Bimelech (USA)
February 27, 1937 – June 21, 1966
Black Toney (USA) x La Troienne (FR), by Teddy (FR)
Family 1-x
February 27, 1937 – June 21, 1966
Black Toney (USA) x La Troienne (FR), by Teddy (FR)
Family 1-x
Arguably the best horse ever bred by Colonel Edward Riley Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm, Bimelech was so highly thought of as a juvenile that when Colonel Bradley offered to match him at weight for age against any horse then in training “for money, marbles or chalk” over a mile and 70 yards or a mile and one-sixteenth, there were no takers. At 3, Bimelech might well have become a winner of the American Triple Crown had it not been for a rushed and poorly thought out preparation for the Kentucky Derby. While he repeated as divisional champion at 3, quixotic training decisions and a bruised foot resulted in three defeats--including the Derby--that took much of the luster from his name. He made only two starts at 4 before being retired to a useful but not stellar stud career.
Race record
15 starts, 11 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$248,745
1939:
1940:
Honors
Assessments
Bimelech was rated #84 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Rated at 130 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1939, the highest weight assigned to a juvenile champion up to that time.
As an individual
A handsome dark bay, Bimelech was a well-balanced, well-conformed colt with hocks slightly behind him. He had a habit of running with his tongue stuck out of one side of his mouth. A colt of difficult temperament, he developed an aversion to starting gates by the time he was a 4-year-old, contributing to Bradley's decision to retire him after an unplaced finish in the 1941 Widener Handicap.
As a stallion
Bimelech led the American general sire list by number of winners (72) in 1956; he was 17th by money won that year. His highest ranking by progeny earnings was in 1955 when he finished eighth. According to Jockey Club records, he sired 268 winners (73.6%) and 30 stakes winners (8.2%) from 364 named foals.
Notable progeny
Be Faithful (USA), Better Self (USA).
Connections
Bimelech was bred and owned by Colonel E. R. Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm. He was trained by William Hurley. He stood in Kentucky at Idle Hour and at Greentree Farm. He was pensioned in 1960.
Pedigree notes
Bimelech is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to 1935 champion 3-year-old filly Black Helen and 1938 Selima Stakes winner Big Hurry and a half brother to 1946 Selima Stakes winner Bee Ann Mac (by Blue Larkspur) and stakes winner Biologist (by Bubbling Over). He is also a half brother to Baby League (by Bubbling Over) and Businesslike (by Blue Larkspur), both major stakes producers and ancestresses of major branches of La Troienne's family. La Troienne is a full sister to Lincolnshire Handicap winner Leonidas and a half sister to 1934 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) winner Adargatis, who was sired by Teddy's son Astérus.
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: February 14, 2020
Race record
15 starts, 11 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$248,745
1939:
- Won Futurity Stakes (USA. 6.5FD, Belmont)
- Won Pimlico Futurity (USA, 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Saratoga Special (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
1940:
- Won Preakness Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Blue Grass Stakes (USA, 9FD, Keeneland)
- Won Derby Trial Stakes (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Withers Stakes (USA, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Classic Stakes (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1990)
- American champion 2-year-old male (1939)
- American champion 3-year-old male (1940)
Assessments
Bimelech was rated #84 among the top 100 American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel assembled by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005).
Rated at 130 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1939, the highest weight assigned to a juvenile champion up to that time.
As an individual
A handsome dark bay, Bimelech was a well-balanced, well-conformed colt with hocks slightly behind him. He had a habit of running with his tongue stuck out of one side of his mouth. A colt of difficult temperament, he developed an aversion to starting gates by the time he was a 4-year-old, contributing to Bradley's decision to retire him after an unplaced finish in the 1941 Widener Handicap.
As a stallion
Bimelech led the American general sire list by number of winners (72) in 1956; he was 17th by money won that year. His highest ranking by progeny earnings was in 1955 when he finished eighth. According to Jockey Club records, he sired 268 winners (73.6%) and 30 stakes winners (8.2%) from 364 named foals.
Notable progeny
Be Faithful (USA), Better Self (USA).
Connections
Bimelech was bred and owned by Colonel E. R. Bradley's Idle Hour Stock Farm. He was trained by William Hurley. He stood in Kentucky at Idle Hour and at Greentree Farm. He was pensioned in 1960.
Pedigree notes
Bimelech is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to 1935 champion 3-year-old filly Black Helen and 1938 Selima Stakes winner Big Hurry and a half brother to 1946 Selima Stakes winner Bee Ann Mac (by Blue Larkspur) and stakes winner Biologist (by Bubbling Over). He is also a half brother to Baby League (by Bubbling Over) and Businesslike (by Blue Larkspur), both major stakes producers and ancestresses of major branches of La Troienne's family. La Troienne is a full sister to Lincolnshire Handicap winner Leonidas and a half sister to 1934 Prix de Diane (French Oaks) winner Adargatis, who was sired by Teddy's son Astérus.
Books and media
- “The Spoiler” is the fifth chapter of the Blood-Horse compilation Greatest Kentucky Derby Upsets (2007, Eclipse Press). It recounts the circumstances of Gallahadion's victory over Bimelech in the 1940 Kentucky Derby.
- Bimelech is profiled in Chapter 7 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
- Bimelech is one of 205 stallions whose accomplishments at stud are profiled in Great Thoroughbred Sires of the World (2006, The Australian Bloodhorse Review), a massive reference work written by Jennifer Churchill, Andrew Reichard and Byron Rogers.
Fun facts
- Bimelech was the last foal begotten by Bradley's foundation sire Black Toney.
- Bimelech was named for Bradley's friend John Harris, who had the nickname “Abimelech.” (The “A” was dropped from the name in deference to Bradley's custom of giving his horses names beginning with the letter “B.”)
- Bimelech's Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes victories completed a Triple Crown for his sire Black Toney, who was already responsible for 1924 Kentucky Derby winner Black Gold.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: February 14, 2020