Merry Hampton

Last updated
Merry Hampton
MERRY-HAMPTON.jpg
Merry Hampton, from Illustrated London News
Sire Hampton
Grandsire Lord Clifden
DamDoll Tearsheet
DamsireMrs Quickly
Sex Stallion
Foaled1884
Country United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour Bay
BreederCrowther Harrison
Owner George Alexander Baird (“Mr Abington”)
TrainerWilliam Stevens
Martin Gurry
Record4: 1–1–0
Major wins
Epsom Derby (1887)

Merry Hampton (foaled 1884) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1887 to 1888 he ran four times and won once in a career that was restricted by injuries and training difficulties. His sole victory came on his racecourse debut when he won the 1887 Epsom Derby as an 11/1 "dark horse". [1] He never won again but did finish second in the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster. He was retired to stud after a single start as a four-year-old in which he aggravated a chronic leg injury.

Contents

Background

Merry Hampton was bred at the Cottingham Stud in Yorkshire by J. Crowther Harrison. [2] He was a dark bay horse standing 16 hands high, and although strong and "wiry" he was not a particularly attractive individual, being described by one observer as "jumped up, peacocky (and) lacking in depth." [3] He was sold as a yearling in September 1885 at the Doncaster sales for 3,100 guineas [4] to George Alexander Baird, who ran in his racing interests under the name of “Mr. Abington”. Baird, who had inherited a vast fortune at a young age, had been a talented amateur rider before being banned for “foul riding” at the age of twenty-one and was ill-disposed towards the racing “establishment”. [5] By 1886, Baird’s relationship with his trainer, Martin Gurry, had broken down, [6] and so the colt was sent into training with William Stevens [7] in Berkshire. In May 1887, however, Baird was reconciled with Gurry and Merry Hampton was removed from Stevens and sent to Gurry’s Bedford Lodge stable at Newmarket. [8]

Merry Hampton's sire, Hampton was an excellent stayer who won both the Goodwood Cup and the Doncaster Cup. Hampton was Champion sire in 1887 and sired, in addition to Merry Hampton, the Derby winners Ladas and Ayrshire as well as the influential sires Bay Ronald and Royal Hampton. [9] Merry Hampton’s dam, Doll Tearsheet, also produced Gay Hermit, who won the Royal Hunt Cup and went on to become a successful sire in Argentina.

Racing career

1887: three-year-old season

George Alexander Baird, Merry Hampton's owner, in his days as an amateur jockey. George Alexander Baird Vanity Fair 6 October 1888.jpg
George Alexander Baird, Merry Hampton's owner, in his days as an amateur jockey.

Merry Hampton made his first appearance in the 1887 Derby at Epsom. In April he was considered a possible runner for the 2000 Guineas but did not take part, although he began to appear in the Derby betting at odds of 40/1 and 33/1. [10] Merry Hampton's status as a serious Derby contender had become apparent by 19 May, six days before the race, when he was quoted at odds of 14/1. [11] Shortly afterwards, the second favourite Enterprise, owned by Baird's cousin, was reported injured and withdrawn from the race and by 23 May Merry Hampton had been cut to 10/1. [12]

At Epsom on 25 May Merry Hampton started at odds of 100/9 (11/1) in a field of eleven. The race was run on a "cloudy, cold and raw" [13] day in front of the customary vast crowd which included the Prince of Wales and other members of the Royal Family. The Baron started 5/4 favourite, and was picked as the winner by eighteen of the nineteen newspaper "prophets", [14] while Martley, trained by William Stevens was also well fancied and started on 10/1. Ridden as he would be in all his races by Jack Watts, Merry Hampton was held up in the early stages as the running was made by Porcelain and the unnamed Shannon colt, before Blanchland and Eiridspord took over and led the field into the straight. Watts had moved Merry Hampton forward into third, just ahead of The Baron on the turn for home and made his challenge as the leaders began to tire. He took the lead two furlongs out, quickly went clear and was never in danger of defeat, winning by an official margin four lengths (some observers thought it was more like seven [15] ) from The Baron with Martley two lengths further back in third. [16] Although the winning time of 2:43 equaled the race record, it was widely agreed that the 1887 Derby had been a sub-standard one. [17] For reasons he chose not to explain, Baird, who reportedly won £40,000 in bets on the race, [18] refused to lead the horse in. Shortly afterwards, it was reported that Merry Hampton had wrenched off a shoe and received a minor injury due to "the prick of a nail", [19] but he recovered quickly and resumed training. [20]

Ten days later, Merry Hampton was sent across the Channel for what was then the most important race in France, the Grand Prix de Paris over 3000m at Longchamp for which he started 4/5 favourite. His chance in the race was not helped at the start, where he was kicked in the leg by one of the other runners. Watts settled the colt in fifth place, but when the horses turned into the straight he was unable to make progress and finished fourth behind the filly Tenebreuse who won by two lengths from The Baron. [21] The defeat of the two English colts provoked enthusiastically nationalistic celebrations from the French crowd with many cries of "A bas les Anglaises!". [22]

On 14 September Merry Hampton appeared at Doncaster for the St Leger. Four days before the race, he was reported to have sustained a "severe sprain" in training and was considered an unlikely runner. [23] Merry Hampton did start in the St Leger, but having at one time been the 5/2 favourite [24] for the race, his price drifted out to 33/1 [25] before shortening again to 6/1 when it became clear that he would run. At the start, Kilwarlin, one of the joint favourites was left behind and only caught up with the rest of the field after a mile had been traveled. Merry Hampton raced prominently, but lost his position in the straight as first Phil, then Eiridspord, then the resurgent Kilwarlin took the lead. He recovered however and produced a strong finish but failed by half a length to catch Kilwarlin with Timothy and Phil a head and a neck further back in third and fourth. The close finish was described as "one of the finest ever witnessed at Doncaster [26] After the race, Merry Hampton was found to be "dead lame" in his stable. [25]

1888: four-year-old season

Merry Hampton was kept in training at four and was entered in races such as the Jubilee Stakes at Kempton [27] and the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. [28] On his debut he was made 75/20 favourite for the City and Suburban handicap at Epsom on 11 April, despite carrying top weight of 122 pounds. He was never in contention and was virtually pulled up by Jack Watts, finishing tailed off last of the fourteen runners. [29] Watts reported that the colt seemed "dazed and stupid" during the race, leading to speculation that Merry Hampton had been "got at", possibly with an injection of opium. [30] A veterinary examination however, revealed that the colt's suspensory ligament in his left foreleg, which had troubled him for many months, had "gone" and Merry Hampton never raced again. [31]

Assessment

Merry Hampton has been described as one of the least distinguished Derby winners of his era, although it has been pointed out that he would have achieved more if he had stayed sound. [32] The Derby was, after all, the only race in which he ran free from injury. Although he won easily at Epsom, the field was described as "the absolutely worst"(sic) on record, [33] and in August 1887 one correspondent described him as "probably one of the worst horses that ever won the Derby." [34]

Stud career

When Baird died at the age of 31 [35] in 1893, his racing interests were sold, and Merry Hampton was bought for 1,150 guineas by the jockey George Barrett. Merry Hampton made very little impact as a sire, although he got a good stayer in the Alexandra Plate winner Pride. His last known foals were conceived in 1898. Merry Hampton's only lasting legacy was as the broodmare sire of Mahubah, the dam of Man o' War. [32]

Pedigree

Pedigree of Merry Hampton (GB), bay stallion, 1884 [36]
Sire
Hampton (GB)
1872		 Lord Clifden
1860		 Newminster Touchstone
Beeswing
The SlaveMelbourne
Volley
Lady Langden
1868		 Kettledrum Rataplan
Hybla
HaricotLanercost
Queen Mary*
Dam
Doll Tearsheet (GB)
1877		Broomielaw
1862　		 Stockwell The Baron
Pocahontas
Queen Mary*Gladiator
Plenipotentiary mare
Mrs Quickly
1857　		LongbowIthuriel
Miss Bowe
VenusSir Hercules
Echo (Family: 22)

Related Research Articles

Diamond Jubilee (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Diamond Jubilee was a British-bred and British-trained Thoroughbred race horse and sire. In a career which lasted from June 1899 until October 1901 he ran sixteen times and won six races.

Fairway (horse) British Thoroughbred racehorse

Fairway (1925–1948) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Fairway was the best horse of his generation in Britain at two, three and four years old, winning the St Leger Stakes, the Champion Stakes (twice) and the Eclipse Stakes. He retired as a five-year-old in 1930 and went on to become a successful and influential sire.

Humorist (horse) British Thoroughbred racehorse

Humorist (1918–1921) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was a leading two-year-old in 1920 and finished third in the 1921 2000 Guineas before winning the Derby at Epsom. Less than three weeks after the Derby, Humorist died in his stable from a lung haemorrhage caused by a tubercular condition.

Lemberg (1907–1928) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He won seventeen times in a career that lasted from 1909 until 1911, taking major races at two, three and four years of age. Lemberg won his most important victory as a three-year-old in 1910 when he won The Derby. His career was marked by his rivalries, first with the fast and precocious Neil Gow and later with the outstanding middle-distance runner Swynford. Lemberg went on to have a successful career at stud.

Cameronian (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Cameronian (1928–1955) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He won the 2000 Guineas Stakes and the Derby in 1931 but finished unplaced in the St. Leger in his attempt to win the English Triple Crown. He returned as a four-year-old to win the Champion Stakes in 1932.

Tagalie

Tagalie (1909–1920) was British Thoroughbred racehorse. She was one of only six fillies to win The Derby, and was also the second of only four greys to have won the race. She achieved this feat as a three-year-old in 1912, a year in which she had already won the 1000 Guineas. Although her Derby win was easy and impressive, she failed to reproduce her winning form in her three subsequent races.

Cicero (horse) British Thoroughbred racehorse

Cicero (1902–1923) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was the best English two-year-old of 1904, winning all five of his races. In 1905 Cicero became one of the shortest priced successful favourites in the history of the Derby, winning at 4/11 to remain undefeated. He won only once from his remaining three races before retiring to a modestly successful career at stud.

Manna (1922–1939) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career which lasted from summer 1924 until September 1925, Manna ran eight times, winning four races. As a three-year-old in 1925 he won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and The Derby by a record margin of eight lengths. Manna was retired after breaking down in his bid to win the Triple Crown in the St. Leger at Doncaster. He later had a successful career at stud.

Sansovino (1921–1940) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career which lasted from 1922 to 1924 he ran twelve times and won six races. His most significant victory came as a three-year-old in 1924 when he won The Derby by six lengths in some of the most difficult conditions in the race's history. He went on to have a modestly successful career at stud.

Orby (1904–1918) was an Anglo-Irish Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a racing career which lasted from 1906 to 1907 he ran seven times and won four races. In 1907 he became the first Irish-trained horse, and the third owned by an American, to win The Derby. In the same year, he became the first horse to complete the Epsom Derby-Irish Derby double, but his racing career was ended by training problems after one further race. He went on to become a successful breeding stallion.

St. Amant (horse)

St. Amant (1901–1920) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1903 to 1906, he ran twenty-one times and won six races. As a three-year-old in 1904, he won both the 2000 Guineas Stakes and the Derby, but he failed to win the English Triple Crown when he was well beaten in the St. Leger by the filly Pretty Polly. He was kept in training for two more seasons but won only one more race before being retired.

Jeddah (horse) British Thoroughbred racehorse

Jeddah (1895–1909) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1897 to 1899 he ran nine times and won three races. In the summer of 1898 he became the first horse to win The Derby at odds of 100/1, and followed up by winning the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. He was retired to stud after a single, unsuccessful race in 1899, but had serious fertility problems and made no impact as a stallion.

Galtee More (1894–1917) was an Irish-bred, British-trained Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1896 to 1897 he ran thirteen times and won eleven races. As a three-year-old in 1897 he became the seventh horse to win the English Triple Crown by winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Derby at Epsom and the St Leger at Doncaster. At the end of the season he was sold to the Russian government and went on to have a successful stud career in Russia and Germany. He died following an accident in 1917.

Common (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Common (1888–1912) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from May to September 1891 he ran five times and won four races. He became the fifth, and the most lighty-raced horse to win the English Triple Crown by winning the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, the Derby at Epsom and the St Leger at Doncaster.

Sir Visto British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Sir Visto (1892–1914) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1894 to 1896 he ran thirteen times and won three races. As a three-year-old in the 1895 he won both The Derby and the St Leger at Doncaster. He failed to win in six subsequent races and was retired to stud at the end of the 1896 season.

Sir Hugo British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Sir Hugo (1889–1910) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1891 to 1894 he ran eight times and won three races. As a three-year-old in 1892 he won The Derby at odds of 40/1. He was a consistent performer in top class races, but certainly inferior to his contemporaries Orme and La Fleche.

Donovan (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Donovan (1886–1905) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1888 to 1889 he ran twenty-one times and won eighteen races. He was the leading British two-year-old of 1888 when he won eleven of his thirteen starts. At three Donovan won The Derby and the St Leger: he failed to win the English Triple Crown owing to a narrow and probably unlucky defeat in the 2000 Guineas. He set a world record by earning a total of £55,443 in win prize money. Donovan was a modest success as a stallion. He died after being injured in an accident in 1905.

Ayrshire (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Ayrshire (1885–1910) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1887 to 1889 he ran sixteen times and won eleven races. After winning five races as a two-year-old he became the leading British three-year-old colt of 1888 when he won the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Derby at Epsom. He failed in his bid to win the English Triple Crown when beaten in the St Leger at Doncaster but returned in 1889 for a successful campaign which included a win in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. He was retired to stud at the end of the year and had a modestly successful career as a stallion. He died in 1910.

Harvester (horse) British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Harvester (1881–1906) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1883 to 1884 he ran thirteen times and won five races. In 1884 he was involved in the second, and most recent dead heat in the history of The Derby. At the end of his racing career, Harvester was sold and exported to stand as a stallion in Austria. He died in 1906 in Hungary.

Silvio (horse)

Silvio (1874–1890) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1874 to 1877 he ran eight times and won three races. In 1877 he won The Derby and the St Leger. At the end of the 1877 season he was retired to stud where he had success both in England and France.

References

  1. ↑ "SOCIAL GOSSIP FROM HOME". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  2. ↑ "J Harrison". Horseracinghistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  3. ↑ "Sporting Notes". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  4. ↑ "ENGLISH AND FOREIGN". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  5. ↑ "Horseracing History Online - Person Profile : George Baird". Horseracinghistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  6. ↑ "Martin Gurry". Horseracinghistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  7. ↑ "William Stevens". Horseracinghistory.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  8. ↑ Mortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN   0-354-08536-0.
  9. ↑ "Hampton". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2011-11-19.
  10. ↑ "ENGLISH AND FOREIGN". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  11. ↑ "SPORTING". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  12. ↑ "ENGLAND". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  13. ↑ "The English Derby". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  14. ↑ "MAIL NEWS". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  15. ↑ "OUR ENGLISH LETTER". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  16. ↑ "EPSOM". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  17. ↑ "SPORTING NEWS". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  18. ↑ "SPORTING NOTES". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  19. ↑ "ACCIDENT TO MERRY HAMPTON, THE DERBY WINNER". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  20. ↑ "TELEGRAPHIC". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  21. ↑ "RACING IN PRANCE. LONGCHAMPS. June 5". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  22. ↑ "Papers Past — West Coast Times — 13 August 1887 — TOPICS OF THE DAY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  23. ↑ "BREAK-DOWN OF MERRY HAMPTON". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  24. ↑ "ENGLISH". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  25. 1 2 "NOTES BY BEACON". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  26. ↑ "SPORTING GOSSIP". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  27. ↑ "TALK OF THE DAY". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  28. ↑ "Sporting". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  29. ↑ "Wednesday, April. 11". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  30. ↑ "SPORTING NOTES". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  31. ↑ "WINNERS OF TRADESMEN'S HANDICAP". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  32. 1 2 "Hampton". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  33. ↑ "TURF GOSSIP". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  34. ↑ "TABLE TALK". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  35. ↑ "SCOTLAND". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  36. ↑ "EPSOM". Paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  37. ↑ Liz Martiniak Thoroughbred Heritage. "Queen Mary". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.