Morvich

American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

This article is about the horse. For the settlement in Scotland, see Morvich, Highland.

Morvich

Morvich after winning the
1922 Kentucky Derby

Sire| Runnymede
Grandsire| Voter
Dam| Hymir
Damsire| Dr. Leggo
Sex| Stallion
Foaled| 1919
Country| United States
Color| Brown
Breeder| Adolph B. Spreckels
Owner| Benjamin Block
Trainer| Fred Burlew
Record| 16: 12-2-1
Earnings| $172,909
Major wins
Eastern Shore Handicap (1921)
United States Hotel Stakes (1921)
Hopeful Stakes (1921)
Pimlico Futurity (1921)
Saratoga Special Stakes (1921)

Triple Crown Race wins:
Kentucky Derby (1922)

Awards
American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt (1921)
Honors
Morvich Handicap at Santa Anita Park
Last updated on May 2, 2007

Morvich (April 23, 1919 – January 26, 1946) was an American Thoroughbred who was the first California-bred racehorse to win the Kentucky Derby.

Bred by sugar magnate Adolph B. Spreckels at his Napa Stock Farm, Morvich was sired by James R. Keene's stallion Runnymede and was out of the mare Hymir by Dr. Leggo. He was sold to Benjamin Block. The young colt was described as an "ugly cripple that no one thought could run until (trainer) Burlew proved them wrong."[1]

## Racing career

[edit]

Despite the predictions at the time, under future Hall of Fame trainer Fred Burlew, in 1921 Morvich had one of the best seasons in American racing history for a two-year-old. Beginning as a lowly selling plater, he rapidly moved up, winning all 11 of his starts, a feat that ranks close to the record of 13 consecutive wins set by Tremont in 1886. Dominating performances against the best horses in his age group made Morvich the runaway winner of American Champion Two-Year-Old Colt honors.

Although Morvich did not race in 1922 leading up to the Kentucky Derby, bettors made him the heavy favorite to win. Ridden by Albert Johnson, the colt earned his 12th straight victory. In an era when the U.S. Triple Crown races had not yet become the major event for three-year-olds, Morvich did not compete in the Preakness Stakes (which was run on the same day as the Kentucky Derby in 1922). Instead, his handlers sent him to New York City to compete in the Carlton Stakes where racing fans at Aqueduct Racetrack watched as Harry Payne Whitney's colt Whiskaway handed Morvich his first defeat. The colt's knees were the likely cause of his decline. Morvich had also developed osselets in one fetlock.

Morvich ended his 1922 campaign with the Derby his only victory in five starts. After finishing unplaced in the Fall Highweight Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack, he was retired to stud, where he proved less than successful as a sire. His only offspring of note was Downy Pillow, a Churchill Downs Debutante Stakes winner.[2]

His death effectively marked the extinction of the Hermit male-line in the United States.[1]

## Pedigree

[edit]

Pedigree of Morvich, brown colt, 1919  Sire
Runnymede  | Voter | Friar's Balsam | Hermit

|
|
|

Flower of Dorset
Mavourneen  | Barcaldine
Gaydene
Running Stream  | Domino | Himyar
Mannie Gray
Dancing Water  | Isonomy
Pretty Dance
Dam
Hymir  | Dr. Leggo  | Puryear D.  | Deceiver
Ada D
Sevens  | Watercress
Folly
Georgia Girl  | Solitaire  | Ayrshire
Solesky
Georgia  | Flambeau
Goula (family: 1-o)

## See also

[edit]

* List of leading Thoroughbred racehorses

## External links

[edit]

* Morviches pedigree and racing stats

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "National Museum of Racing - Just for Kids". www.racingmuseum.org. Archived from the original on 2004-11-26.
2. ^ Avalyn Hunter,American classic pedigrees: 1914-2003, Blood Horse Publications, 2003.

* Morvich at the 1922 Kentucky Derby
* Morvich and the Pimlico Futurity, 1921

* v
* t
* e

Kentucky Derby winners

* 1875 Aristides
* 1876 Vagrant
* 1877 Baden-Baden
* 1878 Day Star
* 1879 Lord Murphy
* 1880 Fonso
* 1881 Hindoo
* 1882 Apollo
* 1883 Leonatus
* 1884 Buchanan
* 1885 Joe Cotton
* 1886 Ben Ali
* 1887 Montrose
* 1888 Macbeth II
* 1889 Spokane
* 1890 Riley
* 1891 Kingman
* 1892 Azra
* 1893 Lookout
* 1894 Chant
* 1895 Halma
* 1896 Ben Brush
* 1897 Typhoon II
* 1898 Plaudit
* 1899 Manuel
* 1900 Lieut. Gibson
* 1901 His Eminence
* 1902 Alan-a-Dale
* 1903 Judge Himes
* 1904 Elwood
* 1905 Agile
* 1906 Sir Huon
* 1907 Pink Star
* 1908 Stone Street
* 1909 Wintergreen
* 1910 Donau
* 1911 Meridian
* 1912 Worth
* 1913 Donerail
* 1914 Old Rosebud
* 1915 Regret ♥
* 1916 George Smith
* 1917 Omar Khayyam
* 1918 Exterminator
* 1919 Sir Barton ₩
* 1920 Paul Jones
* 1921 Behave Yourself
* 1922 Morvich
* 1923 Zev
* 1924 Black Gold
* 1925 Flying Ebony
* 1926 Bubbling Over
* 1927 Whiskery
* 1928 Reigh Count
* 1929 Clyde Van Dusen
* 1930 Gallant Fox ₩
* 1931 Twenty Grand
* 1932 Burgoo King
* 1933 Brokers Tip
* 1934 Cavalcade
* 1935 Omaha ₩
* 1936 Bold Venture
* 1937 War Admiral ₩
* 1938 Lawrin
* 1939 Johnstown
* 1940 Gallahadion
* 1941 Whirlaway ₩
* 1942 Shut Out
* 1943 Count Fleet ₩
* 1944 Pensive
* 1945 Hoop Jr.
* 1946 Assault ₩
* 1947 Jet Pilot
* 1948 Citation ₩
* 1949 Ponder
* 1950 Middleground
* 1951 Count Turf
* 1952 Hill Gail
* 1953 Dark Star
* 1954 Determine
* 1955 Swaps
* 1956 Needles
* 1957 Iron Liege
* 1958 Tim Tam
* 1959 Tomy Lee
* 1960 Venetian Way
* 1961 Carry Back
* 1962 Decidedly
* 1963 Chateaugay
* 1964 Northern Dancer
* 1965 Lucky Debonair
* 1966 Kauai King
* 1967 Proud Clarion
* 1968 Forward Pass (Dancer's Image disqualified)
* 1969 Majestic Prince
* 1970 Dust Commander
* 1971 Canonero II
* 1972 Riva Ridge
* 1973 Secretariat ₩
* 1974 Cannonade
* 1975 Foolish Pleasure
* 1976 Bold Forbes
* 1977 Seattle Slew ₩
* 1978 Affirmed ₩
* 1979 Spectacular Bid
* 1980 Genuine Risk ♥
* 1981 Pleasant Colony
* 1982 Gato Del Sol
* 1983 Sunny's Halo
* 1984 Swale
* 1985 Spend a Buck
* 1986 Ferdinand
* 1987 Alysheba
* 1988 Winning Colors ♥
* 1989 Sunday Silence
* 1990 Unbridled
* 1991 Strike the Gold
* 1992 Lil E. Tee
* 1993 Sea Hero
* 1994 Go for Gin
* 1995 Thunder Gulch
* 1996 Grindstone
* 1997 Silver Charm
* 1998 Real Quiet
* 1999 Charismatic
* 2000 Fusaichi Pegasus
* 2001 Monarchos
* 2002 War Emblem
* 2003 Funny Cide
* 2004 Smarty Jones
* 2005 Giacomo
* 2006 Barbaro
* 2007 Street Sense
* 2008 Big Brown
* 2009 Mine That Bird
* 2010 Super Saver
* 2011 Animal Kingdom
* 2012 I'll Have Another
* 2013 Orb
* 2014 California Chrome
* 2015 American Pharoah ₩
* 2016 Nyquist
* 2017 Always Dreaming
* 2018 Justify ₩
* 2019 Country House (Maximum Security disqualified)
* 2020 Authentic
* 2021 Mandaloun (Medina Spirit disqualified)
* 2022 Rich Strike
* 2023 Mage
* 2024 Mystik Dan

Legend – ₩ = Triple Crown winners, ♥ = Filly
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