Although Top Bid showed some talent on the flat at 2 and 3, he became difficult and sulky toward the end of his 3-year-old campaign. Accordingly, he was gelded and transferred to steeplechasing, a game he apparently preferred as he became known as a willing and steady racer over the jumps. He appeared to lose a step after his championship campaign in 1970 but scored his last major win in the 1973 American Grand National, providing a fitting conclusion to his distinguished career.
Race record
70 starts, 25 wins, 8 seconds, 10 thirds, US$300,355
1966:
1967:
1968:
1969:
1970:
1971:
1972:
1973:
Honors
American champion steeplechaser (1970)
Assessments
Rated at 112 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1966, 14 pounds below champion Successor.
Rated at 110 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1967, 26 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Damascus.
As an individual
A tall, massive bay with plenty of bone, Top Bid lacked refinement but was well-balanced for a horse of his size and scope. He had a huge barrel and was wide in the fork in front.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Top Bid was bred by Wheatley Stable. He was owned by Wheatley Stable at 2 and 3 and afterward by Lillian Phipps (née Bostwick), whose husband Ogden Phipps was the son of Wheatley Stable owner Gladys Mills Phipps. Top Bid was trained by Eddie Neloy while racing on the flat and by Daniel Michael "Mikey" Smithwick as a steeplechaser.
Pedigree notes
Top Bid is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to 1966 American co-champion handicap male Bold Bidder (by Bold Ruler); to Sales Ring, second dam of 1993 Swiss champion steeplechaser Ramification; and to Deepdene, second dam of multiple Japanese Group 1 winner Gallop Dyna. He is also a half brother to stakes-placed Winning Trick (by Damascus), dam of Grade 3 winner Play for Love (by Jacinto), second dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Doña Streaper, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Etbauer and Australian Group 3 winner Daytona Grey.
Top Bid is out of 1959 Alabama Stakes winner High Bid, a half sister to 1959 Pimlico Futurity winner Progressing (by Bimelech) and to 1968 Sorority Stakes winner Big Advance (by Bold Ruler), third dam of 1994 Argentine champion older male and stayer Double Paid and 1997 Gran Premio Copa de Oro (ARG-G1) winner Diddler. High Bid is also a half sister to Intrepid Lady (by Bold Ruler), dam of 1996 Energizer Oaks (ENG-G1) winner Intrepidity (by Sadler's Wells), Irish Group 2 winner Calandra (by Sir Ivor), multiple Irish Group 3 winner Acushla (by Storm Bird), and stakes winners River Prince (by Forli) and Squadron Leader (by Storm Bird). In addition, High Bid is a half sister to Step On (by Nasrullah), third dam of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner Blue Baby Blue, and to Some Progress (by Bold Ruler), third dam of Grade 3 winner No Comprende and Australian Group 3 winner Party Boy.
High Bid and her siblings were produced from the Princequillo mare Stepping Stone (out of Stepping Across, by Balladier), whose half sister Long Stretch (by Menow) is the second dam of English Group 3 winner Miss Slip. Stepping Stone is also a half sister to Step Over (by Ambiorix), dam of multiple stakes winner On Your Toes (by Restless Native) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Assault Landing and Grade 3 winners St. Brendan, Finder's Choice, and Finder's Reward.
Fun facts
Last updated: August 19, 2023
Race record
70 starts, 25 wins, 8 seconds, 10 thirds, US$300,355
1966:
- 3rd Sanford Stakes (USA, 5.5FT, Saratoga)
- 3rd Saratoga Special Stakes (USA, 6FD, Saratoga)
- 3rd Hopeful Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Saratoga)
1967:
- Won Woodlawn Stakes (USA. 8.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Long Branch Stakes (first division) (USA, 8FT, Monmouth)
1968:
- Won Bushwick Hurdle Handicap (USA, 17FT, Belmont; new course record 3:56-3/5)
- Won Aqueduct National Hurdle Stakes (USA, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Holly Tree Hurdle Handicap (USA)
1969:
- Won Bushwick Hurdle Handicap (USA, 16.5FT, Belmont; new course record 3:43-2/5)
1970:
- Won International Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 16FT, Belmont; new course record 3:41-2/5)
- Won Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Handicap (USA, 24FT, Middleburg)
- Won Colonial Cup International Steeplechase (USA, 22.5FT, Springdale)
- Won Saratoga Steeplechase Handicap (USA, Saratoga)
- 2nd Lovely Night Hurdle Handicap (USA, 16.5FT, Saratoga)
- 2nd Broad Hollow Steeplechase Handicap (USA)
1971:
- 2nd American Grand National Steeplechase (USA, 20FT, Saratoga)
- 3rd Temple Gwathmey Steeplechase Handicap (USA, about 20FT, Middleburg)
- 3rd Colonial Cup International Steeplechase (USA, 22.5FT, Springdale)
1972:
- 3rd Monmouth County Gold Cup Steeplechase Handicap (USA)
- 3rd Grand Steeplechase de Deauville (FR, 4500mT, Clairfontaine)
1973:
- Won American Grand National Steeplechase (USA, about 20FT, Fair Hill)
- 3rd Temple Gwathmey and International Gold Cup (USA, about 20FT, Middleburg)
Honors
American champion steeplechaser (1970)
Assessments
Rated at 112 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1966, 14 pounds below champion Successor.
Rated at 110 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1967, 26 pounds below divisional champion and Horse of the Year Damascus.
As an individual
A tall, massive bay with plenty of bone, Top Bid lacked refinement but was well-balanced for a horse of his size and scope. He had a huge barrel and was wide in the fork in front.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Top Bid was bred by Wheatley Stable. He was owned by Wheatley Stable at 2 and 3 and afterward by Lillian Phipps (née Bostwick), whose husband Ogden Phipps was the son of Wheatley Stable owner Gladys Mills Phipps. Top Bid was trained by Eddie Neloy while racing on the flat and by Daniel Michael "Mikey" Smithwick as a steeplechaser.
Pedigree notes
Top Bid is outcrossed through five generations. He is a half brother to 1966 American co-champion handicap male Bold Bidder (by Bold Ruler); to Sales Ring, second dam of 1993 Swiss champion steeplechaser Ramification; and to Deepdene, second dam of multiple Japanese Group 1 winner Gallop Dyna. He is also a half brother to stakes-placed Winning Trick (by Damascus), dam of Grade 3 winner Play for Love (by Jacinto), second dam of Argentine Group 2 winner Doña Streaper, and third dam of Grade 3 winner Etbauer and Australian Group 3 winner Daytona Grey.
Top Bid is out of 1959 Alabama Stakes winner High Bid, a half sister to 1959 Pimlico Futurity winner Progressing (by Bimelech) and to 1968 Sorority Stakes winner Big Advance (by Bold Ruler), third dam of 1994 Argentine champion older male and stayer Double Paid and 1997 Gran Premio Copa de Oro (ARG-G1) winner Diddler. High Bid is also a half sister to Intrepid Lady (by Bold Ruler), dam of 1996 Energizer Oaks (ENG-G1) winner Intrepidity (by Sadler's Wells), Irish Group 2 winner Calandra (by Sir Ivor), multiple Irish Group 3 winner Acushla (by Storm Bird), and stakes winners River Prince (by Forli) and Squadron Leader (by Storm Bird). In addition, High Bid is a half sister to Step On (by Nasrullah), third dam of multiple Argentine Group 1 winner Blue Baby Blue, and to Some Progress (by Bold Ruler), third dam of Grade 3 winner No Comprende and Australian Group 3 winner Party Boy.
High Bid and her siblings were produced from the Princequillo mare Stepping Stone (out of Stepping Across, by Balladier), whose half sister Long Stretch (by Menow) is the second dam of English Group 3 winner Miss Slip. Stepping Stone is also a half sister to Step Over (by Ambiorix), dam of multiple stakes winner On Your Toes (by Restless Native) and second dam of Grade 2 winner Assault Landing and Grade 3 winners St. Brendan, Finder's Choice, and Finder's Reward.
Fun facts
- Top Bid was one of six winners of the American Grand National owned by Lillian Phipps. The others were Oedipus (1951), Neji (1955, 1957, and 1958), Mako (1965), Straight and True (1976), and Le Ronceray (1987). Of these horses, only Le Ronceray failed to earn honors as American champion steeplechaser.
- Top Bid's win in the inaugural Colonial Cup Steeplechase in 1970 was the first ever for a steeplechaser in an event worth US$100,000 or more.
Last updated: August 19, 2023