When Problem won the valuable Brocklesby Stakes on her debut at Lincoln Racecourse in March, it was clear to Machell and Chaplin that they had a potentially top class colt.

[5] Hermit began his racing career at the First Spring Meeting at Newmarket where he finished second in a half-mile sweepstakes to the filly Cellina, who was carrying three pounds more than the colt.

Despite conceding three pounds to the filly, Hermit showed improved form to win by a neck from Cellina with the pair finishing three lengths clear of the other 12 runners.

On his next appearance, Hermit was sent to Epsom for the Woodcote Stakes at the Derby meeting for which he started joint favourite with Colonel Pearson's filly Achievement.

In the Stockbridge Biennial Stakes he started 8/11 favourite in a field of 16 runners and won by a neck from the Duke of Beaufort's colt Vauban.

Vauban became a leading fancy for the Derby but Machell's confidence in Hermit was reinforced when he conceded ten pounds to Knight of the Garter and defeated him convincingly in a private trial race.

[9] Although the race was sometimes recalled as having been run in a snowstorm (like Bloomsbury's Derby in 1839), accounts of eyewitnesses indicate that the snow and sleet abated early in the day leaving conditions dry, but bitterly cold.

[4] By contrast the result of the race brought Chaplin's sporting and personal rival Harry Hastings to the brink of financial ruin.

On the same afternoon, Hermit ran a sweepstakes over one and three-quarter miles, in which he was ridden to victory by Custance against two opponents, both of whom were receiving seven pounds from the Derby winner.

[17] On 24 September Hermit started 6/4 favourite for the Grand Duke Michael Stakes over ten furlongs at Newmarket and finished second by a length to Friponnier, to whom he was conceding seven pounds.

[19] On 16 April at the Craven meeting at Newmarket, Hermit was narrowly beaten by the Cesarewitch winner Julius, to whom he was conceding seven pounds in a Biennial Stakes.

At the same meeting, Henry Chaplin paid a forfeit when Hermit failed to appear for a ten furlong match in which he was set to concede thirteen pounds to The Palmer.

In September, Hermit carried top weight and started 2/1 favourite for the Portland Plate at Doncaster but finished unplaced behind Lady Zetland.

In July he was moved to sprint distances and finished unplaced yet again behind Fichu when carrying top weight in the six furlong Stewards' Cup at Goodwood.

[29] His skeleton was preserved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons while Chaplin had one of his hooves mounted and fashioned into an ink-stand which he presented to the Prince of Wales.