Belle of Nelson (USA)
1875 – c. 1897
Hunter's Lexington (USA) x Julia Mattingly (USA), by John Morgan (USA)
Family 12-b
1875 – c. 1897
Hunter's Lexington (USA) x Julia Mattingly (USA), by John Morgan (USA)
Family 12-b
The early winners of the Kentucky Oaks were as a group more obscure than their masculine counterparts, and Belle of Nelson was no exception to that rule. While she won over the largest Oaks field to that time, defeating 10 rivals, she had shown relatively little prior to the race and was relegated to the field in the betting. The Oaks was her only major success on the track, and she failed to distinguish herself as a broodmare.
Race record
Unknown
1877:
1878:
As an individual
Belle of Nelson was "a medium sized chestnut filly" with an "ugly head" and "ragged hips" as described in post-Kentucky Oaks newspaper coverage.
As a producer
Belle of Nelson produced seven named foals, none of any great significance.
Connections
Belle of Nelson was bred and owned by John Mattingly. She was trained by W. R. Vaughan and was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks score by a jockey identified only as "Booth" in contemporary newspaper accounts. By the time she was 5, she had passed to the ownership of Charles Noyes and James Irvine, racing in the name of James Irvine the following year but apparently still the property of both partners. Noyes apparently bought out Irvine's share after the birth of the mare's first foal. In 1891, Belle of Nelson was bought by W. L. Scott for his Algeria Stud but went on the auction block in October of the following year due to his death. She was purchased for US$2,600 by J. B. Clay and by 1893 passed to the ownership of August Belmont. The last report of her is as having produced the Rayon d'Or colt Bacchanal in 1897.
Pedigree notes
Belle of Nelson is inbred 2x3 to Sally Lewis, a mare who had several champions among her descendants. She is also inbred 3x5x4 to Sally Lewis' dam Lady Thompkins (or Tompkins) and 5x4 to two-time English champion sire Emilus, the Derby Stakes winner of 1823. She is a full sister to Belle of Maywood, whose son Tenny (by Rayon d'Or) was second only to Salvator as the best racehorse of his day. Belle of Nelson is also a half sister to Alarmist (by Alarm), second dam of multiple stakes winner Flywheel.
Belle of Nelson and her sisters were produced from Julia Mattingly, whose half sister Betsey Hunter (by Oliver) produced multiple stakes winner Joe Johnson (by Hunter's Lexington) and was the third dam of the good stakes horse McChesney (later a noted sire of polo ponies in Argentina). Julia Mattingly, in turn, was produced from the Chorister mare Blue Bell, whose dam Blue Filly was by the English import Hedgeford out of Lady Thompkins.
Fun facts
Last updated: September 27, 2022
Race record
Unknown
1877:
- Won Kentucky Oaks (USA, 12FD, Churchill Downs)
1878:
- 2nd Nashville Cup (USA, 16FD, Nashville)
As an individual
Belle of Nelson was "a medium sized chestnut filly" with an "ugly head" and "ragged hips" as described in post-Kentucky Oaks newspaper coverage.
As a producer
Belle of Nelson produced seven named foals, none of any great significance.
Connections
Belle of Nelson was bred and owned by John Mattingly. She was trained by W. R. Vaughan and was ridden to her Kentucky Oaks score by a jockey identified only as "Booth" in contemporary newspaper accounts. By the time she was 5, she had passed to the ownership of Charles Noyes and James Irvine, racing in the name of James Irvine the following year but apparently still the property of both partners. Noyes apparently bought out Irvine's share after the birth of the mare's first foal. In 1891, Belle of Nelson was bought by W. L. Scott for his Algeria Stud but went on the auction block in October of the following year due to his death. She was purchased for US$2,600 by J. B. Clay and by 1893 passed to the ownership of August Belmont. The last report of her is as having produced the Rayon d'Or colt Bacchanal in 1897.
Pedigree notes
Belle of Nelson is inbred 2x3 to Sally Lewis, a mare who had several champions among her descendants. She is also inbred 3x5x4 to Sally Lewis' dam Lady Thompkins (or Tompkins) and 5x4 to two-time English champion sire Emilus, the Derby Stakes winner of 1823. She is a full sister to Belle of Maywood, whose son Tenny (by Rayon d'Or) was second only to Salvator as the best racehorse of his day. Belle of Nelson is also a half sister to Alarmist (by Alarm), second dam of multiple stakes winner Flywheel.
Belle of Nelson and her sisters were produced from Julia Mattingly, whose half sister Betsey Hunter (by Oliver) produced multiple stakes winner Joe Johnson (by Hunter's Lexington) and was the third dam of the good stakes horse McChesney (later a noted sire of polo ponies in Argentina). Julia Mattingly, in turn, was produced from the Chorister mare Blue Bell, whose dam Blue Filly was by the English import Hedgeford out of Lady Thompkins.
Fun facts
- The Belle of Nelson whiskey distillery was founded in Kentucky in 1882 and had its business office in Louisville. It is not known whether its name had anything to do with the 1878 Kentucky Oaks winner, although naming beverages in honor of horses (and vice versa) was not uncommon at the time. The company went out of business in 1895.
Last updated: September 27, 2022