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The Keeneland Breeding Stock Sale is underway, beginning November 5th and running through the 19th. On the very first day, sales are up by 30% over last year, with intense international interest. 194 horses sold on the first day, for an average of $526,186, and a median of $272,500. 28 horses sold for $1 million or more. The first day brought $109,064,000. Can you imagine what the total sale will bring?! And this sale comes on the heels of the Fasig-Tipton Sale which ended Sunday. It too ended up 30% over last year's sales.
My girls both are related to one of the most important racehorses ever, one who reinvigorated the Byerley Turk line in thoroughbreds. Hindoo was born in 1879, and raced 35 times. He never was out of the money, winning 30 times, placing 3, and showing twice. His dad, pictured here, was Virgil, and his mom was Florence. He was trained by two Hall of Famers, Ed Brown, one of the most distinguished Blacks in horse racing and training, and the also inestimable, James G. Rowe, Sr. He was truly extraordinary. In his third year, he won the 1881 Kentucky Derby and the Travers Stakes, but what was truly exceptional is that he won 18 straight races between May and August of his 3rd year, 19 if you include a dead-heat run-off on the same day! No horse has ever equalled this prodigious accomplishment. Not surprisingly, he was voted the Champion 2-year-old, Champion 3-year-old, and Champion Handicap Horse. When the National Museum and Racing Hall of Fame was first started, he was inducted in 1955. He retired as a leading money winner and was a fantastic sire. He was also a good boy. Here's what one reporter said of him, "A sweeter tempered colt never sported silk. He was like wax in the hands of the jockey. He would never do more than what was asked of him, yet his courage was the highest. He did what was required, and after he had his field beaten, was content to drop down into a canter. He was never excited by contest nor crowd, and was business-like under all circumstances."
Joe captured my sweet girl's disposition in this photo. You can see that she's related to royalty, but has the sweetness of Eight Thirty and Pocahontas in her! Joe complimented her eyes and said that he wish he could have captured her sparkle better. But I think this picture captures her sweetness just perfectly!
August Belmont bred Beldame at his farm near Lexington, Kentucky. He leased her to a friend of his, Newton Bennington, because he was very busy building Belmont Park and the New York City Subway system. Also, he was irritated with Beldame's trainer who refused to take Belmont's worries about a skin condition she suffered seriously. I can relate! Poor Belmont worried that she had shingles and the trainer couldn't care less! Anyway, under Bennington at age 3, she was magnificent (as reported in the Blood Horse Top 100 Race Horses of the 20th Century publication). In 14 starts, she only lost twice to much older boys, and she was winning at short and long distances. She was a macho machine!!! But she did love a little snack or two -- every day she liked to nosh on corn cobs!! In 1904, she spanked very famous boys in the Saratoga Cup, and in that year, she even beat Broomstick in another race. She was all about the business of beating the boys! And she was only the third filly to win over $100,000. She was so white hot in her third year that she was severely weighted and handicapped in her fourth year. Belmont and Bennington thought that was not fair to their super girl, so they let her retire early in triumphant style! She was the Eclipse Horse of the Year winner in 1904, voted #98 of the top 100 race horses of the 20th century, and was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 1956 . She also has the Beldame Stakes at Belmont Park as an honor!! My girls are related to her through Bend Or, Touchstone, Pocahontas, Macaroni, and Stockwell. You can read more about this high-powered, trouble-making, boy-spanking girl at the following links:
