Hermis was a chestnut horse bred by Hiram Berry: H. A. Engman owned his dam, Katy of the West.

He was purchased as a two-year-old by Cincinnati theatre man Henry M. Ziegler and was trained by Charles Hughes.

[1] Hermis would be sold to Louis V. Bell who turned him over to Jack McCormack to train.

At his final race during the 1904 World's Fair Handicap in St. Louis, Hermis received an injury to his leg due to being kicked by 1903 Kentucky Derby winner Judge Himes during the start.

On January 3, 1912, the New York Times reported that he had been sold to Edmond Blanc, a prominent French breeder and owner of Haras de Jardy at Marnes-la-Coquette in what is today the western suburbs of Paris.