Bowl Game (horse)
Encyclopedia
Bowl Game was an American Thoroughbred
racehorse. He was bred in Kentucky
by Greentree Stud and raced under the same Greentree Stable
banner as his owner. He finished racing with a record of 11-6-5 in 23 starts with career earnings of $
907,083. Bowl Game Creek was best known for his wins in the grade one Washington, D.C. International Stakes, the grade one Man o' War Stakes
and the grade two Dixie Handicap. In 1979 he became the only horse ever have won all four prestigious turf races of the United States. That same year he was named the country's top grass equine by being voted 1979 American Champion Male Turf Horse honors.
at Gulfstream Park
just outside Miami, Florida
. In his next race he won his only graded stakes race on the dirt in the Gulfstream Park Handicap
, a grade two race under his regular jockey Jorge Velasquez
. Later that year in May he won the Dixie Stakes on Preakness Day at Pimlico Race Course
in Baltimore, Maryland capturing one of the oldest trophies in American sports, the Annapolis Subscription Plate
. That day he finished the oldest race in the Mid-Atlantic states at 1½ miles on firm turf in 2:33.40 over a field of nine stakes winners including Oilfield and Trumpeter Swan, who finished second and third respectively. He concluded the year with a spectacular record, finishing in-the-money in 100% of his races. In 1978 he ended with a record of 6 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third in 10 starts with annual earnings of $311,245.
in Chicago, Illinois on the first weekend of July. Then Bowl Game wheeled back in three weeks and won the Man O' War Stakes
at 1⅜ miles on the turf at Belmont Park
in 2:19.0 even. He also won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack
in 2:28.20 at a mile and a half. He finished his five year-old season with a record of 5 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds in 10 starts for annual earnings of $585,738. As a six year-old he only raced once and placed second in an Allowance race at Belmont Park.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse. He was bred in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
by Greentree Stud and raced under the same Greentree Stable
Greentree Stable
Greentree Stable, in Red Bank, New Jersey, was a major American thoroughbred horse racing stable and breeding farm established in 1914 by Payne Whitney of the Whitney family of New York City. Payne Whitney operated a horse farm and stable at Saratoga Springs, New York with his brother Harry Payne...
banner as his owner. He finished racing with a record of 11-6-5 in 23 starts with career earnings of $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
907,083. Bowl Game Creek was best known for his wins in the grade one Washington, D.C. International Stakes, the grade one Man o' War Stakes
Man O' War Stakes
The Man o' War Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Now Raced in July, it is a Grade I event offering a purse of $500,000 and is open to horses three-years-old and up. Run at one and three-eighths mile on the grass, the race sometimes attracts top European horses...
and the grade two Dixie Handicap. In 1979 he became the only horse ever have won all four prestigious turf races of the United States. That same year he was named the country's top grass equine by being voted 1979 American Champion Male Turf Horse honors.
Early career
Bowl Game was a very late developing thoroughbred. As a three year-old Bowl Game only raced twice placing third in both races. He finished the year with an annual record of 0-0-2 in 2 starts for annual earning of $2,400.00Four year-old season
In his four year-old season Bowl Game raced a total of 10 races in a nine month campaign that spanned from February through November 1978. In February he prepped in an allowance race and then stepped up to graded stakes action in March. In that race he won the Pan American HandicapPan American Handicap
The Pan American Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of March at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida...
at Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America....
just outside Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. In his next race he won his only graded stakes race on the dirt in the Gulfstream Park Handicap
Gulfstream Park Handicap
The Gulfstream Park Handicap is a race for thoroughbred horses run at Gulfstream Park each year. The race is open to horses age four and up, willing to race one mile on the dirt...
, a grade two race under his regular jockey Jorge Velasquez
Jorge Velasquez
Jorge Velásquez is a thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey.Jorge Velasquez career in thoroughbred racing began in his native Panama but as a teenager moved to the United States...
. Later that year in May he won the Dixie Stakes on Preakness Day at Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course
Pimlico Race Course is a horse racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, most famous for hosting the Preakness Stakes. Its name is derived from the 1660s when English settlers named the area where the facility currently stands in honor of Olde Ben Pimlico's Tavern in London...
in Baltimore, Maryland capturing one of the oldest trophies in American sports, the Annapolis Subscription Plate
Annapolis Subscription Plate
The Annapolis Subscription Plate is the name given both to the first recorded formal horse race in colonial Maryland and to the silver trophy awarded to the winner of the race...
. That day he finished the oldest race in the Mid-Atlantic states at 1½ miles on firm turf in 2:33.40 over a field of nine stakes winners including Oilfield and Trumpeter Swan, who finished second and third respectively. He concluded the year with a spectacular record, finishing in-the-money in 100% of his races. In 1978 he ended with a record of 6 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third in 10 starts with annual earnings of $311,245.
Five year-old season
During his five year-old season, he reeled off several grade one victories one after another. He won the prestigious Washington, D.C. International Stakes at Laurel Park Racecourse in a tepid 2:51 over a very soft turf course. In July, won two stakes races. First he won the Arlington HandicapArlington Handicap
The Arlington Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1929 at Arlington Park racetrack in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. Open to 3-Year-Olds & Up, it is currently a Grade III stakes run in July at a distance of 1¼ miles on turf...
in Chicago, Illinois on the first weekend of July. Then Bowl Game wheeled back in three weeks and won the Man O' War Stakes
Man O' War Stakes
The Man o' War Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Now Raced in July, it is a Grade I event offering a purse of $500,000 and is open to horses three-years-old and up. Run at one and three-eighths mile on the grass, the race sometimes attracts top European horses...
at 1⅜ miles on the turf at 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...
in 2:19.0 even. He also won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack
Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:...
in 2:28.20 at a mile and a half. He finished his five year-old season with a record of 5 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds in 10 starts for annual earnings of $585,738. As a six year-old he only raced once and placed second in an Allowance race at Belmont Park.