Beldame
Encyclopedia
Beldame was one of the great racing fillies
of Twentieth century America
n breeding
.
was foaled near Lexington, Kentucky
in 1901 by Octagon, out of the English
bred Bella Donna (by the Epsom Derby
winner Hermit). Named Beldame, she was a homebred of August Belmont II
's (after whose family the Belmont Stakes
as well as Belmont Park
were named), and though Belmont, Jr. continued to own her, he leased her as a two-year- and three-year-old to a business associate named Newton Bennington. Although she'd won two races before going to Bennington, it was while racing for him that Beldame began her great career, earning her place as number 98 in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century
.
(Aside from Beldame, Belmont bred 129 stakes winners, including Man o' War
. The colt was originally named My Man O' War by his wife since August Jr. had enlisted in World War I
at the age of 65. Because of this war, he sold his greatest horse to Samuel D. Riddle
for $5,000, a pittance.)
It didn't matter. Beldame had made her mark. The only way to stop her was to handicap her. So she stopped racing, retiring with 17 wins, 6 places, and 4 shows from 31 starts, Her earnings amounted to $102,570. After Firenze
and Miss Woodford
, she was the third filly to win more than $100,000.
Belmont took her back at the age of four to the re-creation of his father's Nursery Stud, the original farm being dispersed after August Belmont
's death.
Trained by Belmont's trainer, Hall of Famer
John J. Hyland (with whom he was arguing, one of the reasons Belmont leased out what would be his best filly), and then by Bennington's, Hall of Famer
Fred Burlew, she could win short or long. Beldame was almost unbeatable.
Beldame had a mind of her own, and oddly did not like oats. What she liked to eat was ear corn. She ate at least seven ears a day, right off the cob.
At three, she took the Alabama Stakes
, the Gazelle Handicap
(by ten lengths on a sloppy track), the Carter Handicap
(against males by over two lengths under a stout hold), the Ladies Stakes, the Saratoga Cup (beating the year older Belmont Stakes winner and Champion Three-Year-Colt, Africander), the First Special, the Second Special, the Dolphin Sakes, the Mermaid Stakes (winning by seven lengths and drawing away from the field even as she was being eased up), and the September Stakes.
In the Ladies Stakes, Beldame got loose under her substitute rider before the race and galloped all over the track looking for an opening to run back to the barn. She found it before her jockey, Gene Hildebrand, got her under control. Even so, she was back on the track minutes later, started well, led all the way, and easily came home the winner...even being eased at the end. (Hall of Famer, Frank O'Neill, was her usual rider.)
At four, she won the Standard Handicap, and then, carrying more weight than the males, she won the Suburban Handicap
, beating among other classy males, the great Broomstick, by five lengths. She did lose the 1905 Brighton Handicap, but that was to the great filly Artful
, no. 94 in the Bloodhorse list of the 100 best U.S. racehorses of the Twentieth century.
In a poll among members of the American Trainers Association, conducted in 1955 by Delaware Park Racetrack, Beldame was voted the seventh greatest filly in American racing history. Gallorette
was voted first.
Beldame, who died in 1924, was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
in 1956.
Filly
A filly is a young female horse too young to be called a mare. There are several specific definitions in use.*In most cases filly is a female horse under the age of four years old....
of Twentieth century America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n breeding
Horse breeding
Horse breeding is reproduction in horses, and particularly the human-directed process of selective breeding of animals, particularly purebred horses of a given breed. Planned matings can be used to produce specifically desired characteristics in domesticated horses...
.
A horse to lease
The chestnutChestnut (color)
Chestnut, also known as Indian red, is a color, a medium brownish shade of red, and is named after the nut of the chestnut tree.As Indian red, it is named after the red laterite soil found in India. It is thus an earth tone as well as a red. It is composed of naturally occurring iron oxides. Other...
was foaled near Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
in 1901 by Octagon, out of the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
bred Bella Donna (by the Epsom Derby
Epsom Derby
The Derby Stakes, popularly known as The Derby, internationally as the Epsom Derby, and under its present sponsor as the Investec Derby, is a Group 1 flat horse race in Great Britain open to three-year-old thoroughbred colts and fillies...
winner Hermit). Named Beldame, she was a homebred of August Belmont II
August Belmont, Jr.
August Belmont, Jr. was an American financier, the builder of New York's Belmont Park racetrack, and a major owner/breeder of thoroughbred racehorses.-Early life:...
's (after whose family the Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
as well as Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
were named), and though Belmont, Jr. continued to own her, he leased her as a two-year- and three-year-old to a business associate named Newton Bennington. Although she'd won two races before going to Bennington, it was while racing for him that Beldame began her great career, earning her place as number 98 in the Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century
Blood-Horse magazine List of the Top 100 U.S. Racehorses of the 20th Century
In 1999, a panel for The Blood-Horse magazine was made up of distinguished horse racing people: Howard Battle, Lenny Hale, Jay Hovdey, William Nack, Pete Pedersen, Jennie Rees and Tommy Trotter. These experts compiled a list of what they considered to be the top 100 United States thoroughbred...
.
(Aside from Beldame, Belmont bred 129 stakes winners, including Man o' War
Man O' War (horse)
Man o' War, is considered one of the greatest Thoroughbred racehorses of all time. During his career just after World War I, he won 20 of 21 races and $249,465 in purses....
. The colt was originally named My Man O' War by his wife since August Jr. had enlisted in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
at the age of 65. Because of this war, he sold his greatest horse to Samuel D. Riddle
Samuel D. Riddle
Samuel Doyle Riddle . He was born in Glen Riddle, Pennsylvania, a small town southwest of Philadelphia given the family name in honor of his grandfather....
for $5,000, a pittance.)
Against all comers
When she was three, she won twelve of her fourteen starts, earned the championship of her division, and her only loses were to older males. She dominated all females, and defeated males constantly. Because of this, track officials everywhere weighted her so heavily she won only twice at the age of four.It didn't matter. Beldame had made her mark. The only way to stop her was to handicap her. So she stopped racing, retiring with 17 wins, 6 places, and 4 shows from 31 starts, Her earnings amounted to $102,570. After Firenze
Firenze (horse)
Firenze , also recorded as "Firenzi,", was an American Thoroughbred Champion and Hall of Fame filly racehorse. The New York Times called Firenze: "...one of the greatest distaffers of the 19th Century."...
and Miss Woodford
Miss Woodford (horse)
Miss Woodford was a brown Thoroughbred racemare that became one of the best American fillies of all time. At one stage she won 16 consecutive races during her racing career....
, she was the third filly to win more than $100,000.
Belmont took her back at the age of four to the re-creation of his father's Nursery Stud, the original farm being dispersed after August Belmont
August Belmont
August Belmont, Sr. was an American politician.-Early life:August Belmont was born in Alzey, Hesse, on December 8, 1813--some sources say 1816--to Simon and Frederika Elsass Schönberg, a Jewish family. After his mother's death, when he was seven, he lived with his uncle and grandmother in Frankfurt...
's death.
Trained by Belmont's trainer, Hall of Famer
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
John J. Hyland (with whom he was arguing, one of the reasons Belmont leased out what would be his best filly), and then by Bennington's, Hall of Famer
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
Fred Burlew, she could win short or long. Beldame was almost unbeatable.
Beldame had a mind of her own, and oddly did not like oats. What she liked to eat was ear corn. She ate at least seven ears a day, right off the cob.
Racing Days
As a two-year-old, she won the Great Filly Stakes at Sheepshead Bay, and the Vernal Stakes (wiring the field).At three, she took the Alabama Stakes
Alabama Stakes
The Alabama Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1872, the Grade I race is run over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the dirt track at Saratoga Race Course. Held in mid August, it currently offers a purse of $500,000...
, the Gazelle Handicap
Gazelle Handicap
The Gazelle Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race raced annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, New York. Open to three-year-old fillies, it is a Grade I event run over a distance of one and one-eighth miles on dirt...
(by ten lengths on a sloppy track), the Carter Handicap
Carter Handicap
The Carter Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early April at Aqueduct Racetrack. Open to horses three-years-old and up, it is raced over a distance of seven furlongs....
(against males by over two lengths under a stout hold), the Ladies Stakes, the Saratoga Cup (beating the year older Belmont Stakes winner and Champion Three-Year-Colt, Africander), the First Special, the Second Special, the Dolphin Sakes, the Mermaid Stakes (winning by seven lengths and drawing away from the field even as she was being eased up), and the September Stakes.
In the Ladies Stakes, Beldame got loose under her substitute rider before the race and galloped all over the track looking for an opening to run back to the barn. She found it before her jockey, Gene Hildebrand, got her under control. Even so, she was back on the track minutes later, started well, led all the way, and easily came home the winner...even being eased at the end. (Hall of Famer, Frank O'Neill, was her usual rider.)
At four, she won the Standard Handicap, and then, carrying more weight than the males, she won the Suburban Handicap
Suburban Handicap
The Suburban Handicap is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is run at the classic one-and-one-quarter mile distance on dirt for a $400,000 purse....
, beating among other classy males, the great Broomstick, by five lengths. She did lose the 1905 Brighton Handicap, but that was to the great filly Artful
Artful (horse)
Artful was born at the Westbury Stable at Old Westbury on Long Island into a prominent racing family begun in 1898 by William Collins Whitney. The Whitney family remain to this day a leading name in the sport of Thoroughbred horse racing....
, no. 94 in the Bloodhorse list of the 100 best U.S. racehorses of the Twentieth century.
In a poll among members of the American Trainers Association, conducted in 1955 by Delaware Park Racetrack, Beldame was voted the seventh greatest filly in American racing history. Gallorette
Gallorette
Gallorette was a Maryland-bred chestnut thoroughbred filly who became a Hall of Fame race horse. Sired by Challenger II, out of Gallette, Gallorette's damsire was Sir Gallahad III. Even so, her dam, Gallette, had once exchanged hands for $250 and was used as a hack. -Breeding:Trainer Preston M...
was voted first.
Beldame, who died in 1924, was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame
The National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame was founded in 1950 in Saratoga Springs, New York, to honor the achievements of American thoroughbred race horses, jockeys, and trainers...
in 1956.