Bewitch was one of three American champions sired by Bull Lea and foaled at Calumet Farm in 1945. If not quite a feminine counterpart to her stablemate Citation, Bewitch was a formidable competitor in her own right and had the distinction of handing Citation his only loss as a juvenile. Her 3-year-old season was not as outstanding, but she returned to championship form as a 4-year-old. She won only two races each year at 5 and 6 but was unplaced only once at 5 and spent most of her 6-year-old season campaigning against males. She was not a success as a broodmare.
Race record
55 starts, 20 wins, 10 seconds, 11 thirds, US$462,605
1947:
1948:
1949:
1950:
1951:
Honors
Assessments
Bewitch was rated #89 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 21st among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
In a poll of the American Trainers Association conducted by Delaware Park in 1955, Bewitch was ranked ninth among North American-raced fillies and mares up to that time.
As an individual
A smallish, close-coupled filly who stood about 15.3 hands, Bewitch was a neat, quick individual with fine overall conformation but had smallish eyes that often showed white. She was alert and mildly excitable but mannerly in disposition, becoming calmer as she aged. She had a low, efficient action.
As a producer
Bewitch produced only two foals, and both died before getting to the races.
Connections
Bewitch was bred and owned by Calumet Farm. She was trained by the father-and-son team of Ben A. Jones and Horace A. "Jimmy" Jones. She was buried at Calumet after her death in 1959.
Pedigree notes
Bewitch is outcrossed through five generations. She is out of 1947 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Potheen and is a half sister to 1945 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Pot o' Luck (by Chance Play) and stakes winners Theen (by Sickle) and Lot o Luck (by Chance Play).
Produced from 1917 American champion 2-year-old filly Rosie O'Grady (by Hamburg), Potheen is a half sister to 1930 Gazelle Stakes winner Erin (by Transmute), dam of stakes winners Mag Mell (by Pompey), Bold Irishman (by Sir Gallahad III), and Eire (by Hard Tack) and second dam of stakes winners Knocklofty and The Irishman as well as 1975 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Shenanigans. Potheen is also a half sister to Weno (by Whisk Broom II), second dam of two-time San Juan Capistrano Handicap winner Intent.
Fun facts
Last updated: August 7, 2021
Race record
55 starts, 20 wins, 10 seconds, 11 thirds, US$462,605
1947:
- Won Debutante Stakes (USA, 5FD, Churchill Downs)
- Won Hyde Park Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Pollyanna Stakes (USA, 5.5FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Arlington Lassie Stakes (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Princess Pat Stakes (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
- Won Washington Park Futurity (USA, 6FD, Washington Park)
- 3rd Futurity Stakes (USA, 6.5FD, Belmont)
- Also finished first in the Matron Stakes (USA, 6FD, Belmont) but was disqualified and placed last
1948:
- Won Modesty Stakes (USA, 6FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Cleopatra Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Artful Handicap (USA, 7FD, Washington Park)
- 3rd Dick Welles Stakes (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
1949:
- Won Inaugural Handicap (USA, 6FD, Churchill Downs; new track record 1:10-2/5)
- Won Misty Isle Handicap (USA, 7FD, Washington Park)
- Won Beverly Handicap (USA, 8FD, Washington Park)
- Won Vineland Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 2nd Arlington Matron Handicap (USA, 8FD, Arlington Park)
1950:
- Won Black Helen Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hialeah)
- 2nd Columbiana Handicap (USA, 7FD, Hialeah)
- 2nd Vanity Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd Vineland Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Garden State)
- 3rd Premiere Handicap (USA, 7FD, Hollywood)
1951:
- Won Vanity Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Santa Margarita Handicap (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd St. Patrick's Day Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Bay Meadows)
- 2nd American Handicap (USA, 9FD, Hollywood)
- 2nd Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (USA, 10FD, Hollywood)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 1977)
- American champion 2-year-old filly (1947)
- American champion handicap female (1949)
Assessments
Bewitch was rated #89 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 21st among the 26 fillies and mares on the list.
In a poll of the American Trainers Association conducted by Delaware Park in 1955, Bewitch was ranked ninth among North American-raced fillies and mares up to that time.
As an individual
A smallish, close-coupled filly who stood about 15.3 hands, Bewitch was a neat, quick individual with fine overall conformation but had smallish eyes that often showed white. She was alert and mildly excitable but mannerly in disposition, becoming calmer as she aged. She had a low, efficient action.
As a producer
Bewitch produced only two foals, and both died before getting to the races.
Connections
Bewitch was bred and owned by Calumet Farm. She was trained by the father-and-son team of Ben A. Jones and Horace A. "Jimmy" Jones. She was buried at Calumet after her death in 1959.
Pedigree notes
Bewitch is outcrossed through five generations. She is out of 1947 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Potheen and is a half sister to 1945 Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Pot o' Luck (by Chance Play) and stakes winners Theen (by Sickle) and Lot o Luck (by Chance Play).
Produced from 1917 American champion 2-year-old filly Rosie O'Grady (by Hamburg), Potheen is a half sister to 1930 Gazelle Stakes winner Erin (by Transmute), dam of stakes winners Mag Mell (by Pompey), Bold Irishman (by Sir Gallahad III), and Eire (by Hard Tack) and second dam of stakes winners Knocklofty and The Irishman as well as 1975 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Shenanigans. Potheen is also a half sister to Weno (by Whisk Broom II), second dam of two-time San Juan Capistrano Handicap winner Intent.
Fun facts
- Bewitch's time of 1:34-2/5 for the 1949 Beverly Handicap was a world record for fillies and mares.
- Bewitch was the world's leading money-winning female Thoroughbred at the time of her retirement.
- The Bewitch Stakes was inaugurated at Keeneland in 1962. As of 2020, it is carded as a Grade 3 race over 1½ miles on turf for fillies and mares aged 4 and up.
Last updated: August 7, 2021