Himyar (horse)
Encyclopedia
Himyar was an American
Thoroughbred racehorse that was the sire of 1898 Kentucky Derby
winner Plaudit
and Domino
, the grandsire of Colin
and Peter Pan
. Himyar lived to be thirty years old, outliving both Domino and his famous grandson Commando
, who both died young.
). His dam Hira was sired by the 19th century foundation sire, Lexington
. Himyar was foaled in 1875 at Dixiana Farm
, the Lexington
stud farm of Major Barak Thomas, who also owned Himyar's sire Alarm. Himyar did not have a gentle disposition, but did develop into a promising runner as a two-year old, winning many high dollar stakes races. Himyar was second in the 1878 Kentucky Derby, losing to Day Star
by two lengths. Himyar injured his leg in May 1881 and was retired from racing at six years old.
, who was nicknamed 'the black whirlwind' during his racing career, and Plaudit
. He also sired the filly Correction in 1888, who won 38 major stakes races and was considered one of the fastest fillies of the time. Through Plaudit, Himyar appears in the pedigrees of many Quarter Horses and his tail-male line is carried through the descendants of Holy Bull
(through Plaudit) and Broad Brush
(through Domino).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Thoroughbred racehorse that was the sire of 1898 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...
winner Plaudit
Plaudit
Plaudit was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. A descendant of English Triple Crown champion, West Australian, Plaudit is best known for winning the 1898 Kentucky Derby....
and Domino
Domino (horse)
Domino was a 19th-century American thoroughbred race horse.-Background:A dark brown, almost black*, colt, Domino was sired by Himyar out of the mare Mannie Gray.Sam Hildreth writes in his book, "The Spell of the Turf" that he looked black was actually a deep chestnut. Himyar was out of speed...
, the grandsire of Colin
Colin (horse)
Colin was one of America's greatest Thoroughbred racehorses. He retired undefeated after 15 starts and as a sire appears in the pedigree of the champion racehorse, Alsab.-Pedigree:...
and Peter Pan
Peter Pan I
Peter Pan was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire, bred and raced by prominent horseman, James R. Keene. As winner of the Belmont Stakes, the Brooklyn Derby and the Brighton Handicap, he was later inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame...
. Himyar lived to be thirty years old, outliving both Domino and his famous grandson Commando
Commando (horse)
Commando was an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred at Castleton Stud by owner James R. Keene, Commando raced at age two, winning five of his six starts and finishing second in the other as a result of jockey error. At age three, Commando raced only three times, winning the...
, who both died young.
Early years and racing career
Himyar was a light bay colt sired by Alarm, who was a son of the British-bred stallion Eclipse (by OrlandoOrlando (horse)
Orlando was a British Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the Epsom Derby and as a Leading sire in Great Britain & Ireland.-Racing record:...
). His dam Hira was sired by the 19th century foundation sire, Lexington
Lexington (horse)
Lexington was a United States Thoroughbred race horse who won six of his seven race starts. Perhaps his greatest fame came however as the most successful sire of the second half of the nineteenth century; he was the Leading sire in North America 16 times, and of his many brood mare and racer...
. Himyar was foaled in 1875 at Dixiana Farm
Dixiana Farm
Dixiana Farm, founded in 1877, is an American Thoroughbred horse breeding farm in Lexington, Kentucky.-Barak G. Thomas:Formerly known as Hamilton Stud, Dixiana, owned by Barak G. Thomas, a Confederate soldier in the Civil War and later Sheriff of Fayette County, Kentucky, took the breeding world by...
, the Lexington
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...
stud farm of Major Barak Thomas, who also owned Himyar's sire Alarm. Himyar did not have a gentle disposition, but did develop into a promising runner as a two-year old, winning many high dollar stakes races. Himyar was second in the 1878 Kentucky Derby, losing to Day Star
Day Star
Day Star was the winner of the 4th annual Kentucky Derby held at Churchill Downs on May 21, 1878. He was a chestnut colt that was foaled in Kentucky and was sired by Star Davis...
by two lengths. Himyar injured his leg in May 1881 and was retired from racing at six years old.
Stud career
Himyar stood at stud for 16 years at Dixiana Farm but was sold in 1897 by Thomas, who was experiencing financial difficulties, and was then bought by Edwin Sumner Gardner of Saundersville, Tennessee for $2,500. Himyar died at Gardner's Avondale Stud farm on December 30, 1905 of old age and was buried with the epitaph, "From his ashes speed springs eternal." Himyar's most notable offspring are the colts, DominoDomino (horse)
Domino was a 19th-century American thoroughbred race horse.-Background:A dark brown, almost black*, colt, Domino was sired by Himyar out of the mare Mannie Gray.Sam Hildreth writes in his book, "The Spell of the Turf" that he looked black was actually a deep chestnut. Himyar was out of speed...
, who was nicknamed 'the black whirlwind' during his racing career, and Plaudit
Plaudit
Plaudit was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. A descendant of English Triple Crown champion, West Australian, Plaudit is best known for winning the 1898 Kentucky Derby....
. He also sired the filly Correction in 1888, who won 38 major stakes races and was considered one of the fastest fillies of the time. Through Plaudit, Himyar appears in the pedigrees of many Quarter Horses and his tail-male line is carried through the descendants of Holy Bull
Holy Bull
Holy Bull is an American Hall of Fame Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by Great Above, whose dam was the U.S. Racing Hall of Fame filly Ta Wee.-Race History:...
(through Plaudit) and Broad Brush
Broad Brush
Broad Brush was an American thoroughbred racehorse foaled in Maryland. He was out of the Hoist The Flag mare, Hay Patcher, by the Hall of Fame stallion, Ack Ack.Bred and owned by Robert E. Meyerhoff, and trained by Richard W...
(through Domino).