Bred and owned by Hugh Lupus (1825-1899), 1st Duke of Westminster, Ormonde was doubtlessly one of the greatest racehorses of the nineteenth century. Said to have been the richest man in England the Duke has the distinction of being the only person to have bred two triple crown winners, Ormonde and his grandson Flying Fox (b c 1896 Orme). He also bred his sire, Bend Or (ch c 1877 Doncaster), with whom he won the Derby. He had additional success with Shotover (ch f 1879 Hermit) in the Two Thousand Guineas and the Derby and with Farewell (ch f 1882 Doncaster), a three quarters sister to Ormonde, in the One Thousand Guineas.

His dam, Lily Agnes (b f 1871 Macaroni), was also one of the best of her generation, winning eight races, mainly Queen's Plates, as well as the Doncaster Cup and the Ebor Handicap. In the latter she defeated the exceptional fillies Apolgy (ch f 1871 Adventurer), winner of the One Thousand Guineas, Oaks and St Leger Stakes as well as the Ascot Gold Cup, and the Cesarewitch and Goodwood Cup winner Aventuriere (b f 1871 Adventurer). Lily Agnes developed respiratory problems late in her four year old year, sufficiently severe to prompt jockey John Osborne to note that he could hear her approach before he saw her. She did her best running earlier that year, however the problem did not prevent her winning several races as a five year old.

Ormonde was trained by John Porter at Kingsclere and ridden mainly by Fred Archer and Tom Cannon. Under the yellow jacket, black cap colours of his owner he became the fourth horse to win the triple crown. An undefeated winner of sixteen races, he included two walk overs in his notable resume.

 He went to stud at Eaton Hall in Cheshire in 1888 and got the good winner Orme (b c 1889) and Goldfinch (ch c 1889), sire of the One Thousand Guineas winner Chelandry (b f 1894), in his first season. Leased to Lord Gerard at Newmarket the following year he caught a chill and was returned to Eaton where he duly recovered. However, despite much public criticism, the Duke determined to sell him abroad reasoning that since both he and his parents were roarers he would be a detriment to English bloodstock and that a warmer climate might offer some remediation for his condition.

Sold to the Argentinian breeder Senor Bocau for £12,000 he was purchased in 1894 by Mr Macdonaugh of California for £30,000. He covered at the Menlo Stock Farm, where his stock was said to be of good quality but due to his previous illnesses his offspring were few in number. Ormonde died in California in 1904.

In 1885 Ormonde won the Post Sweepstakes at Newmarket, beating Modwena and Warbler, the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket, defeating Oberon and Mephisto, and the Dewhurst Plate at Newmarket over Whitefriar and Murdoch.

In 1886 he won the Two Thousand Guineas Stakes at Newmarket from Minting and Mephisto, the Derby Stakes at Epsom from The Bard and St Mirin, the St James's Palace Stakes at Ascot from Calais and Seaton, the Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot from Melton and Silver, the St Leger Stakes at Doncaster from St Mirin and Exmoor, the Great Foal Stakes at Newmarket from Mephisto and Whitefriar, walked over for the St Leger Stakes at Newmarket, won the Champion Stakes at Newmarket from Oberton and Argo Navis, a Free Handicap Sweepstakes at Newmarket from Mephisto and Theodore, and walked over for a Private Sweepstakes at Newmarket.

In 1887 he won the Rous Memorial Stakes at Ascot from Kilwarlin and Agave, the Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot from Minting and Bendigo, and the Imperial Gold Cup at Newmarket from Whitefriar and Lovegold.