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Terimon (20 April 1986–16 September 2008) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. His most successful year was 1991, when he won the International Stakes at York Racecourse and was named European Champion Older Horse at the inaugural Cartier Racing Awards. He is best known, however, for his performance in the 1989 Epsom Derby in which he finished second at odds of 500/1, the longest ever recorded for a placed horse in the race.
Lady Beaverbrook was considered an eccentric character who gave most of her horses names consisting of one word with seven letters (Bustino, Relkino, Terimon, Boldboy, Niniski, Mystiko, Petoski), as this was the most common form for Derby winners.
Like a much more famous grey champion Spectacular Bid, Terimon was so dark that he appeared almost black in his early racing career, although like most greys, his coat lightened as he aged.
He was trained throughout his career by Clive Brittain at Newmarket, Suffolk. His most regular jockey was Michael Roberts who rode him in 21 of his 31 starts.
Terimon was the most experienced runner in the 1989 Epsom Derby, but he had apparently been exposed as being well below top class and started the complete outsider of the twelve runners at 500/1. The clear favourite for the race was Nashwan, the winner of the 2000 Guineas and the only horse seriously supported against him was Cacoethes, the easy winner of the Lingfield Derby Trial. Clive Brittain was well aware that his colt had no chance of beating Nashwan, and had entered him in the race with the intention of reaching a place. Cacoethes took the lead in the straight and was soon challenged by Nashwan. The two favourites raced together for a few strides, before Nashwan pulled away. Michael Roberts made steady headway on Terimon, moving up through the field to catch the tiring Cacoethes in the closing stages and finish second, five lengths behind Nashwan.
In his two other starts of the year, Terimon failed to win, but confirmed that he was a Group class performer by finishing second in the Great Voltigeur Stakes and fourth in the St Leger.
He failed to win in his other six races that year, but finished second in the Eclipse Stakes and third in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He was well beaten in the Eclipse Stakes (behind Environment Friend) and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (behind Generous) before being sent to York Racecourse for the International Stakes. He was made the 16/1 outsider of the six runners, with the leading contenders being Stagecraft, Environment Friend and the 1990 Epsom Derby winner Quest For Fame. Roberts sent Terimon into an early lead and set a slow pace before accelerating in the straight. Although his rivals had every chance, Terimon was never in serious danger and won by two lengths to record his biggest win. It was to be the only Group One win by an older male in Britain in 1991.
In his remaining two starts he was unplaced in the Champion Stakes and the Japan Cup.
At the end of the season he was retired to stud.
Terimon was rated 124 by Timeform
In 2000, he was moved to the Shade Oak Stud in Shropshire.
Terimon sired the winners of over 100 races, with most of his success being as a sire of National Hunt runners. He is the damsire of the 2012 Triumph Hurdle winner Countrywide Flame and the Arkle Challenge Trophy winner Simonsig.
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