St. Blaise (1880–1909) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. In a career that lasted from 1882 to 1884 he ran twelve time and won seven races, although three of these wins were walk-overs. His most important success came in 1883 when he won The Derby. At the end of the season he was sold and exported to the United States to stand as a stallion where he had some success. St. Blaise was killed in a fire in 1909. Background St. Blaise was a “big, slashing” chestnut horse standing just under 16 hands high, with a white blaze and three white feet. He was bred at Crichel in Dorset by Henry Sturt, 1st Baron Alington who owned him during his racing career in partnership with Sir Frederick Johnstone. The colt was first sent into training with Lord Alington’s private trainer H. Percy in Dorset, but was moved at the end of his two-year-old season to the stables of John Porter at Kingsclere. St. Blaise’s sire Hermit won the Derby in 1867 and later became an outstandingly successful stallion, being Champion Sire for seven successive years. In addition to St. Blaise, he sired the Classic winners Shotover (2000 Guineas & Derby), St. Marguerite (1000 Guineas), Lonely (Oaks) and Thebais (1000 Guineas & Oaks). His dam, Fusee made little impact as a racehorse, and was close to being destroyed after her career was ended by injury. She survived however, to become a good broodmare, producing, in addition to St. Blaise, good winners such as Candlemas (Chesterfield Cup, Epsom Grand Prize) and Friar Rush (Salisbury Cup). Racing career 1882: two-year-old season St. Blaise began his racing career at Stockbridge Racecourse in June 1882. He won a Biennial Stakes and then walked over in the Troy Stakes, before finishing second to Macheath in the Hurstbourne Stakes. Later in the season Macheath won the July Stakes and the Middle Park Plate. St. Blaise was then sent to Goodwood for the Molecomb Stakes in which he dead-heated for first place when attempting to give seven pounds Elzevir, a horse who went on to win the Royal Hunt Cup. On 27 October he was sent to Newmarket to run in the Dewhurst Stakes for which he started 3/1 second favourite. He started quickly but dropped away in the closing stages and finished unplaced behind Ladislas. On the following day on the same course he won a