Cap and Bells (known in England as Cap and Bells II, 1898 – after 1916) was an American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare. After showing promising form in the United States as a juvenile in 1900 she was set to race in England. In June 1901 on her British debut she recorded an extraordinary win in the Epsom Oaks, becoming the first American horse to do so. She never recaptured her Epsom form and was retired from racing in 1903. After returning to United States she had some success as a broodmare.
Cap and Bells was a bay or brown mare bred in Kentucky by the father and son partnership of James R. Keene and Foxhall Keene the latter of whom owned her during her racing career. She was initially sent into training in the United States.
She was from the second of only two crops of foals sired by Domino, an outstanding American racehorse who died in 1897 at the age of six. Her dam, the British-bred mare Ben-My-Chree, was a daughter of Ulster Queen, making her a close relative of Louvois (2000 Guineas) and Louviers (runner-up in the Epsom Derby).[2]
Racing careeredit
1900: two-year-old seasonedit
At Brighton Beach Racetrack on 24 July Cap and Bells won the Spinster Stakes, beating the favourite Sweet Lavender "with ease".[3] On 25 August the filly was stepped up in class for the Belmont Futurity Stakes which at that time was the most important race for two-year-olds in the United States. She led the field until the home but faded down the stretch and finished unplaced behind W. C. Whitney's Ballyhoo Bey.[4] Shortly after the race it was announced that Keene intended to campaign his filly in England in 1901.[5]
1901: three-year-old seasonedit
On her arrival in England Cap and Bells entered training with Sam Darling at his stable at Beckhampton in Wiltshire.[6]
On 7 June Cap and Bells, ridden by the American jockey Milton Henry, was one of twenty-one fillies to contest the 123rd running of the Oaks Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Racecourse. The race was run in fine weather in front of a near-record crowd.[7] Despite her lack of experience on the surface (turf) and the distance she was made the 9/4 favourite, with Lord Derby's filly Santa Brigida (third in the 1000 Guineas) the only one of her opponents to start at less than 10/1. She had not been among the favourites in the build-up but was heavily backed on the morning of the race.[8] The favourite's stablemate Noonday set the pace and led the field into the straight but Cap and Bells went to the front soon after and drew away to win "in a canter" by six lengths. Lord Ellesmere's 50/1 outsider Sabrinetta (ridden by the American C Jenkins) finished second, with three lengths back to Minnie Dee (owned by Richard Croker and ridden by another American Lester Reiff) in third place. According to the Los Angeles Herald "the race furnished extraordinary proof of the superior ability of American breeders, trainers and jockeys".[9] Foxhall Keene donated the prize-money to British and American charities,[10] including the Prince of Wales's Hospital Fund.[11]
Later that year, Keene reportedly declined an offer to match his filly against W. C. Whitney's Epsom Derby winner Volodyovski.[12]
1902: four-year-old seasonedit
Cap and Bells remained in training as a four-year-old but failed to recover her best form. In the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June she finished tailed-off in last place behind William the Third.[13] Cap and Bells returned to the United States in 1903.[14]
Assessment and honoursedit
In their book, A Century of Champions, based on the Timeform rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Cap and Bells a "superior" winner of the Oaks.[15]
Breeding recordedit
At the end of her racing career, Cap and Bells was retired to become a broodmare for the Keenes' stud. he produced at least eight foals between 1905 and 1916:
Pink And Blue, a brown filly, foaled in 1905, sired by Kingston
Wamba, bay colt, 1906, by Ben Brush. Won fourteen races in England.[6]
^ ab"Web - Family 1-s". Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Retrieved 2013-10-24.
^"At Brighton Beach". California Digital Newspaper Collection. Los Angeles Herald. 25 July 1900.
^"The Futurity Stakes". Otago Witness. 3 October 1900. p. 40 – via Papers Past.
^"In a Nutshell". Otago Witness. 26 September 1900. p. 41 – via Papers Past.
^ abMortimer, Roger; Onslow, Richard; Willett, Peter (1978). Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing. Macdonald and Jane’s. ISBN0-354-08536-0.
^"Our American Letter". The Referee. 17 July 1901. p. 7 – via trove.nla.gov.au.
^"Keene wins English Oaks". California Digital Newspaper Collection. Los Angeles Herald. 8 June 1901.
^"The Oaks. Placed Horses Ridden by Americans". Wanganui Herald. 10 June 1901. p. 2 – via Papers Past.
^"Turf Topics". Otago Witness. 7 August 1901. p. 46 – via Papers Past.
^"J. Reiff in High Favor". California Digital Newspaper Collection. Los Angeles Herald. 3 November 1901.
^"Racing in Europe". The Week (Brisbane). 1 August 1902. p. 30 – via trove.nla.gov.au.
^"Keene's horses". California Digital Newspaper Collection. Los Angeles Herald. 28 November 1903.
^Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). A Century of Champions. Portway Press. ISBN1-901570-15-0.
November 28, 2023
bells, horse, bells, known, england, bells, 1898, after, 1916, american, bred, thoroughbred, racehorse, broodmare, after, showing, promising, form, united, states, juvenile, 1900, race, england, june, 1901, british, debut, recorded, extraordinary, epsom, oaks,. Cap and Bells known in England as Cap and Bells II 1898 after 1916 was an American bred Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare After showing promising form in the United States as a juvenile in 1900 she was set to race in England In June 1901 on her British debut she recorded an extraordinary win in the Epsom Oaks becoming the first American horse to do so She never recaptured her Epsom form and was retired from racing in 1903 After returning to United States she had some success as a broodmare Cap and BellsCap and Bells in 1902 SireDominoGrandsireHimyarDamBen My ChreeDamsireGalopinSexMareFoaled1898 1 CountryUnited StatesColourBay or brownBreederJames R Keene amp Foxhall KeeneOwnerFoxhall KeeneJames W CorriganTrainerJames G Rowe Sr Sam DarlingMajor winsCriterion Stakes 1900 Spinster Stakes 1900 Oaks Stakes 1901 Contents 1 Background 2 Racing career 2 1 1900 two year old season 2 2 1901 three year old season 2 3 1902 four year old season 3 Assessment and honours 4 Breeding record 5 Pedigree 6 ReferencesBackground editCap and Bells was a bay or brown mare bred in Kentucky by the father and son partnership of James R Keene and Foxhall Keene the latter of whom owned her during her racing career She was initially sent into training in the United States She was from the second of only two crops of foals sired by Domino an outstanding American racehorse who died in 1897 at the age of six Her dam the British bred mare Ben My Chree was a daughter of Ulster Queen making her a close relative of Louvois 2000 Guineas and Louviers runner up in the Epsom Derby 2 Racing career edit1900 two year old season edit At Brighton Beach Racetrack on 24 July Cap and Bells won the Spinster Stakes beating the favourite Sweet Lavender with ease 3 On 25 August the filly was stepped up in class for the Belmont Futurity Stakes which at that time was the most important race for two year olds in the United States She led the field until the home but faded down the stretch and finished unplaced behind W C Whitney s Ballyhoo Bey 4 Shortly after the race it was announced that Keene intended to campaign his filly in England in 1901 5 1901 three year old season edit On her arrival in England Cap and Bells entered training with Sam Darling at his stable at Beckhampton in Wiltshire 6 On 7 June Cap and Bells ridden by the American jockey Milton Henry was one of twenty one fillies to contest the 123rd running of the Oaks Stakes over one and a half miles at Epsom Racecourse The race was run in fine weather in front of a near record crowd 7 Despite her lack of experience on the surface turf and the distance she was made the 9 4 favourite with Lord Derby s filly Santa Brigida third in the 1000 Guineas the only one of her opponents to start at less than 10 1 She had not been among the favourites in the build up but was heavily backed on the morning of the race 8 The favourite s stablemate Noonday set the pace and led the field into the straight but Cap and Bells went to the front soon after and drew away to win in a canter by six lengths Lord Ellesmere s 50 1 outsider Sabrinetta ridden by the American C Jenkins finished second with three lengths back to Minnie Dee owned by Richard Croker and ridden by another American Lester Reiff in third place According to the Los Angeles Herald the race furnished extraordinary proof of the superior ability of American breeders trainers and jockeys 9 Foxhall Keene donated the prize money to British and American charities 10 including the Prince of Wales s Hospital Fund 11 Later that year Keene reportedly declined an offer to match his filly against W C Whitney s Epsom Derby winner Volodyovski 12 1902 four year old season edit Cap and Bells remained in training as a four year old but failed to recover her best form In the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in June she finished tailed off in last place behind William the Third 13 Cap and Bells returned to the United States in 1903 14 Assessment and honours editIn their book A Century of Champions based on the Timeform rating system John Randall and Tony Morris rated Cap and Bells a superior winner of the Oaks 15 Breeding record editAt the end of her racing career Cap and Bells was retired to become a broodmare for the Keenes stud he produced at least eight foals between 1905 and 1916 Pink And Blue a brown filly foaled in 1905 sired by Kingston Wamba bay colt 1906 by Ben Brush Won fourteen races in England 6 Sapphire bay filly 1907 by Star Ruby Jest brown filly 1908 by Ben Brush Winner Junina brown filly 1909 by Delhi Boots And Saddle chestnut colt 1911 by Voter Capra chestnut filly 1912 by Ballot Stakes winner Featherwit brown filly 1916 by ColinPedigree editPedigree of Cap and Bells USA bay or brown mare 1898 1 SireDomino GB 1891 Himyar USA 1875 Alarm Eclipse GB Maud GB Hira LexingtonHegiraMannie Gray USA 1874 Enquirer Leamington GB LidaLizzie G War DanceLecomte mareDamBen My Chree GB 1887 Galopin GB 1872 Vedette VoltigeurMrs RidgwayFlying Duchess The Flying DutchmanMeropeUlster Queen GB 1879 Uncas StockwellNightingale IRE Pirate Queen BuccaneerQueen of the May Family 1 s 2 References edit a b Cap and Bells pedigree Equineline a b Web Family 1 s Thoroughbred Bloodlines Retrieved 2013 10 24 At Brighton Beach California Digital Newspaper Collection Los Angeles Herald 25 July 1900 The Futurity Stakes Otago Witness 3 October 1900 p 40 via Papers Past In a Nutshell Otago Witness 26 September 1900 p 41 via Papers Past a b Mortimer Roger Onslow Richard Willett Peter 1978 Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing Macdonald and Jane s ISBN 0 354 08536 0 The Turf Evening Post New Zealand 13 July 1901 p 5 via Papers Past Our American Letter The Referee 17 July 1901 p 7 via trove nla gov au Keene wins English Oaks California Digital Newspaper Collection Los Angeles Herald 8 June 1901 The Oaks Placed Horses Ridden by Americans Wanganui Herald 10 June 1901 p 2 via Papers Past Turf Topics Otago Witness 7 August 1901 p 46 via Papers Past J Reiff in High Favor California Digital Newspaper Collection Los Angeles Herald 3 November 1901 Racing in Europe The Week Brisbane 1 August 1902 p 30 via trove nla gov au Keene s horses California Digital Newspaper Collection Los Angeles Herald 28 November 1903 Morris Tony Randall John 1999 A Century of Champions Portway Press ISBN 1 901570 15 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cap and Bells horse amp oldid 1051587967, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
