Diomed, foaled in 1777, was an English
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. Thoroughbreds are c ...
race horse who won
the inaugural running of
the Derby in 1780. He was subsequently a successful sire in the United States.
Racing years
A bright chestnut standing 15 hands 3 inches
[Ahnert, Rainer L. (editor in chief), “Thoroughbred Breeding of the World”, Pozdun Publishing, Germany, 1970] he was named after the Ancient Greek hero
Diomedes
Diomedes (Jones, Daniel; Roach, Peter, James Hartman and Jane Setter, eds. ''Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary''. 17th edition. Cambridge UP, 2006.) or Diomede (; grc-gre, Διομήδης, Diomēdēs, "god-like cunning" or "advised by ...
. By the unraced Florizel out of the unraced Pastorella's Dam, aka Sister to Juno (both going back to the
Godolphin Arabian
The Godolphin Arabian (–1753), also known as the Godolphin Barb, was an Arabian horse who was one of three stallions that founded the modern Thoroughbred (the others were the Darley Arabian and the Byerley Turk). He was named after his best-kno ...
, and Sister to Juno going back as well to the
Darley Arabian
The Darley Arabian (foaled c. 1700) was one of three dominant foundation sires of modern Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock. The other two founders were the Godolphin Arabian and the Byerley Turk. This bay Arabian horse was bought in Alep ...
), Diomed was bred by the Hon. Richard Vernon and owned by Sir Charles Bunbury,
then trained by him at
Hilton Hall
Hilton Hall is an 18th-century mansion house now in use as an Office and Business Centre at Hilton, near Wolverhampton, in Staffordshire. It is a Grade I listed building.
History
The original manor house was commissioned by Sir Henry Swinnerton e ...
. He was started 19 times, winning 11 races, finishing second in 4, and third in 3.
Of these eleven wins, ten were consecutive, which included the inaugural running of
The Derby in 1780.
During these early bright years of Diomed's life, he was considered by many to be the best colt seen in the
Britain
Britain most often refers to:
* The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands
* Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...
since
Eclipse
An eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when an astronomical object or spacecraft is temporarily obscured, by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer. This alignment of three ce ...
.
He was allowed to rest for a while, but when he was brought back to the races, he wasn't the same horse. Sometimes he would win, and sometimes he wouldn't win, and more often the latter than the former. His last win was a King's Plate in four mile heats carrying 168 pounds.
Retirement
Sir Charles retired Diomed to stud. His fee was five guineas, or about $25. (In England Diomed sired Grey Diomed who went to
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
where he was a great success, and also
Young Giantess
Young Giantess (1790–1811) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. She failed to win any of the five races she contested, but became a successful broodmare for Sir Charles Bunbury. She foaled the successful sire Sorcerer and ...
, who foaled
Sorcerer and Eleanor.
) There were few takers, and for the next decade or so, Diomed's fee went down and down until, by the age of 21, it was two guineas. By then, there were virtually no takers, so the old
stallion
A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded (castrated).
Stallions follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" nec ...
did nothing but graze alone.
[“The History of Thoroughbred Racing in America,” by William H.P. Robertson, Bonanza Books, New York]
In the United States
Sir Charles offered Diomed for sale when the stallion was 21 years old. Colonel John Hoomes of
Bowling Green, Virginia
Bowling Green is an incorporated town in Caroline County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,111 at the 2010 census.
The county seat of Caroline County since 1803, Bowling Green is best known as the "cradle of American horse racing" ...
bought him for $250, and then shipped him to
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...
where he was returned to stud in 1798. Aside from importing bloodstock into the US, Hoomes also maintained his own racing stable and sizeable stud service in which his good friend, the leading national horseman of the time,
John Tayloe III
John Tayloe III (September 2, 1770March 23, 1828), of Richmond County, Virginia, was a planter, politician, businessman, and tidewater gentry scion. He was prominent in elite social circles. A highly successful planter and thoroughbred horse b ...
, was a partner. Although Hoomes and Tayloe's English agent wrote Hoomes a letter stating very clearly that Diomed was "...a tried and true bad foal-getter," and strongly recommending he not be put to stud, they were unswayed. Besides being personally impressed with the horse, a stallion of Tayloe's had also recently hurt himself, and Tayloe was in immediate need of a stud to replace him. Diomed went to work.
In those days, stallions did not stand in one place, but moved from stud farm to stud farm. Diomed lived like this until he was thirty-one years old and was active to his final days. His fee increased with his fame and his fame increased so quickly that Hoomes was able to sell a share in him for six times his purchase price soon after he landed on American soil.
Diomed, along with Medley, Shark, and
Messenger
''MESSENGER'' was a NASA robotic space probe that orbited the planet Mercury between 2011 and 2015, studying Mercury's chemical composition, geology, and magnetic field. The name is a backronym for "Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geoche ...
, were the four most important stallions introduced into early American bloodstock. Diomed's offspring competed with many of the greatest horses in American turf history:
Haynie's Maria, who beat every horse she met until she was nine, and about whom
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was an American lawyer, planter, general, and statesman who served as the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before being elected to the presidency, he gained fame as ...
said, "...Haynie's Maria can beat anything in God's whole creation,"
the undefeated Ball's Florizel (famous for his bad temper), Potomac, Duroc (sire of
American Eclipse), and surely his greatest son of all,
Sir Archy
Sir Archy (or Archy, Archie, or Sir Archie; 1805–1833) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse considered one of the best racehorses of his time and later one of the most important sires in American history. He was inducted into the National Muse ...
. Sir Archy had a huge influence on Thoroughbred history, siring the line which led to
Timoleon
Timoleon (Ancient Greek language, Greek: wikt:Τιμολέων, Τιμολέων), son of Timodemus, of Ancient Corinth, Corinth (c. 411–337 BC) was a Greek statesman and general.
As a brilliant general, a champion of Greece against Anci ...
,
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
, and
Lexington.
His descendants include
Black Caviar
Black Caviar (foaled 18 August 2006) is a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who was undefeated in 25 races, including 15 Group Ones, an Australian record. She was the 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013 WTRR World Champion Sprinter. Black C ...
,
Phar Lap
Phar Lap (4 October 1926 – 5 April 1932) was a champion New Zealand–bred Thoroughbred racehorse who is widely regarded as New Zealand's greatest racehorse ever. Achieving incredible success during his distinguished career, his initial ...
,
Secretariat
Secretariat may refer to:
* Secretariat (administrative office)
* Secretariat (horse)
Secretariat (March 30, 1970 – October 4, 1989), also known as Big Red, was a champion American thoroughbred horse racing, racehorse who is the ninth winne ...
and
American Pharoah
American Pharoah (foaled February 2, 2012) is a Thoroughbred racehorse who won the American Triple Crown and the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2015. He was the 12th Triple Crown winner in history, and in winning all four races, became the first ho ...
. Furthermore, Diomed's influence has been felt through his sons regarding the development of the breeds
American Quarter Horse
The American Quarter Horse, or Quarter Horse, is an American breed of horse that excels at sprinting short distances. Its name is derived from its ability to outrun other horse breeds in races of a quarter mile or less; some have been clocked at s ...
(
Sir Archy
Sir Archy (or Archy, Archie, or Sir Archie; 1805–1833) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse considered one of the best racehorses of his time and later one of the most important sires in American history. He was inducted into the National Muse ...
) and
Standardbred
The Standardbred is an American horse breed best known for its ability in harness racing, where members of the breed compete at either a trot or pace. Developed in North America, the Standardbred is recognized worldwide, and the breed can trace i ...
(
Duroc).
[Duroc](_blank)
/ref>[American Star Details](_blank)
/ref>[History of the Quarter Horse](_blank)
/ref>
At Diomed's death at the age of 31, it was reported, "...there was as much mourning over his demise as there was at the death of George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...
."
Sire line tree
*Diomed[Byerley Turk Line](_blank)
/ref>
/ref>
/ref>
/ref>
**Centinel
**Peacemaker
**Stump-the-Dealer
**Grey Diomed
**Glaucus
**Anthony
**Sir Charles
**Wrangler
**Albemarle
**Hamlintonian
***Diomed (Darnaby)
***Hamlintonian (Hancock)
***Hamlintonian (Davis)
****Randolph
**Top Gallant
**Truxton
**Wonder
***Tennessee Oscar
****Columbus
****Bolivar
**Diomed (Lawrence)
**Diomed (Ragland)
**Diomed (Randolph)
**Florizel (Ball)
***Tuckahoe
***Orphan
***Florizel (Turpin)
***Richmond
***Enterprise
**Vingt'un
**Diomed (Kennedy)
**Grey Diomed (Barksdale)
**Eclipse
**Monroe
**Potomac
***Little John
**Sir Archy
Sir Archy (or Archy, Archie, or Sir Archie; 1805–1833) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse considered one of the best racehorses of his time and later one of the most important sires in American history. He was inducted into the National Muse ...
[Sir Archy HOF](_blank)
/ref>
/ref>
***Cicero
***Sir Arthur
***Director
****Aratus
*****John Henry
***Grey Archy
***Spring Hill
***Tecumseh
***Young Sir Archy
***Columbus
***Warbler
***Walk-In-The-Water
***Timoleon
Timoleon (Ancient Greek language, Greek: wikt:Τιμολέων, Τιμολέων), son of Timodemus, of Ancient Corinth, Corinth (c. 411–337 BC) was a Greek statesman and general.
As a brilliant general, a champion of Greece against Anci ...
****Washington
****Marquis
****Sir John Falstaff
****Jackson[Jackson Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
****Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
[Boston](_blank)
/ref>
*****Arrow
*****Wade Hampton
*****Arlington
*****Cost Johnson
*****Ringgold
*****Commodore
*****Red Eye
*****Cracker
*****Big Boston
*****Jack Hawkins
*****Bob Johnson
*****Lecomte
***** Lexington
*****Piketon
*****Zero
***Carolinian
***Contention
***Kosciusko
****Pulaski
****Clermont
*****Minor
****Woodford
****Romulus
****Greybeard
***Napoleon
***Virginian
****Byron
****Mercury
****Sidi Hamet
*****Berthune
*****Andrew Hamet
***Sir Solomon
****Thomas Big Solomon
*****Von Tromp
***Rattler
****Marylander
*** Sir Charles
****Collier
****Andrew
*****Count Zaldivar
****Frank
*****Jim Bell
****Wagner
*****Oliver
*****Voucher
*****Monte
*****Cary Bell
*****Ashland
*****Charley Ball
*****Wagner Joe
*****Jack Gamble
*****Red Jacket
*****Starke
*****Endorser
*****Joe Stoner
*****Neil Robinson
*****Rynodyne
***Sir William
***Childers
***Roanoke
****Grey Beard
*****Santa Anna
****John Hancock
***Muckle John
***Sumpter
****Almanzor
****Brunswick
***Henry
****Robin Hood
****Gerow
***John Richards
****Corsica
***Stockholder
****Pumpkin Boy
*****Tempest
***Arab
****Union[Union Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
***Bertrand
Bertrand may refer to:
Places
* Bertrand, Missouri, US
* Bertrand, Nebraska, US
* Bertrand, New Brunswick, Canada
* Bertrand Township, Michigan, US
* Bertrand, Michigan
* Bertrand, Virginia, US
* Bertrand Creek, state of Washington
* Saint-Bert ...
****McDonough
****Richard Singleton
****Woodpecker
*****Grey Eagle
****Bertrand Jr.
*****Hero
****John Bascombe
****Gauglion Gangle
***Cherokee
****Whalebone
*****Arnold Harris
***Marion
****Cymon
****John Blount
***Phoenomenon
***Sir Richard
***Sir William of Transport
****Sir Leslie
*****Celestian
*****Gazan
****Plato
***Robin Adair
***Gohanna
***Occupant
****Waxy
***Pacific
****Epsilon
*****Castor
*****Bill Alexander
*****Memnon
***Saxe Weimer
***Crusader
***Sir Archy Montorio
****Rodolph
***Giles Scroggins
***Industry
****Goldboy
***Merlin
***Red Gauntlet
***Tarriff
***Hyazim
***Wild Bill
****Gandor
*** Copperbottom
****Golddust[Golddust Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
****Rock
*****Rocket
****Copperbottom (Captain Edwards)[Captain Edwards Copperbottom Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****Copperbottom (Rucker)[Rucker's Copperbottom Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
***Longwaist
***Zinganee
****George Martin
**Virginius
**Muzzle Diomed
** Duroc
***Sir Lovell
***Trouble
***Marshal Duroc
****Marshall Bertrand
*** American Eclipse[American Eclipse](_blank)
/ref>
****Forward
****Goliah
****Paul Clifford
****Constellation
****Orphan Boy
****Lance
****Mambrino
****Druid
****Eclipse (Monmouth)
*****Hornblower
*****Prospect
****Godolphin
**** Medoc
*****Grey Medoc
*****Mirabeau
*****Sir Halpin
*****Bendigo
*****Blacknose
*****Cripple
*****Red Bill
*****Telamon
*****Bob Letcher
****Shark
*****Mariner
****Cadmus
****Mingo
****Tom Moore
****Job
****Sufferer
****Ecliptic
****Vincente Nolte
****Zenith
****Eclipse (Brawner)
****Eclipse (Trimble)
****St. Charles
***Cock of the Rock
***Romp
*** American Star[American Star](_blank)
/ref>
****American Star 14[American Star 14](_blank)
/ref>
*****Star (Wallace
Wallace may refer to:
People
* Clan Wallace in Scotland
* Wallace (given name)
* Wallace (surname)
* Wallace (footballer, born 1986), full name Wallace Fernando Pereira, Brazilian football left-back
* Wallace (footballer, born 1987), full name ...
)
*****Star (Lefevre)[Lefrevre Star Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****Alpha[Alpha Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****American Star (Wells)[Well's American Star Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****Americus[Americus Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****Black Star[Black Star Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****Brown Dick's Sire[Brown Dick's Sire Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****Idaho[Idaho Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****Jersey Star[Jersey Star Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****Jim Waldron[Jim Waldron Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****Star (Carpenter)[Carpenter's Star Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****Star (Goldsmith)[Goldsmith's Star Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****Walter Jones[Walter Jones Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****American Star Jr
*****American Star 37
*****King Pharoah
*****Magnolia 68
*****Sir Henry[Sir Henry Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****Star of Catskill[Star of Catskill Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****Star (Coleman)[Coleman's Star Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****Star 78[Star 78 Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****American Star Jr (Haven)[Haven's American Star Jr Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****J K[J K Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
*****Star (Fogg)[Fogg's Star Pedigree](_blank)
/ref>
**Gracchus
***Rob Roy
***Fredericksburg
**Madison
**Doublehead
**Constitution
References
External links
Diomed's pedigree, plus drawing
{{authority control
1777 racehorse births
1808 racehorse deaths
Racehorses bred in the Kingdom of Great Britain
Racehorses trained in the Kingdom of Great Britain
United States Champion Thoroughbred Sires
Epsom Derby winners
Thoroughbred family 6-b
Byerley Turk sire line