Humorist (horse)
Encyclopedia
Humoristwas 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.
and a “kind and intelligent” temperament. He was bred by his owner Jack Joel
, who sent him to his private trainer Charles Morton at Letcombe Bassett
in Berkshire.
Humorist’s sire, Polymelus, was a good racehorse who won the Champion Stakes
in 1906, but went on to much greater success as a stallion. Apart from Humorist, he sired the Derby winners Pommern and Fifinella
and through his son Phalaris
is the direct male-line ancestor of most modern thoroughbreds. Humorist’s dam, Jest was a highly successful racemare, winning the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks
in 1913, and was a half sister of the St Leger
winner Black Jester.
Throughout his time in training, Humorist puzzled his connections with his performances, both at home and on the racecourse. He would switch from traveling easily to struggling in a matter of strides. Charles Morton was to say that “all the time I felt there was something wrong with him... he would be perfectly well one day and listless the next." Only after his death were the reasons for this tendency revealed.
He returned in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster
in which he was beaten a neck by Lemonora. Humorist then won impressively in the Buckenham Stakes and the Clearwell Stakes before being sent to Newmarket
for the Middle Park Stakes
. He produced a creditable effort to finish second, beaten a neck by Monarch.
Humorist started at 6/1 second favourite at Epsom, with Craig an Eran starting 5/1 favourite. Humorist tracked the leaders before being sent by Donoghue through a gap on the rails and into the lead two furlongs from the finish and held off the sustained challenge of Craig an Eran in a "battle royal" to win by a neck. Humorist appeared distressed and unsteady after the race and had to spend the night in the racecourse stables before he was well enough to return to Letcombe Bassett.
Humorist was being prepared for a run at Royal Ascot but after bleeding from his nostrils it was decided to rest the horse. In late June Humorist was painted by the artist Alfred Munnings
. Hours later he was found dead in his stable, in "a pool of blood". An autopsy revealed that the colt had been suffering from chronic tuberculosis
, which would have affected him for many months before his death. He had effectively been running on one lung.
Donoghue paid tribute to the colt:
Humorist was buried at Joel’s Childwick Bury Stud
, near St Albans
.
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...
racehorse. He was a leading two-year-old in 1920 and finished third in the 1921 2000 Guineas before winning the Derby
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...
at Epsom
Epsom 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...
. Less than three weeks after the Derby, Humorist died in his stable from a lung haemorrhage caused by a tubercular condition.
Background
Humorist was a "beautiful, rather delicate" chestnut colt with a broad white blazeHorse 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 a “kind and intelligent” temperament. He was bred by his owner Jack Joel
Jack Barnato Joel
Jack Barnato Joel was a South African mining magnate and a champion horse breeder.-Biography:He was born on 29 September 1862. He had two brothers, Solomon Barnato Joel and Woolf Joel.-References:...
, who sent him to his private trainer Charles Morton at Letcombe Bassett
Letcombe Bassett
Letcombe Bassett is a village and civil parish about southwest of the market town of Wantage in the Vale of White Horse. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred the Vale of White Horse to Oxfordshire....
in Berkshire.
Humorist’s sire, Polymelus, was a good racehorse who won the Champion Stakes
Champion Stakes
The Champion Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile and 2 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in October...
in 1906, but went on to much greater success as a stallion. Apart from Humorist, he sired the Derby winners Pommern and Fifinella
Fifinella
Fifinella was a female gremlin designed by Walt Disney for a proposed film from Roald Dahl's book The Gremlins. During World War II, the Women Airforce Service Pilots asked permission to use the image as their official mascot, and the Disney Company granted them the rights.-Origins:The story of...
and through his son Phalaris
Phalaris (horse)
Phalaris was a British bred Thoroughbred racehorse, later a Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland and a Leading broodmare sire in Great Britain & Ireland...
is the direct male-line ancestor of most modern thoroughbreds. Humorist’s dam, Jest was a highly successful racemare, winning the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks
Epsom Oaks
The Oaks Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred fillies. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile, 4 furlongs and 10 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June....
in 1913, and was a half sister of the St Leger
St. Leger Stakes
The St. Leger Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies. It is run at Doncaster over a distance of 1 mile, 6 furlongs and 132 yards , and it is scheduled to take place each year in September.Established in 1776, the St. Leger...
winner Black Jester.
Throughout his time in training, Humorist puzzled his connections with his performances, both at home and on the racecourse. He would switch from traveling easily to struggling in a matter of strides. Charles Morton was to say that “all the time I felt there was something wrong with him... he would be perfectly well one day and listless the next." Only after his death were the reasons for this tendency revealed.
1920: two-year-old season
Humorist was among the best two-year-old of his generation, winning three time as and finishing second twice in five starts. He made his debut in the Woodcote Stakes at Epsom in June, winning by a neck after looking set for an easy victory. He then suffered a bout of coughing and missed his intended target at Royal Ascot.He returned in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster
Doncaster Racecourse
Doncaster Racecourse is a racecourse in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. It hosts two of Great Britain's 31 Group 1 flat races, the St Leger Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy.- History :...
in which he was beaten a neck by Lemonora. Humorist then won impressively in the Buckenham Stakes and the Clearwell Stakes before being sent to Newmarket
Newmarket Racecourse
The town of Newmarket, in Suffolk, England, is the headquarters of British horseracing, home to the largest cluster of training yards in the country and many key horse racing organisations. Newmarket Racecourse has two courses - the Rowley Mile Course and the July Course. Both are wide, galloping...
for the Middle Park Stakes
Middle Park Stakes
The Middle Park Stakes is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to two-year-old thoroughbred colts. It is run on the Rowley Mile at Newmarket over a distance of 6 furlongs , and it is scheduled to take place each year in late September or early October.The event was established...
. He produced a creditable effort to finish second, beaten a neck by Monarch.
1921: three-year-old season
As a three-year-old Humorist was sent straight for the Classic 2000 Guineas without a trial race and started favourite in a field of twenty-six. He led the race into the closing stages and looked the likely winner, but tired abruptly and finished third behind Craig an Eran and Lemonora. The colt's courage was called into question but Donoghue insisted that there was a physical explanation. Morton changed the horse's training regime, working him very lightly in the lead up to the Derby.Humorist started at 6/1 second favourite at Epsom, with Craig an Eran starting 5/1 favourite. Humorist tracked the leaders before being sent by Donoghue through a gap on the rails and into the lead two furlongs from the finish and held off the sustained challenge of Craig an Eran in a "battle royal" to win by a neck. Humorist appeared distressed and unsteady after the race and had to spend the night in the racecourse stables before he was well enough to return to Letcombe Bassett.
Humorist was being prepared for a run at Royal Ascot but after bleeding from his nostrils it was decided to rest the horse. In late June Humorist was painted by the artist Alfred Munnings
Alfred Munnings
Sir Alfred James Munnings KCVO, PRA was known as one of England's finest painters of horses, and as an outspoken enemy of Modernism...
. Hours later he was found dead in his stable, in "a pool of blood". An autopsy revealed that the colt had been suffering from chronic tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, which would have affected him for many months before his death. He had effectively been running on one lung.
Donoghue paid tribute to the colt:
Humorist was buried at Joel’s Childwick Bury Stud
Childwick Bury Stud
Childwick Bury Stud is a Thoroughbred horse breeding farm near St Albans, Hertfordshire, England.Originally built in 1888 by Sir John Blundell Maple as part of his Childwick Bury estate, he bred and raced Thoroughbreds and built Childwick Bury Stud into a very successful horse breeding operation...
, near St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
.