Call Boy (1924–1939) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse. In a career which lasted from July 1926 to June 1927, he ran seven times winning four races. His most notable success came in the 1927 Epsom Derby, which he won in record time. Partly because of the death of his owner, Call Boy never ran again after his win at Epsom.
Call Boy, a chestnut horse with a white blaze and two white socks, was bred by his owner, the actor and theatre manager Frank Curzon at his Primrose Cottage Stud.[1] He was sired by the unbeaten champion, Hurry On, making him a representative of the Godolphin Arabian sire line.[2] Apart from Call Boy, Hurry On sired the winners of seven Classics including the Derby winners Captain Cuttle and Coronach. Call Boy's dam, Comedienne, a daughter of the Irish Derby winner Bachelor's Double, had been bought by Curzon for 130gns. In addition to Call Boy, she produced the Great Yorkshire Stakes winner Comedy King.[3]
Curzon sent Call Boy to be trained by Jack Watts at his Lansdowne House Stable at Newmarket, Suffolk.
Racing careeredit
1926: two-year-old seasonedit
Call Boy made his racecourse debut in the prestigious July Stakes at Newmarket in which he finished third to The Satrap and Sickle. In the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster he produced a strong finish to reverse the form with Sickle but narrowly failed to catch Damon. At Newmarket in October he recorded his first win in the Linton Stakes and then returned to the same course later in the month for the Middle Park Stakes, one of the most important two-year-old races of the season. Call Boy established himself as one of the year's leading juveniles by winning by a head from Sickle.[3] In the Free Handicap, an annual rating of the best British two-year-olds, Call Boy was ranked fifth.[1]
1927: three-year-old seasonedit
Frank Curzon, Call Boy's owner and breeder c. 1900
On his three-year-old debut Call Boy started favourite for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, despite the fact that he was "evidently backward in condition", but was beaten a short head by Adam's Apple.[4] In the days before the photo finish was introduced results were decided solely by the judge, and on this occasion there were some who felt that Call Boy had been unlucky not to have been given at least a share of the prize.[1] On his next start, Call Boy was an impressive four length winner of the Newmarket Stakes, over ten furlongs. Although the opposition was moderate, his performance suggested that he would be well suited by longer distances.[5]
At Epsom, Call Boy started the 4/1 favourite, despite a slight injury scare,[6] and was ridden by Charlie Elliott.[7] The race took place on a wet and "dismal" day in front of a crowd which included the King and Queen as well as the aviator Charles Lindbergh.[8] Call Boy led from the start but was strongly challenged in the straight by Hot Night. After being briefly headed inside the final furlong, Call Boy rallied to retake the lead and pulled away to win by two lengths from Hot Night, with the pair eight lengths clear of the third-placed Shian Mor.[9] His winning time of 2:34.4 broke the race record[10] set five years earlier by Captain Cuttle. Curzon who attended the race against doctor's advice, was obviously unwell ("pale and trembling"[11]), but managed to lead the colt in and accepted the winner's trophy.
Frank Curzon died shortly after the Derby.[11] Under the rules of racing at the time, this meant that all of his entries for the rest of the season were void.[12] Call Boy was bought by Curzon's brother, Sir Henry Mallaby-Deeley for £60,000,[13] but no new entries were made and Call Boy was retired to stud.[3]
.
Assessmentedit
In their book A Century of Champions, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Call Boy an "average" Derby winner and the one hundred and fifty-second best British racehorse of the 20th century .[9]
Stud careeredit
Call Boy's stud career was a complete failure. He had serious fertility problems and sired only a handful of foals,[14] none of whom showed any real ability. In 1932, for example, he managed to get only four mares "in foal".[15] His only notable descendant was the 1000 Guineas and Oaks winner Sweet Solera. Call Boy died on 4 October 1939.[16]
Pedigreeedit
Pedigree of Call Boy (GB), chestnut stallion, 1924
^"Godolphin Arabian Line". Tbheritage.com. Retrieved 2011-11-02.
^ abcMortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN0-354-08536-0.
^"Call Boy likely Derby favourite". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
^"THE DERBY". 1927-05-26. Retrieved 2011-11-08 – via Papers Past.
^"Favourite races to victory". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
^"THE DERBY 1927". British Pathe. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
^ abMorris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN1-901570-15-0.
^"Favourite wins Derby". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
^ ab"Mr. Frank Curzon". 1927-07-05. Retrieved 2011-11-08 – via Papers Past.
^"ENGLISH RACING". 1927-12-07. Retrieved 2011-11-08 – via Papers Past.
^"Briton Pays $300,000 for Call Boy". NY Times. 1927-08-07. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
^"Call Boy Offspring". Pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 2011-11-09.
^"SIRES AND POTENCY". Evening Post. 1933-01-19. Retrieved 2011-11-11 – via Papers Past.
^Weatherby (1941). "Obituary of Stallions". The General Stud Book. 29: 1081.
March 17, 2024
call, horse, call, 1924, 1939, british, thoroughbred, racehorse, career, which, lasted, from, july, 1926, june, 1927, seven, times, winning, four, races, most, notable, success, came, 1927, epsom, derby, which, record, time, partly, because, death, owner, call. Call Boy 1924 1939 was a British Thoroughbred racehorse In a career which lasted from July 1926 to June 1927 he ran seven times winning four races His most notable success came in the 1927 Epsom Derby which he won in record time Partly because of the death of his owner Call Boy never ran again after his win at Epsom Call BoyCall BoySireHurry OnGrandsireMarcovilDamComedienneDamsireBachelors DoubleSexStallionFoaled1924CountryUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and IrelandColourChestnutBreederFrank CurzonOwnerFrank CurzonTrainerJack WattsRecord7 4 2 1Earnings Major winsMiddle Park Stakes 1926 Newmarket Stakes 1927 Epsom Derby 1927 Contents 1 Background 2 Racing career 2 1 1926 two year old season 2 2 1927 three year old season 3 Assessment 4 Stud career 5 Pedigree 6 ReferencesBackground editCall Boy a chestnut horse with a white blaze and two white socks was bred by his owner the actor and theatre manager Frank Curzon at his Primrose Cottage Stud 1 He was sired by the unbeaten champion Hurry On making him a representative of the Godolphin Arabian sire line 2 Apart from Call Boy Hurry On sired the winners of seven Classics including the Derby winners Captain Cuttle and Coronach Call Boy s dam Comedienne a daughter of the Irish Derby winner Bachelor s Double had been bought by Curzon for 130gns In addition to Call Boy she produced the Great Yorkshire Stakes winner Comedy King 3 Curzon sent Call Boy to be trained by Jack Watts at his Lansdowne House Stable at Newmarket Suffolk Racing career edit1926 two year old season edit Call Boy made his racecourse debut in the prestigious July Stakes at Newmarket in which he finished third to The Satrap and Sickle In the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster he produced a strong finish to reverse the form with Sickle but narrowly failed to catch Damon At Newmarket in October he recorded his first win in the Linton Stakes and then returned to the same course later in the month for the Middle Park Stakes one of the most important two year old races of the season Call Boy established himself as one of the year s leading juveniles by winning by a head from Sickle 3 In the Free Handicap an annual rating of the best British two year olds Call Boy was ranked fifth 1 1927 three year old season edit nbsp Frank Curzon Call Boy s owner and breeder c 1900On his three year old debut Call Boy started favourite for the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket despite the fact that he was evidently backward in condition but was beaten a short head by Adam s Apple 4 In the days before the photo finish was introduced results were decided solely by the judge and on this occasion there were some who felt that Call Boy had been unlucky not to have been given at least a share of the prize 1 On his next start Call Boy was an impressive four length winner of the Newmarket Stakes over ten furlongs Although the opposition was moderate his performance suggested that he would be well suited by longer distances 5 At Epsom Call Boy started the 4 1 favourite despite a slight injury scare 6 and was ridden by Charlie Elliott 7 The race took place on a wet and dismal day in front of a crowd which included the King and Queen as well as the aviator Charles Lindbergh 8 Call Boy led from the start but was strongly challenged in the straight by Hot Night After being briefly headed inside the final furlong Call Boy rallied to retake the lead and pulled away to win by two lengths from Hot Night with the pair eight lengths clear of the third placed Shian Mor 9 His winning time of 2 34 4 broke the race record 10 set five years earlier by Captain Cuttle Curzon who attended the race against doctor s advice was obviously unwell pale and trembling 11 but managed to lead the colt in and accepted the winner s trophy Frank Curzon died shortly after the Derby 11 Under the rules of racing at the time this meant that all of his entries for the rest of the season were void 12 Call Boy was bought by Curzon s brother Sir Henry Mallaby Deeley for 60 000 13 but no new entries were made and Call Boy was retired to stud 3 Assessment editIn their book A Century of Champions John Randall and Tony Morris rated Call Boy an average Derby winner and the one hundred and fifty second best British racehorse of the 20th century 9 Stud career editCall Boy s stud career was a complete failure He had serious fertility problems and sired only a handful of foals 14 none of whom showed any real ability In 1932 for example he managed to get only four mares in foal 15 His only notable descendant was the 1000 Guineas and Oaks winner Sweet Solera Call Boy died on 4 October 1939 16 Pedigree editPedigree of Call Boy GB chestnut stallion 1924 SireHurry On GB 1913 Marcovil1903 Marco BarcaldineNovitiateLady Villikins HagioscopeDinahToute Suite 1904 Sainfoin SpringfieldSandaStar ThurioMeteorDamComedienne GB 1913 Bachelor s Double1906 Tredennis KendalSt MargueriteLady Bawn Le NoirMiladyAltoviscar1902 Donovan GalopinMowerinaNavaretta KilwarlinPampeluna Family 2 f References edit a b c Patricia Erigero Thoroughbred Heritage 1957 03 09 Hurry On Tbheritage com Retrieved 2011 11 08 Godolphin Arabian Line Tbheritage com Retrieved 2011 11 02 a b c Mortimer Roger Onslow Richard Willett Peter 1978 Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing Macdonald and Jane s ISBN 0 354 08536 0 Call Boy likely Derby favourite Montreal Gazette Retrieved 2011 11 08 THE DERBY 1927 05 26 Retrieved 2011 11 08 via Papers Past Favourite races to victory Ottawa Citizen Retrieved 2011 11 08 Edward Elliott Horseracinghistory co uk Retrieved 2011 11 08 THE DERBY 1927 British Pathe Retrieved 2011 11 08 a b Morris Tony Randall John 1999 A Century of Champions Portway Press ISBN 1 901570 15 0 Favourite wins Derby The Spokesman Review Retrieved 2011 11 08 a b Mr Frank Curzon 1927 07 05 Retrieved 2011 11 08 via Papers Past ENGLISH RACING 1927 12 07 Retrieved 2011 11 08 via Papers Past Briton Pays 300 000 for Call Boy NY Times 1927 08 07 Retrieved 2011 11 08 Call Boy Offspring Pedigreequery com Retrieved 2011 11 09 SIRES AND POTENCY Evening Post 1933 01 19 Retrieved 2011 11 11 via Papers Past Weatherby 1941 Obituary of Stallions The General Stud Book 29 1081 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Call Boy horse amp oldid 1162294725, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
