Persimmon (horse)  Persimmon (1893–1908) was a British Thoroughbred race horse and sire. In a racing career that lasted from June 1895 to July 1897 he ran nine times and won seven races. His victories included the 1896 Epsom Derby, one of the first horse races ever filmed, by Robert W. Paul. His other important victories included the St. Leger, the Ascot Gold Cup and the Eclipse Stakes. He was also notable for his rivalry with another English colt St. Frusquin, who inflicted his only two defeats. Persimmon, an exceptionally good-looking but highly strung bay horse, was bred by his owner, the Prince of Wales. He was trained throughout his career by Richard Marsh at his Egerton House stable at Newmarket, Suffolk. Persimmon's sire, St. Simon was an undefeated racehorse who was considered one of the best British runners of the 19th century. In an outstanding stud career he won nine sires' championships, having sired ten Classic winners. Perdita, the dam of Persimmon, was a successful racehorse who was bought by the Prince on the advice of John Porter. As a broodmare she produced, in addition to Persimmon, the Triple Crown winner Diamond Jubilee and the Jockey Club Cup winner Florizel II. Persimmon was one of the leading British two-year-old of 1895, winning two of his three races. He made his debut at Royal Ascot on 18 June, where he started 2/1 favourite for the Coventry Stakes. Ridden by John Watts he led from the start and won "in great style" by three lengths from Meli Melo. Although the race was a five and a half furlong sprint, Persimmon was already being described as a potential Derby contender: as a brother to the stayer Florizel he was not expected to have stamina problems. He reappeared a month later at Goodwood and in the Richmond Stakes. Starting the 1/2 favourite the Prince's "flying two-year-old" had no difficulties in winning easily by a length from Champfleurie, who was receiving eight pounds. Persimmon's final start of the season was in the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, one of the year's most prestigious two-year-old races, in which he was matched against another outstanding colt in St. Frusquin. Before the race Persimmon had developed a respiratory infection and Marsh only ran him in the race with reluctance.