(27 August 2001)
Kincsem - and her last surviving band.
Such is the case with the owners of the filly Bachi, trained by Alan Bailey at Caulfield, who finished a good second in today’s trials at Cranbourne. Bachi, thanks to the first and second world wars, is one of only a very small surviving band to descend from probably the most distinguished mare of all time, Kincsem.
The dam of Bachi is Jester Kiss, a daughter of Rory’s Jester, who was acquired through an Australian Bloodstock Agency.
Her distinguished ancestor, Kincsem, was foaled in 1874, by Cambuscan from Waternymph, a liver chestnut, no white markings, with large brown spots on her quarters.
Cambuscan was bought for stud in Hungary for the sum of 5,00 gns. He ran 2nd in the Two Thousand Guineas and 4th in the English Derby but was only a moderate sire at stud. In 8 years he produced only 98 foals, Kincsem was to make his name famous for all time.
Waternymph, Kincsem’s dam won the Hungarian One Thousand Guineas, which in those days was a race of some note, was a daughter of Mermaid who ran 5th in the Epsom Oaks.
A Mr Blaskovich, the breeder of Kincsem, used to sell his yearlings in a bunch, and all the great owners of the time used to visit his stud at Tapioszentmarton.
One of these owners was Baron Alex Orczy, whose name is synonymous with the “Scarlet Pimpernel” written by Baroness Orczy.
The name Orczy could have been even more famous had the Baron decided to buy Kincsem when given the chance, for Mr Blaskovich offered 7 yearlings; 2 Colts and 5 Fillies to the Baron for around 700 Pounds.
The Baron didn’t hesitate to pay this sum, but refused to take Kincsem and another filly, describing them they were both “rather common”.
Mr Blaskovich, kept the two fillies to race himself, and like all “ugly ducklings” Kincsem became a beautiful animal with the best conformation and standing an impressive 16.1 hands.
Hungarian racing of the day, was modelled on the English system copying exactly the classes of classic races.
Kincsem opened her career with 10 wins as a 2 year old, in ten different locations, as far away as Berlin, and by the end of her 2 year old career, had won all the "big 6" two year old races in Germany.
All the far flung racetracks in Europe were graced by her presence, and she did most of her travelling by train, which she absolutely loved.
Amongst her travelling companions on the train trips was her groom, Frankie (who always signed his name as Frankie Kincsem) and "her" cat.
Whenever Kincsem spotted the wagon she was to travel in, she would whinny and walk in and lie down, but not before Frankie and her cat joined her.
No one could trace Frankie’s real surname. When he was buried, he was buried as Frankie Kincsem, soon after the death of his famous charge, and her trainer, Robert Hesp.
Amongst her many great wins was the Goodwood Cup. After her victory, she was sent to Deauville by train. After arriving from England by ship, and whilst on the docks, she refused to board her wagon for the first time ever, because her cat wasn’t anywhere to be found.
Kincsem held the trip up for over 2 hours, when she stood on the dockside, whinnying for her cat. When the cat at last heard Kincsem calling, she ran to her and jumped on her back and they both entered the wagon.
She was said to be a kind hearted creature. Legend has it that asleep one very cold night in her box, she awoke to find Frankie had no rug covering him. She pulled one of her rugs down off the stable door and covered him.
Kincsem, like many champions, was very vain, and was very proud of winning her races.
Mr Blaskovich always presented her with a bunch of flowers after every victory.
One day, Blaskovich was a few minutes late arriving in the enclosure, Kincsem wouldn’t allow herself to be unsaddled until Mr Blaskovich arrived, quite exhausted from running from his vantage point.
Kincsem knew the lot about racing and knew she was the Queen of the game.
Racing during this time had no starting gates and at every start she was as cool as an iceberg, almost to the point of unnerving her riders.
Whenever she arrived at the start, she started grazing, picking daisies. When she started running she would break into her long magnificent stride, and knew very well where the finishing post was.
After winning, she would drop into a short canter of her own accord and set off for the enclosure.
At the start she almost invariably lost many lengths, but despite running all her races in what seemed a canter, won them all with considerable ease.
All of her races were like this except one, when her jockey made a serious error of judgement and the race was a dead heat, she won the re-run by 5 lengths.
Old papers of the day abound with stories of Kincsem, including her disdain for foreign oats and water.
The Sportsman newspaper made mention of the quality of Mr Blaskovich home-grown Oats.
All Kincsem’s water and food had to be carried on her trips.
On one occasion whilst at Baden-Baden in Germany, the water had been used, and she refused to drink for 3 days, until on the 3rd day an old well was found that had the same earthy taste to the water from her home.
This well, became renowned throughout Europe as "Kincsem’s Well", and as such, even had a little plaque proclaiming the fact.
As a 3 year old, Kincsem won 17 races including almost all the Hungarian Classics.
From April 22 1878, as a four year old, she ran 3 races at Budapest, 5 at Vienna, and 1 race at Pozsony.
The distances of these races being from a mile to 2 miles, her stamina and finishing speed was unequalled on the continent.
Her next 3 races were scheduled for Goodwood. On August 1st, the date of the cup, Verneuil the favourite met with an accident and had to be scratched, and she won the race comfortably by 2 lengths.
She was mated to Vermeuile 2 years later, but the union of these 2 Champions was barren.
Vigilant writing in the Sportsman said, "she could have won by 20 lengths if Madden had given her head."
Described the wonder mare as follows, "She is not a handsome filly, but has wonderfully good points, she has fine length everywhere, is good through the heart, has great wide hips, and good muscular quarters, fine shape, and enormous power, some people took exception to her being a trifle long in the back for a stayer."
The time of the race was the slowest for 5 years. Two of the leading newspapers of the day criticised Maddern for not allowing the onlookers to see what a wonder she was. They stated that had either Archer or Cannon rode her, she would have won by a comfortable distance, despite her winning by 2.
Kincsem won her first race at the odds of 1/3 and her other victories odds varied between 2 to 1 on, and 1/20.
In only 2 races, at Goodwood and Deauxville did she start at odds against, being 5/2 and 7/4.
Her race at Deauville was reported by French sporting scribes as follows; "La jument est la plus belle, que j’ai vue dans ma vie. La victoire a ete tres applaudie. Kincsem a gagne nettement".
Approximate English translation..."The mare is most beautiful, that I have seen in my life. The victory has very applauded. Kincsem gains clearly."
Her last race was run with a magnificent victory for the 3rd time in the Hungarian Autumn Oaks which she won by 10 lengths in a common canter despite conceding up to 2 stone (15 kilograms).
"When examining the results of 1878, one concludes that she was as good as, probably better than, Silvio, Hampton, Pilgrimage, Isonomy, Verneuil, Jannette, etc."
The weights of that year for the Cambridgeshire and the Cesarewitch show Kincsem conceding Hampton 1 lb, Pilgrimage and Pageant 6 lb, Thurio and Janette 9 lb.
Surely this great mare is without doubt one of the greatest if not the greatest racehorses, let alone mares of all time.
Her record was 54 starts 54 wins, Pretty Polly 24/22, La Fleche 16/24, Bee’s Wing 51/64, Corrida 13/33.
Sent to the stud, Kincsem produced only 3 daughters and two sons, her daughters and their progeny won almost every conceivable European classic.
She founded great families of which only a few remain, having been decimated by the first and second world wars.
Kincsem died after a short stud career on her 13th birthday, March 17 1887.
Robert Hesp her trainer, survived her by only 39 days, he had 5 sons and 4 daughters, one of his grandsons was head lad to George Lambton.
Hesp was something of a hero in Hungary when, during the war with Austria and Russia, was a spy. His most famous feat was swimming the Danube River carrying valuable documents tied to his head.
Today, sources close to the stable, when informed of Bachi’s illustrious ancestor, nodded knowingly, saying "she (Bachi) certainly thinks she is it, and a little bit more".
I suppose having an ancestor like Kincsem, does give one the right to be a little bit uppity though, doesn’t it?
My interpretation of the article by Henry De Gelsey, which appeared in the British Racehorse, November 1949. - Take 2.
Artist: Emil Adam painted the portait of Kincsem (top).