A three-time American champion or co-champion, Gamely defied the conventional wisdom that Bold Ruler could sire only precocious juveniles. One of the best of her generation at ages 3 to 5, she was a major force in California racing in the late 1960s, tackling both males and females. She won at distances up to 1¼ miles and successfully carried up to 132 pounds. Sadly, she produced only two foals before her death at age 11.
Race record
41 starts, 16 wins, 9 seconds, 6 thirds, US$574,961
1967:
1968:
1969:
Honors
Assessments
Gamely was rated #87 among the greatest American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel convened by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She ranked 20th among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
Co-highweighted at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1967 with Furl Sail (the other divisional co-champion) and Quillo Queen.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1968, 2 pounds below highweighted Politely.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1969, 1 pound above second-rated Amerigo Lady.
As an individual
Standing 16.2 hands, Gamely was a strongly made filly with wide, powerful hindquarters and a plain head with a convex profile. She was somewhat wide-chested in front and lengthy in make but not weak in the loin. Her ankles had a somewhat rough appearance but her hind legs were strong and straight with good length from hip to hock, giving her plenty of propulsion. Her action was smooth with a long, low stride. She possessed a kindly disposition but resented the whip when already giving her best. She also had a bad habit of bearing out when under pressure.
As a producer
Gamely produced only two named foals, 1973 William Hill Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Cellini (by Round Table) and his full sister Gambling. Gambling never raced but is the second dam of Brazilian Group II winner Lancesca and Brazilian Group 3 winner Fuero Juzgo.
Connections
Gamely was bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farm. She was owned by William Haggin Perry, who named his breeding operation, The Gamely Corporation, in her honor. She was trained by James W. “Jim” Maloney. In 1975, Gamely died of a ruptured stomach five days after producing her second foal, the Round Table filly Gambling.
Pedigree notes
Gamely is inbred 4x5 to English and French champion sire Pharos and 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal and 5x5x4 to three-time English leading sire Blandford. Her pedigree features the close relatives Nasrullah (by a son of Pharos out of a daughter of Blandford and Mumtaz Mahal) and Perfume II (by a son of Blandford and Mumtaz Mahal out of a daughter of Pharos) positioned 2x3. Gamely is a full sister to stakes-placed Zonah, dam of 1975 Observer Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Take Your Place (by Round Table); the high-class turf mare Drumtop (also by Round Table), dam of stakes winner and good sire Topsider (by Northern Dancer); and stakes-placed Zonely (also by Round Table), dam of 1982 Hollywood Derby (USA-G1) winner Victory Zone (by Val de l'Orne) and second dam of Grade/Group 3 winners New Frontier and Tank. Gamely is also a half sister to stakes winner Staretta (by Dark Star), dam of stakes winner Lady Brilliance (by Globemaster) and second dam of 1987 Matriarch Stakes (USA-G1) winner Asteroid Field.
Gamely's dam Gambetta is a stakes-winning half sister to 1965 American champion 2-year-old filly and co-American Horse of the Year Moccasin, 1960 American co-champion 2-year-old male Ridan and multiple stakes winner Lt. Stevens, all by Nantallah. Gambetta is also a half sister to stakes-placed Thong (also by Nantallah), dam of four stakes winners including 1972 Irish champion 2-year-old male and 1973 English champion miler Thatch (by Forli) and second dam of 1980 French champion miler Nureyev (by Northern Dancer). Gambetta and her siblings were produced from the great Claiborne Farm matriarch Rough Shod II.
Fun facts
Last updated: September 19, 2020
Race record
41 starts, 16 wins, 9 seconds, 6 thirds, US$574,961
1967:
- Won Princess Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- Won Test Stakes (first division) (USA, 7FD, Saratoga; new track record 1:21-4/5)
- Won Alabama Stakes (USA, 10FD, Saratoga)
- 2nd Railbird Stakes (USA, 7FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Hollywood Oaks (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd Beldame Stakes (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 3rd Matchmaker Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Atlantic City)
- 3rd Vineland Handicap (USA, 9FD, Garden State)
1968:
- Won Santa Maria Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Santa Margarita Handicap (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Wilshire Handicap (USA, 7FD, Hollywood)
- Won Inglewood Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Vanity Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- Won Beldame Stakes (USA, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Santa Barbara Handicap (first division) (USA, 10FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Californian Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Diana Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga; disqualified from first)
- 3rd Santa Monica Handicap (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 3rd San Bernardino Handicap (USA, 9FT, Santa Anita)
1969:
- Won Santa Monica Handicap (USA, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Wilshire Handicap (USA, 7FD, Hollywood)
- Won Diana Handicap (USA, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Beldame Stakes (USA, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Santa Anita Handicap (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Vanity Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Matchmaker Stakes (USA, 9.5FD, Atlantic City)
- 3rd Santa Barbara Handicap (USA, 10FT, Santa Anita)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1980)
- Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1979)
- American co-champion 3-year-old filly (1967)
- American champion handicap female (1968)
- American champion handicap female (1969)
Assessments
Gamely was rated #87 among the greatest American racehorses of the 20th century by an expert panel convened by The Blood-Horse (Thoroughbred Champions, Eclipse Press, 7th printing, 2005). She ranked 20th among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
Co-highweighted at 124 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old fillies of 1967 with Furl Sail (the other divisional co-champion) and Quillo Queen.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1968, 2 pounds below highweighted Politely.
Highweighted at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older females of 1969, 1 pound above second-rated Amerigo Lady.
As an individual
Standing 16.2 hands, Gamely was a strongly made filly with wide, powerful hindquarters and a plain head with a convex profile. She was somewhat wide-chested in front and lengthy in make but not weak in the loin. Her ankles had a somewhat rough appearance but her hind legs were strong and straight with good length from hip to hock, giving her plenty of propulsion. Her action was smooth with a long, low stride. She possessed a kindly disposition but resented the whip when already giving her best. She also had a bad habit of bearing out when under pressure.
As a producer
Gamely produced only two named foals, 1973 William Hill Dewhurst Stakes (ENG-G1) winner Cellini (by Round Table) and his full sister Gambling. Gambling never raced but is the second dam of Brazilian Group II winner Lancesca and Brazilian Group 3 winner Fuero Juzgo.
Connections
Gamely was bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farm. She was owned by William Haggin Perry, who named his breeding operation, The Gamely Corporation, in her honor. She was trained by James W. “Jim” Maloney. In 1975, Gamely died of a ruptured stomach five days after producing her second foal, the Round Table filly Gambling.
Pedigree notes
Gamely is inbred 4x5 to English and French champion sire Pharos and 1923 English champion 2-year-old filly Mumtaz Mahal and 5x5x4 to three-time English leading sire Blandford. Her pedigree features the close relatives Nasrullah (by a son of Pharos out of a daughter of Blandford and Mumtaz Mahal) and Perfume II (by a son of Blandford and Mumtaz Mahal out of a daughter of Pharos) positioned 2x3. Gamely is a full sister to stakes-placed Zonah, dam of 1975 Observer Gold Cup (ENG-G1) winner Take Your Place (by Round Table); the high-class turf mare Drumtop (also by Round Table), dam of stakes winner and good sire Topsider (by Northern Dancer); and stakes-placed Zonely (also by Round Table), dam of 1982 Hollywood Derby (USA-G1) winner Victory Zone (by Val de l'Orne) and second dam of Grade/Group 3 winners New Frontier and Tank. Gamely is also a half sister to stakes winner Staretta (by Dark Star), dam of stakes winner Lady Brilliance (by Globemaster) and second dam of 1987 Matriarch Stakes (USA-G1) winner Asteroid Field.
Gamely's dam Gambetta is a stakes-winning half sister to 1965 American champion 2-year-old filly and co-American Horse of the Year Moccasin, 1960 American co-champion 2-year-old male Ridan and multiple stakes winner Lt. Stevens, all by Nantallah. Gambetta is also a half sister to stakes-placed Thong (also by Nantallah), dam of four stakes winners including 1972 Irish champion 2-year-old male and 1973 English champion miler Thatch (by Forli) and second dam of 1980 French champion miler Nureyev (by Northern Dancer). Gambetta and her siblings were produced from the great Claiborne Farm matriarch Rough Shod II.
Fun facts
- The 131 pounds Gamely carried to victory in the 1968 Vanity Handicap was the highest weight ever successfully carried by a filly or mare in a California stakes race.
- The Gamely Handicap was inaugurated in 1976 at Hollywood Park, replacing the Long Beach Handicap. The race was moved to Santa Anita following the closure of Hollywood Park in December 2013. It is currently a Grade 1 race over 9 furlongs on turf for fillies and mares aged 3 and up.
Last updated: September 19, 2020