Desmond

Desmond (1896 – 1913) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He was at his peak as a two-year-old in the early summer of 1898 when he won three races in quick succession including the Coventry Stakes and the July Stakes. He never won again and was retired from racing at the end of the following year. He later became a very successful breeding stallion and was the Leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1913, the year of his death. Background Desmond was a dark brown (sometimes described as "black") horse bred by his owner, the 4th Earl of Dunraven. During his racing career he was trained at Newmarket, Suffolk by Robert Sherwood, who had inherited the St Gatien stable on the death of his father (also Robert) in 1894. He was sired by St. Simon, one of the best racehorses of his era who became a dominant stallion, being Champion sire on nine occasions between 1890 and 1901. Desmond was one of only three live foals produced by the Epsom Oaks winner L'Abbesse de Jouarre. Racing career