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From time to time I find myself reading some racing book or other when a name comes up that especially resonates. One such name is that of Humorist, winner of the 1921 Derby in dire circumstances, and whose story comfortably passes the threshold for equine tragedy.
The colt was trained by Charles Morton at Wantage and ridden by Steve Donoghue. He is described as an exceptional 2-Y-O, completing his first season strongly fancied for the 1921 classics. Humorist contested the 2,000 Guineas first time out, finishing 3rd to Craig-an-Eran after faltering when looking all over a winner. He had found nothing off the bridle in a couple of races the previous year and unkind souls began to question his commitment to the game. He was then prepared for the Derby.
In the race Humorist went to the front coming out of Tattenham Corner and struck for home. He was soon joined by Craig-an-Eran, the pair fighting out a sustained battle to the line with Humorist digging deep to prevail by a neck. Throughout the final furlong Donoghue sat quiet and eschewed his whip, understanding that his mount was giving all he could.
The horse was found to be exhausted and trembling after his exertions. He stayed at Epsom overnight before returning to his stable at Wantage. He was scratched from his Ascot engagement because of a bleeding nose, and 2 weeks after his Epsom triumph Humorist was dead. A necropsy revealed that he had been afflicted with chronic tuberculosis, and that death occurred from a massive lung haemorrhage. Humorist had essentially been racing with one lung against top class horses with the full complement of two.
The last word should come from Donoghue: “He gave me everything he had when it must have been agony for him. No horse ever showed greater courage.”
Amen to that.
I remember reading this story in Julian Wilson’s book “100 Greatest Racehorses” but thanks for the reminder.
Aside from his great courage, he must have had a serious amount of ability. How good would he have been if he had been healthy?
When I rediscovered racing I bought myself Julian Wilson’s book. It was a great introduction to great horses from the past and Humorist was one that stuck in m mind. The other one is Troytown who died racing in France after winning the National.He is buried in the animal cemetery in Paris and I’ve always wanted to visit his grave.
Beautiful Sea of Class ran in the Prince of Wales’ stakes a few years back- she didn’t win, but finishing within 10 lengths of Crystal Ocean, Magical and Waldgeist was a decent effort considering she underwent colic surgery exactly two weeks later …the colic being due to lymphoma which had spread and for which she was euthanased another few weeks later.
It does make me wonder about some horses in the past whose form was inexplicably patchy.
I’m not sure when ultrasound scanning became widely available for horses. Until it did I’m guessing that detecting tuberculosis, or any other internal organ problem, was either difficult or impossible. (I learn that ultrasonography systems for human medicine became commercially available about 50 years ago.)
It’s an area I know little or nothing about so I’m happy to be corrected by wiser minds.
“Aside from his great courage, he must have had a serious amount of ability. How good would he have been if he had been healthy?”
Cork – this exercises my brain as well.
From the Wikipedia page:
“In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Humorist as the best British colt of his generation and at #150 in their list of British-trained horses of the 20th Century.”
Not bad for a crock. But yes, how good could he have been.
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