Diamond Jubilee (horse) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Diamond Jubilee
Sire	St. Simon
Grandsire	Galopin
Dam	Perdita
Damsire	Hampton
Sex	Stallion
Foaled	1897
Country	United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Colour	Bay
Breeder	Prince of Wales
Owner	Prince of Wales Duke of Devonshire (leased 1901)
Trainer	Richard Marsh
Record	16:6-4-1
Earnings	£28,185
Major wins
2000 Guineas (1900) Newmarket Stakes (1900) Epsom Derby (1900) Eclipse Stakes (1900) St. Leger (1900)
Awards
9th U.K. Triple Crown Champion (1900) Leading Sire in Argentina (1915, 1916, 1917, 1921)

Diamond Jubilee (born 1897 – died 1923) was a famous British Thoroughbred racehorse. He was known for his amazing speed and also for his sometimes difficult personality! Over his racing career from 1899 to 1901, he ran 16 times and won 6 races.

His most famous year was 1900, when he won the British Triple Crown. This means he won three very important races in one year: the 2000 Guineas, the Epsom Derby, and the St Leger. He also won the Eclipse Stakes, which was one of the richest horse races back then. After his racing days, he became a stud horse, meaning he was used for breeding other racehorses, and later moved to Argentina.

Diamond Jubilee was always remembered for his wild and unpredictable temper throughout his life.

Who Was Diamond Jubilee?

Diamond Jubilee was bred by his owner, the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII. The horse was born in the same year that Queen Victoria celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, which is how he got his name.

His father, St. Simon, was an undefeated racehorse and one of the best in Britain during the 1800s. St. Simon also became a top breeding horse, siring many champions. Diamond Jubilee's mother, Perdita, was also a successful racehorse. She was bought by the Prince of Wales and became a great mother horse, producing not only Diamond Jubilee but also his famous brother, Persimmon, who won the Derby in 1896. Because of his royal owner and amazing family, Diamond Jubilee's birth was a big deal, even reported in newspapers!

Diamond Jubilee's Racing Career

1899: A Tricky Start as a Two-Year-Old

When Diamond Jubilee was two years old, he only won one of his six races. He was expected to win the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, but he behaved very badly before the race. He kicked a spectator, kept rearing up, and even tried to bite his jockey, John Watts! He finished last.

At another race, the July Stakes, the "rampagious beast" threw his jockey and ran free for several minutes before the race even started. After these incidents, the trainer decided to try a new jockey, Morny Cannon. Some even thought about gelding him (a procedure that calms male horses), but it was too risky.

With his new jockey, Diamond Jubilee started to improve. He finished second in a race at Goodwood. Later that year, he finally won his first race, the Boscawen Stakes. His trainer, Richard Marsh, was very confident, saying Diamond Jubilee would win the Derby next year. He finished second twice more that year, showing he had potential despite his difficult personality.

1900: Becoming a Champion Three-Year-Old

Diamond Jubilee with Herbert Jones, his jockey, around 1900.

Diamond Jubilee seemed to get much better over the winter. He also found a new jockey he liked, a young 19-year-old named Herbert Jones. When Diamond Jubilee tried to bite his old jockey, Morny Cannon, after a practice run, his trainer decided to let Jones ride him instead.

Spring: Winning the 2000 Guineas

When Diamond Jubilee raced in the 2000 Guineas on May 2, everyone was impressed by how good he looked. He also behaved perfectly! With Herbert Jones riding, he took the lead early and easily won by four lengths. Two weeks later, he won the Newmarket Stakes, showing he was a serious contender.

Summer: The Famous Epsom Derby Win

On May 31, Diamond Jubilee was the favorite to win the Epsom Derby at Epsom. The crowd was smaller than usual, but the excitement was still huge. Jones kept Diamond Jubilee near the front, and with two furlongs left, he surged into the lead. Diamond Jubilee won by half a length! The crowd cheered loudly, throwing their hats into the air to celebrate the royal victory. His winning time even matched the record set by his brother, Persimmon.

Later that summer, Diamond Jubilee ran in the Princess of Wales's Stakes, where he had to carry extra weight because he was a Derby winner. He finished second to a filly named Merry Gal. But then, in the Eclipse Stakes, he put on his best show yet. He took the lead and won easily, even setting a new course record!

Autumn: Completing the Triple Crown

On September 12, Diamond Jubilee aimed to become only the ninth horse in history to win the Triple Crown by racing in the St Leger at Doncaster. His temper problems returned, and he sweated a lot and took 20 minutes to get ready. But in the race, he led for most of the way and won easily by a length and a half, completing his historic Triple Crown!

In his last race of the season, the Jockey Club Stakes, his bad behavior caused problems again, delaying the start. He didn't race well that day and finished unplaced.

Despite his temper, Diamond Jubilee was called "the undoubted champion of England" after the St Leger. His wins helped the Prince of Wales become the top owner in British racing for 1900. He also helped his trainer, Richard Marsh, and his father, St. Simon, win championships that year.

1901: A Final Season

In 1901, the Prince of Wales became King Edward VII. He leased all his racehorses, including Diamond Jubilee, to the Duke of Devonshire. Diamond Jubilee was expected to have another great year.

He only ran three times that season. In the Princess of Wales's Stakes, he finished second. In the Eclipse Stakes, he again caused delays with his antics but still ran well, finishing a close fourth.

Diamond Jubilee ran his very last race on October 3 at Newmarket, finishing third in the Jockey Club Stakes. After this, he officially retired from racing.

Life After Racing: A Stud Horse

Diamond Jubilee began his new career as a stud horse at the Royal Studs in England. A stud horse is a male horse used for breeding. He wasn't considered a huge success in England.

In late 1905, he was sold for a lot of money (30,000 guineas) and moved to Argentina the next year. When he arrived at his new home, Haras las Ortigas, he immediately tried to bite the stud manager! But he soon settled down and became a very successful breeding horse in Argentina. He was the top breeding horse there four times (1914, 1915, 1916, and 1921).

Diamond Jubilee kept his wild temper right up until the end of his life. A few months before he died, he escaped from the farm and galloped through the nearby town of Morón before being caught. He passed away in 1923 at the age of 26.