The Fabulous Beldame and my girls!!

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:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beldame
or
http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/horse.asp?ID=27
or
http://www.spiletta.com/UTHOF/beldame.html

Lord Lyon and my Girls!!

Both my girls are related to Lord Lyon, the third British Triple Crown winner in history, in 1866. He started 21 times and won 18 of them. He was a good stallion, and his influence is felt through his kid Minting. He also was the leading earner among the famous Stockwell's progeny. My girls are related to him through his dad, Stockwell, and through Touchstone. In the racing painting, Harry Hall is the artist depicting Lord Lyon's win in the St. Leger! Actually, it represents Sir Sutton's Lord Lyon winning against Lord Ailesbury's Savernake! Here are two cool things about his name. There is a pub named after him in the heart of racing country in England!! And the Lord Lyon Court is the Scottish administrative unit that controls all badges and heraldry!! You can read more about him and his bar and his royal badges at the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Court_of_the_Lord_Lyon

or

http://www.heraldry-scotland.co.uk/lyoncourt.html

or

http://www.lordlyon.com/

or

http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Stockwell.html

Stockwell and My Girls!

My girls are related to the 1849 born Stockwell who was considered "the very incarnation of ugliness" and "a bit savage," but also considered to be a very fine racer and the "emperor of stallions." He was 7 times the leading sire in England and the leading sire of the 1860s. His progeny through Phalaris were responsible for 70% of the stakes winners in the 1990s. Violet shares these Phalaris connections through Nasrullah, and Turn-To. Northern Dancer and Raise a Native are also part of this illustrious history, though only indirect relations to my girls. Hailee shares in Stockwell's glory through his English Triple Crown-winning progeny Lord Lyon, as well as his other progeny Man o' War and Doncaster! Stockwell is responsible for carrying the Eclipse line through to the modern day thoroughbred. When I look at my girls, I can see his nobility shining through. What beautiful girls I have! You can read more about their champion relative at the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stockwell_(horse)

or

http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Stockwell.html

or

http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Stockwell.htm

West Australian and My Girls!

In the past 150 years of racing the English Triple Crown, only 15 horses have won it. My girls share in the pedigree of the very first one, West Australian. Here he is in a painting by Harry Hall. West Australianwas born in 1850 to Melbourne and Mowerina, a filly born from the champion-producing, Emma, daughter of Touchstone. West Australian was a vigorous descendant of the Godolphin Arabian line. His jockey was Frank Butler, and original owner was John Bowes. The trainer was John Scott. West Australian's record was 11: 10-1-0. And he won the St. Leger in a canter. Of this accomplishment, Butler said, "I only touched him with the whip once and I was glad to get him stopped!" He ended his amazing race career with a 20-length victory in a stakes race. Unfortunately, he was not celebrated for his stud work in his life time. He produced Australian and Solon and through these and his other kids, produced amazing horses, such as Spendthrift, Kingston, Hastings, Fair Play, Man 'O War, Spearmint, and Plucky Liege. These are all noble horses in Violet and Hailee's pedigree. So, it wasn't until much later that he became known for his amazing contributions to the genetic heritage of thoroughbreds. Sort of like a Van Gogh among horses. In fact, he was even overshadowed in death. He died 3 days before Stockwell at age 20, while he was living in France. And so the media covered Stockwell's death in great detail and mentioned West Australian as an afterthought. We got wise later. He later received honors and memorials for his special gifts. You can read more about Violet and Hailee's English Triple Crown winner at the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Crown_of_Thoroughbred_Racing
or
http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/WestAustralian.html
or
http://www.thoroughbredchampions.com/library/engtrip2.htm

Ormonde and My Girls!

My girls are related to Ormonde (1883-1904), the 4th English Triple Crown winner. He raced 16 times in his life and won all 16 times, career earnings of $142,325. He was so successful that many famous artists painted him, including Emil Adam. In the painting below, you see Sidney R. Wombill's rendition of Ormonde beating The Bard at the 1886 Epsom Derby on his way to winning the Triple Crown. He was "roaring" so loud, he could be heard all over the track. He was such a great race horse that the Ormonde Stakes at Chester Race Course are named after him. His owner and breeder was Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, 1st Duke of Westminster. The Duke must have been very proud because Ormonde won the Triple Crown in the St. Leger Stakes at a larking canter!! He was considered the finest race horse of the 19th century and had a kind temperment just like his dad! His dad was the sweet, handsome Epsom Derby-winning Bend Or and his mom, Lily Agnes, was sired by another Epsom Derby winner, Macaroni. So, over the course of a few generations, you see Birdcatcher, Stockwell, Bend Or, and Ormonde! After his racing career finished, he travelled the world! He went to Argentina to stand at stud for awhile, but then returned by boat to Southampton. His old trainer, John Porter, met his boat to greet and welcome him. He said that he pulled "a few hairs out of his mane and tail which I have preserved as a memento of a great and noble creature." It was the last time they ever saw each other. After a rest, in 1893, he took a steamer to New York, and then rail all the way to San Francisco Bay to stand stud at Menlo Stock Farm in California. He died on May 21, 1904, and was ultimately exhumed, so that his skeleton could be sent to the Museum of Natural History at South Kensington, UK. Here's a sweet story about him -- he would eat anything. But he had a passion for flowers. He loved to nip the boutonnieres right from the pockets of his wealthy gentlemen visitors! You can read more about this gentle, speedy boy at the following links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ormonde_(horse)
or
http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Ormonde.html
or
http://www.horseracinghistory.co.uk/hrho/action/viewDocument?id=844

Birdcatcher and My Girls!

My girls are related to the Irish Thoroughbred, Birdcatcher, born in 1833 to Sir Hercules and Guiccioli. Hailee also has Birdcatcher's full-brother, Faugh-a-Ballagh, which is Gaelic for "Clear the Way!" Birdcatcher had 15 starts and won 7 influential races. He raced only at the Curragh. He was retired at 5 to be a sire, and was a magnificent one. He is the grandsire of my girls' Stockwell, pictured here in Harry Hall's painting. Stockwell was known as the "Emperor of Stallions." Birdcatcher travelled a bit as a stud, serving at Newmarket, Easby Abbey, and Brownstown. He was champion sire in 1852 and 1856, and was among the top sires 15 times in his long breeding career. He was the first Irish stallion to breed English race horse winners. Seven of his children won 3 St. Legers, 2 1,000 Guineas Stakes, and a win of the Epsom Derby and win of the Epsom Oaks. He was a beautiful dark chestnut with a large star and narrow attached blaze. And he had a left hind leg white stocking. And he had what are now known as "Birdcatcher spots" -- this white ticking on his flanks. Now, here's the sad part, just so you know how vulnerable horses are -- even the hard-working champions. When he was 27, he was to be bred to a large mare named Queen Bee, but he could not complete the service. So, his owner, Mr. Disney, ordered his execution.

Here's the report: "Among the mares sent to the son of Sir Hercules that year was Mr Michael Dunne's Queen Bee. She was a mare of good size, and when Birdcatcher attempted to serve her, he failed to do so. Mr Disney, who owned the stallion, thereupon decided that he should no longer survive. At once a messenger was dispatched to the local police station with orders to bring back with him a constable with a loaded gun, as a horse was required to be destroyed. The police officer - his name was Preston - reported himself to Mr Disney, who gave the necessary directions for the destruction of Birdcatcher. The horse was placed on the brink of a sandpit situated on the flat opposite Conyngham Lodge, Curragh; without any ceremony he was shot and his carcase tumbled into the pit. Thus ended the career of a good racehorse and a mighty sultan at the age of twenty-seven years. His head was afterwards presented to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Dublin."

Can you believe that ending of a champion race horse and peerless sire who brought glory, fame and wealth to his owner?

You can read more about this champion, handsome creature at the following links:

http://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/Birdcatcher.html

or

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birdcatcher

or

http://www.tbheritage.com/HistoricSires/JumpSires/JumpsiresDAB.html

Gallorette and My Girls!!

Gallorette was foaled in 1942 out of Challenger and Gallette. She was voted top filly in a 1955 training poll. She had 72 starts, won 21, placed 20, and was third 13 times. She was retired in 1948, the richest filly of her day! In her best season, she defeated the boys, including Stymie who she beat twice!! She was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame the year before my birth, 1962. My girls are related to this macho girl through several lines, including Sir Gallahad, Swynford, Ajax, Orme, Vampire, Galopin, Isonomy, Stockwell, Pocahontas, and Hindoo. You can read more about this big-moving girl at the following links:

http://www.racingmuseum.org/hall/horse.asp?ID=79

or

http://www.spiletta.com/UTHOF/gallorette.html

Pocahontas "The Blue Hen" of my girls!

Violet and Hailee are related in multiple ways to one of the most inestimable blue hens in the history of horses. Pocahontas (born 1837) appears in both of my girls' pedigrees in multiple ways. Her kids, King Tom, Stockwell, and Rataplan, appear in several different lines. Stockwell is heavy in Hailee's line and King Tom appears several times for Violet. Pocahontas was famed for her big heart gene. She was small, just like Hailee, only 14'3". She was also a "roarer." She lived until she was 33 years old. What a good girl!! She was a direct relation of the Byerly Turk. Her son, Stockwell, was known as the "Emperor of Stallions." You can read about their famous blue hen at:

http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/Pocahontas.htm