey Club, sometimes referred to as the French Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
at Chantilly
Chantilly Racecourse
Chantilly Racecourse is a Thoroughbred turf racecourse for flat racing in Chantilly, Oise, France, about north of the centre of the city of Paris....
and third behind the same colt and La Farina in the Grand Prix de Paris
Grand 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:...
at Longchamp. On the same day that the Grand Prix was run the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria
On 28 June 1914, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were shot dead in Sarajevo, by Gavrilo Princip, one of a group of six Bosnian Serb assassins coordinated by Danilo Ilić...
began the sequence of events which led to the outbreak of the First World War. Horse racing in France was suspended and Durbar never ran again.
His safe evacuation from the Paris area to Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
was in part due to the actions of his African-American groom, who reportedly wrapped the horse in an American flag with a notice reading,
Assessment
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Durbar an “average” Derby winner.Stud career
Durbar first stood as a stallion at his owner's Haras du Gazon at Neuvy-au-HoulmeNeuvy-au-Houlme
Neuvy-Au-Houlme is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France.Neuvy-Au-Houlme is home to the historic Thoroughbred horse breeding farm, Haras de Fresnay-le-Buffard and the standardbred farm, Haras du Ribardon.-References:*...
in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, France. In 1924 he was sent to America to stand at the Claiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm
Claiborne Farm is a thoroughbred Horse breeding operation in near Paris, Kentucky. It was established in 1910, by Arthur B. Hancock, owner of Ellerslie Farm in Albemarle County, Virginia, and has been operated by members of his family ever since.-Owners:...
stud at Paris, Kentucky
Paris, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,183 people, 3,857 households, and 2,487 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 4,222 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 84.23% White, 12.71% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16%...
. In 1931 he was moved again, this time to the Prospect Hill Stud at Bel Air, Maryland, but died before the start of the breeding season. His best European runners included Rebia (Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
Poule d'Essai des Pouliches
The Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, sometimes referred to as the French 1,000 Guineas, is a Group 1 flat horse race in France open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies...
) and Scaramouche (Prix de la Foret
Prix de la Forêt
The Prix de la Forêt is a Group 1 flat horse race in France which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Longchamp over a distance of 1,400 metres , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.-History:The race was established in 1858,...
). He was less successful after his move to the United States.